Warren Snowdon

The Honourable Warren Snowdon MP
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
In office 14 September 2010 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister	Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd
Preceded by	Alan Griffin
Succeeded by	Stuart Robert
In office 3 December 2007 – 9 June 2009
Prime Minister	Kevin Rudd
Preceded by	No immediate predecessor
Succeeded by	Alan Griffin
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC
In office 3 March 2011 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister	Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd
Preceded by	Office Established
Succeeded by	Michael Ronaldson
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
In office 13 September 2010 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister	Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd
Preceded by	Alan Griffin
Succeeded by	Michael Ronaldson
Minister for Indigenous Health
In office 9 June 2009 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister	Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard
Preceded by	No immediate predecessor
Succeeded by	Fiona Nash
Member of the Australian Parliament for Lingiari
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 November 2001
Preceded by	New seat
Member of the Australian Parliament for Northern Territory
In office 3 October 1998 – 10 November 2001
Preceded by	Nick Dondas
Succeeded by	Division abolished
In office 11 July 1987 – 2 March 1996
Preceded by	Paul Everingham
Succeeded by	Nick Dondas
Personal details
Born	30 March 1950 Canberra
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Verstappen
Children	Frances, Tom, Tessa and Jack
Residence	Alice Springs
Alma mater	Australian National University, University of Western Australia
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Teacher
Religion	Catholic
Website	www.warrensnowdon.com

Warren Edward Snowdon (born 30 March 1950) is an Australian politician. He is a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives. He represented the Division of Northern Territory from July 1987 to March 1996, and from October 1998 to November 2001. Since November 2001, he has represented the Division of Lingiari. This electorate includes all the towns and communities in the Northern Territory outside Darwin, as well as Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Snowdon was the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Indigenous Health, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC in the second Rudd ministry.

Snowdon is a member of the Left^[1] faction of the Labor Party.

Early life

He was born in Canberra, and was educated at St Edmund's College, the Australian National University and the University of Western Australia.

Career

Snowdon worked as a teacher with the Northern Territory teaching service before entering politics. He was a senior project officer with the Central Land Council in Alice Springs 1983–87 and was founding president of the Central Australian Regional Trades and Labour Council, then assistant secretary of the Northern Territory Trades and Labour Council.

Snowdon was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Communications 1990–92, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education and Training 1992–96, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment, Sport and Territories 1993 and 1994–96 and Parliamentary Secretary (Territories) 1993–94.

Defeated at the 1996 federal election, Snowden returned to parliament two years later. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Regional and Urban Development, Transport and Infrastructure (Northern Australia and the Territories) 2001–04. From 2004 to 2007 he was Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs.

Snowdon was sworn in as Minister for Defence Science and Personnel in the first Rudd ministry on 3 December 2007.^[2] Following a reshuffle of the Ministry on 9 June 2009 as a result of the resignation of the Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, Snowdon was promoted to Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Service Delivery. On 14 September 2010, he gained the portfolio of Veterans' Affairs and regained Defence Science and Personnel, while losing responsibility for Rural and Regional Health and Regional Service Delivery, but retaining Indigenous Health. On 12 September 2011 he was given the added responsibility of Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC.^[3]

Snowdon narrowly retained his seat at the 2013 federal election, largely due to his winning all but five booths.^[4] However, Snowdon was not appointed to the shadow ministry.^[5]

See also

• First Rudd ministry
• First Gillard ministry
• Second Gillard ministry
• Second Rudd ministry

References

1. Kerr, Christian (15 October 2013). "Love-in gives way to faction muscle". The Australian. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
2. "Rudd drops six: report". Sydney Morning Herald. 29 November 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
3. "Ministries and Cabinets". 43rd Parliamentary Handbook: Historical information on the Australian Parliament. Parliament of Australia. 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
4. Aikman, Amos (2013-09-10). "NT chief demotes ally of Tony Abbott, Alison Anderson". The Australian. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
5. Crowe, David (15 October 2013). "Fraction too much faction in Labor 'cabal'". The Australian. Retrieved 15 October 2013.

External links

• Website
• Parliamentary website