Craig Laundy

Craig Laundy MP
Member of the Australian Parliament for Reid
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 September 2013
Preceded by	John Murphy
Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 February 2016
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	new title
Personal details
Born	16 February 1971 Sydney, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Alma mater	University of New South Wales
Profession	Hotelier, politician
Website	craiglaundy.com.au

Craig Laundy (born 16 February 1971) is an Australian politician. He has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Reid in New South Wales, since September 2013. On 18 February 2016 Laundy was appointed as the Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs following a rearrangement in the Turnbull Ministry.^[1][2]

Early years and background

Laundy is the son of New South Wales public hotel baron, Arthur Laundy and his wife, Margaret. The family owns more than 30 hotels across the state.^[3] He was born in Sydney and educated at St Patrick's College, Strathfield, St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill, and University of New South Wales where he graduated with a Bachelor of Economics.

Prior to his election to parliament at the 2013 federal election, Laundy worked in the family hotel business.^[4]

Political career

Fringe benefits tax

As a candidate during the 2013 federal election campaign, Laundy argued that the removal of the fringe benefits tax concession on motor vehicles would be "another kick in the pants to Australia's automotive industry."^[5]

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

In January 2014, The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) criticism from senior members of the Coalition government, including the Defence Minister, David Johnston and the prime minister Tony Abbott, who said that he feels that sometimes the ABC acts in a way that "instinctively takes everyone's side but Australia's." Laundy defended the ABC, responding that he does not defend their content, but their right to "say what they want." He said that "the beauty of living in a democracy is that if you don't like what you're hearing, what you're watching, or what you're looking at on the internet, choose another channel." He also said that it is not the role of the ABC to be patriotic.^[6]

Racial discrimination

In March 2014, the Attorney-General George Brandis proposed draft legislative amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act, 1975, seeking to remove sections that made it unlawful "to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people" on the basis of their "race, colour or national or ethnic origin."^[7] Laundy, a Liberal backbencher at the time, spoke out against the changes, saying that it was "important that we support a legislative system that reflects the diverse and multicultural country that modern Australia has become today."^[8] The changes were dropped after widespread public outrage, and opposition from some Liberal backbenchers, including Laundy, Phillip Ruddock, and Ken Wyatt, an indigenous Member of Parliament.

On 3 October 2014, Laundy joined with Labor MPs Tony Burke, Anthony Albanese, and Michelle Rowland in supporting the #NotinMyName campaign, which condemns racism, hatred, and bigotry.^[9]

Palestine

Laundy is co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine Group.^[10] On 5 June 2014, the Abbott Government announced the term "occupied" would no longer be used to describe East Jerusalem. Laundy publicly opposed the shift in language, saying that the area was occupied by armed Israeli forces.^[11]

Same-sex marriage

Laundy does not support same-sex marriage, but had previously supported a conscience vote on the issue. In September 2014, he declared that he no longer supported a free vote.^[12] In 2015, pro same-sex marriage activists sent unmarked letters filled with glitter to the offices of several Federal Coalition MPs. Laundy's office was briefly locked down until police determined the packages were harmless, and the activist group GetUp! issued an official apology for the stunt. Laundy labelled it a grossly irresponsible act noting that to 'send any undeclared substance through the mail to the office of a Member of Parliament will inevitably cause alarm'.^[13]

Refugee intake

The 2015 European migrant crisis arose through accelerating numbers of migrant and refugee arrivals to the European Union (EU) from increasingly unstable areas in the Middle East and Africa. It has been called the "Largest mass movement of displaced persons since World War II." ^[14] Notable incidents in the crisis include a deadlock at Budapest's main international rail station which resulted in over one thousand refugees leaving the station and begin walking towards Germany.^[15]

The International Organisation for Migration estimated that there was at least 2,701 migrant fatalities in the Mediterranean during 2015.^[16] One of the fatalities was Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian Kurd whose dead body was washed ashore after being drowned. Photographs of the toddler's body made headlines around the world.^[17] Laundy was shown the photographs by his daughter at the dinner table, which brought him and the rest of his family to tears.^[18] Moved by the images and the unfolding crisis, Laundy called the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, and Immigration and Border Protection, Peter Dutton, canvassing an increase in the humanitarian refugee intake by Australia, especially in relation to refugees from Syria.^[19] Speaking to the media afterwards about the decision to seek asylum in the face of intense suffering and persecution, Laundy drew parallels between refugees and all of humanity, saying: "There but for the grace of God go any of us. Put yourself in the position of those people and tell me you wouldn’t do the same."^[20] Laundy was subsequently appointed as the Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs.^[1]

References

1. Massola, James (13 February 2016). "Cabinet reshuffle: Malcolm Turnbull announces new frontbench as Mal Brough resigns". The Age. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
2. "Ministerial Swearing-in Ceremony". Events. Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
3. "About Laundy Hotels". Laundy Hotel Group. 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
4. "Craig Laundy Liberal for Reid". Liberal Party of Australia – New South Wales. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
5. Carey, Alexis. "Dealers slam FBT 'tax grab'". Cars Guide. News Limited. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
6. "ABC has 'a contract with the Australian people' says Liberal MP". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
7. "Racial Discrimination Act, 1975". Commonwealth Consolidated Acts. Commonwealth Government of Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
8. Laundy, Craig. "In Defence of Section 18C". Craig Laundy Website. emedia creative. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
9. Bourke, Latika. "MPs throw support behind Not in My Name campaign condemning racism and bigotry". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
10. "Parliament honors UN Year of Solidarity". Australian Palestine Advocacy Network. Australian Palestine Advocacy Network. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
11. Borrello, Eliza. "Rural Liberals criticise Attorney-General George Brandis over East Jerusalem remarks". www.abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
12. Ireland, Judith. "Same-sex marriage: Liberal MP Craig Laundy changes stance on free vote". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
13. http://www.outinperth.com/get-up-glitter-mail-causes-distruptions/
14. Summers, Anne (4 September 2015). "Time for Australia to step up and tackle the refugee crisis". The Age. Fairfax. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
15. Bilefsky, Dan (September 5, 2015). "'Nothing but death will stop us': Migrants start walking from Budapest to Germany". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfaz. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
16. "Mediterranean Update - Missing Migrants Project: 3 September 2015". Missing Migrants. International Organisation for Migration. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
17. Weise, Zia (2 September 2015). "Refugee crisis: Aylan's life was full of fear - in death, he is part of 'humanity washed ashore'". Independent New Limited. The Independent. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
18. Butterly, Nick; Probyn, Andrew (September 4, 2015). "Australia To Act On Refugees". The West Australian. Seven West Media Limited. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
19. Gordon, Michael (September 5, 2015). "Liberal MPs impassioned plea for refugees". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
20. Butterly, Nick; Probyn, Andrew (September 4, 2015). "Australia To Act On Refugees". Seven West Media Limited. The West Australian. Retrieved 6 September 2015.