Arthur Sinodinos

Background and early career

Born in Australia to Greek immigrants, Sinodinos was raised in Newcastle. His father was a member of the left-aligned Seaman's Union that, during Sinodinos' early years, was campaigning against the United States intervention in Vietnam. His mother recalled stories of the Greek Civil War of the 1940s where Communist insurgents would knock on the door of their family home at night. Sinodinos claims that this helped him form his early political views.

Sinodinos graduated from the University of Newcastle in 1979 with a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours. He then entered the Australian Public Service as a graduate recruit, working within the Department of Finance, before working in the Department of the Treasury between 1980 and 1987 and again between 1989 and 1995.

He was the Chief of Staff to the then Prime Minister of Australia John Howard from 1997 to 2006, after serving with him previously from 1987 to 1989 when he was Opposition Leader and rejoining him in 1995. As a close confidant of the Prime Minister, he was regarded as one of the most powerful people in the country.

Corporate career

He left to become a director with the investment bank Goldman Sachs JBWere, and became the Regional general manager, Business and Private Bank at National Australia Bank; reportedly declining an offer to become Australian Ambassador to the United States. In 2008, he was part of a panel that mediated public input into the Defence White Paper. In March 2009, he was appointed managing director for Government, Education and Carbon Solutions, Institutional Banking, Business Banking Australia at the National Australia Bank.

Sinodinos became a director of Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd (AWH) in 2008 and chairman in 2010. He resigned from these positions on becoming a senator.

Political career

Sinodinos served as honorary Finance Director (2009 to 2011) and President (2011-2012) for the NSW branch of the Liberal Party. Initially touted as a candidate for the lower house seat of Bradfield, on 2 November 2011 Sinodinos was appointed to the Australian Senate representing New South Wales, replacing the resigned Liberal Senator Helen Coonan for the remainder of her term, which was due to expire on 30 June 2014. At the 2013 election he was elected to a further six-year term from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2020. Howard was present in Parliament when Sinodinos delivered his maiden speech.

Senator Sinodinos is a member of the board of Global Panel Australasia, a non-governmental organisation.

During 2012 Sinodinos was a regular columnist, writing in The Australian.

On 19 March 2014, Sinodinos stood aside from his role as Assistant Treasurer prior to giving evidence as a witness before ICAC. During the enquiry Sinodinos advised he was unaware of a $74,000 donation made to the Liberal Party by Australian Water Holdings, despite being Deputy Chairman on a $200,000 salary. At the time of the payment Sinodinos was also Treasurer of the Liberal Party. He formally resigned on 19 December 2014 as Assistant Treasurer and was succeeded as Assistant Treasurer by Josh Frydenberg. Sussan Ley temporarily stood aside as the Minister for Health and Aged Care and Minister for Sport and then subsequently resigned from the ministry in January 2017. Sinodinos briefly acted in her portfolios until a subsequent rearrangement of the Turnbull ministry where Sinodinos was appointed as the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. The portfolio of Cabinet Secretary was abolished.

Honours

Sinodinos was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2008 for service to politics through the executive function of government, to the development of economic policy and reform, and to the Greek community.

Personal

Sinodinos lives in New South Wales with his wife, whom he met at a Greek Orthodox Church, and their children. He has been a director of the Mary MacKillop Foundation.