Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Succeeded by Greg Combet Party Australian Labor Party Preceded by Ian Macfarlane | Succeeded by Ian Macfarlane Role Australian Senator Preceded by Greg Combet Name Kim Carr | |
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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Julia Gillard Office Australian Senator since 1993 Similar People Stephen Conroy, Chris Bowen, Anthony Albanese, Martin Ferguson, Ian Macfarlane Profiles | ||
Education University of Melbourne | ||
Senator kim carr launches australian institute for public policy at anu feb 2011
Kim John Carr (born 2 July 1955) is an Australian politician. Senator Carr was the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research and Minister for Higher Education and served in the Second Rudd Cabinet, from July 2013 to September 2013. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian Senate since April 1993, representing the state of Victoria. Carr is a leading figure in Labor's left faction. He has previously held a range of ministerial responsibilities between 2007 and 2013, including serving in the First Rudd Cabinet and the first and second Gillard ministries.
Contents
- Senator kim carr launches australian institute for public policy at anu feb 2011
- Senator kim carr in heated exchange with scott morrison over public interest immunity
- Background and early career
- Parliamentary career
- References
Carr is currently the Shadow Minister for Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Industry, as well as the Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science.
Senator kim carr in heated exchange with scott morrison over public interest immunity
Background and early career
Carr was born in Tumut, New South Wales and educated at the University of Melbourne where he obtained Bachelor of Arts with Honours and Master of Arts degrees in History and a Diploma of Education. He joined the Labor Party in 1975. He was a secondary school teacher for nine years before becoming a political staffer for Victorian government ministers Joan Kirner and Andrew McCutcheon.
Parliamentary career
Carr was elected to the Senate at the March 1993 election, and was due to take his seat on 1 July. When retiring Senator John Button resigned before the expiry of his term, however, Carr was appointed to the resulting casual vacancy on 28 April.
Carr became a Shadow Parliamentary Secretary in March 1996 in addition to being the Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate until his election to the Opposition Shadow Ministry in November 2001. He was Shadow Minister for Science and Research from then until October 2004. He was also Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation from July 2003 to October 2004. He has been Shadow Minister for Public Administration and Open Government, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation and Shadow Minister for the Arts October 2004 to June 2005, when he was appointed Shadow Minister for Housing, Urban Development, Local Government and Territories. He is one of five voting Victorian members of the party's National Executive.
Carr is a leading figure in Labor's left faction. His influential position within the party has attracted substantial criticism from factional opponents, Carr has been described by colleagues as "ruthless", "calculating" and a "headkicker".
After the Labor's victory in the 2007 federal election, the new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed Carr as Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, and he was sworn into office by Governor-General Michael Jeffery on 3 December.
Carr was re-elected in the 2010 election and retained his portfolio of Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research in the Second Gillard Ministry, which was sworn in on 14 September 2010. He was dropped from the cabinet on 12 December 2011, amid speculation that it was due to his links with former prime minister Kevin Rudd. He remained in the outer Ministry however, as Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Defence Materiel.
In the Ministerial reshuffle of 2 March 2012, Carr was appointed as Minister for Human Services. Carr resigned his ministerial portfolio on 22 March 2013 after he supported an unsuccessful attempt to reinstall Kevin Rudd as Labor Leader.
Following a subsequent successful leadership spill in which Gillard was defeated, Rudd appointed Carr as the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, and Minister for Higher Education and member of Cabinet in the Second Rudd Ministry.