Paul Fletcher (politician)
Paul William Fletcher (born 16 January 1965) is an Australian politician who served as Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts from 2020 to 2022. Fletcher is a member of the Liberal Party of Australia, and has served as member of parliament (MP) for the division of Bradfield since 2009.[2]
Paul Fletcher | |
|---|---|
| Manager of Opposition Business in the House | |
| Assumed office 5 June 2022 | |
| Deputy | Kevin Hogan |
| Leader | Peter Dutton |
| Preceded by | Tony Burke |
| Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts | |
| In office 29 May 2019 – 23 May 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Mitch Fifield |
| Succeeded by | Michelle Rowland (Communications) Tony Burke (Arts) |
| Minister for Families and Social Services | |
| In office 28 August 2018 – 29 May 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Dan Tehan |
| Succeeded by | Anne Ruston |
| Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities | |
| In office 19 July 2016 – 27 August 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Jamie Briggs |
| Succeeded by | Alan Tudge |
| Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects | |
| In office 21 September 2015 – 16 July 2017 27 October 2017 – 20 December 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Fiona Nash |
| Succeeded by | John McVeigh |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Bradfield | |
| Assumed office 5 December 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Brendan Nelson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paul William Fletcher 16 January 1965 Devizes, England, United Kingdom |
| Citizenship |
|
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Spouse | Manuela Zappacosta |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Roseville, Sydney |
| Alma mater | |
| Website | www |
Fletcher entered politics after winning the 2009 Bradfield by-election. He served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications between September 2013 and September 2015 under the Abbott ministry, and between September 2015 and July 2016, he served as the Minister for Major Projects, Territories, and Local Government. He briefly served as the Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects between October and December 2017. He served as Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities from July 2016 to August 2018 in the second Turnbull ministry, and Minister for Families and Social Services in the first Morrison ministry.
Early life edit
Fletcher was born in Devizes, Wiltshire, England,[3] the son of Clive and Mary Fletcher.[4] His father was a professor of computational engineering.[3] He arrived in Australia with his family at the age of two, and held British citizenship until 2009 when he renounced it to stand for parliament.[5][6]
Fletcher grew up in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, where he was the dux of Sydney Grammar School in 1982. He subsequently attended the University of Sydney, graduating with first-class honours in economics and laws. At university he co-wrote two plays, titled The Fax of Life and Annually Fixated.[3] In 1993, Fletcher was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to go to Columbia University's Graduate School of Business in New York City,[7] where he completed a Master of Business Administration degree.[8]
Fletcher was one of seven Liberal MPs in the 46th Parliament of Australia who obtained degrees at an Oxbridge or Ivy League university, the others being Alan Tudge, Angus Taylor, Andrew Laming, Dave Sharma, Greg Hunt and Josh Frydenberg.[9]
Professional career edit
In his early career, Fletcher worked as a management consultant, a corporate lawyer for Mallesons Stephen Jaques, and a corporate strategist for TNT Limited. From 1996 to 2000, he worked as chief of staff to Minister for Communications Richard Alston, a Liberal Party politician. Fletcher joined Optus in 2000 and worked as director of corporate and regulatory affairs until 2008. He was a staunch opponent of Telstra, accusing the latter company of being a monopoly.[3]
After leaving Optus, Fletcher founded Fletchergroup Advisers, a strategy consultancy focusing on the communications industry.[10] He also wrote a book entitled Wired Brown Land? Telstra's Battle for Broadband that was published in 2009, discussing Telstra's bid to operate the Australian Government's proposed National Broadband Network.[11]
Political career edit
Fletcher joined the Young Liberals at the age of 16.[3] In 2009, he won preselection from a field of 17 people to be the Liberal Party candidate at the 2009 Bradfield by-election, following the retirement of former Liberal leader Brendan Nelson. Bradfield, a seat located in the North Shore of Sydney, has been held continuously by the Liberal Party since its creation in 1949, and is one of the safest Liberal Party seats in Parliament. He was required to renounce his dual British citizenship before entering Parliament, as required by Section 44 of the Constitution of Australia.[1] Fletcher had previously unsuccessfully sought Liberal Party pre-selection in the Division of Cook in 2007.[12]
Under the Abbott government, Fletcher was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications. In September 2015 Fletcher was appointed as the Minister for Major Projects, Territories, and Local Government in the Turnbull government.[13] Fletcher has served as the Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities since July 2016.
Fletcher is a member of the Moderate/Modern Liberal faction of the Liberal Party.[14]
In June 2022 he was appointed Manager of Opposition Business in the House.[15]
Personal life edit
Fletcher is married to jeweller Manuela Zappacosta and they have one son, and they live with her son from a previous marriage.[5][16]
References edit
- ^ a b Cranston, Belinda (27 September 2009). "UK executive pre-selected for Bradfield". The Sydney Morning Herald. from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
- ^ . Virtual Tally Room. Australian Electoral Commission. 15 December 2009. Archived from the original on 8 December 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Hunter, Fergus; Samios, Zoe (2 March 2020). "A nerd in charge: the lapsed playwright shaping Australia's online future". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ "Paul Fletcher delivers his Maiden Speech". Paul Fletcher MP. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ a b Salusinszky, Imre (28 September 2009). "Ex-Optus exec enters politics". The Australian.
- ^ "Paul Fletcher Citizenship Renunciation" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "About Paul Fletcher". Paul Fletcher MP. from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Australian Chamber of Commerce and IndustryThe Hon Paul Fletcher MP - Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry". www.australianchamber.com.au. from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Pathways to Parliament". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ Network Insight Institute (2009). Paul Fletcher 28 June 2005 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
- ^ Fletcher, Paul (2009). Wired brown land : Telstra's battle for broadband. UNSW Press. ISBN 978-1-74223-003-0. from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
- ^ "NSW Liberals reject Cook candidate Towke". Brisbane Times. 3 August 2007. from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
- ^ "Turnbull cabinet reshuffle: who's going where". ABC News. Australia. 20 September 2015. from the original on 20 September 2015.
- ^ Massola, James (20 March 2021). "Who's who in the Liberals' left, right and centre factions?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ "Fletcher welcomes Shadow Cabinet appointment". Paul Fletcher MP.
- ^ "Fletcher an outstanding choice for Bradfield: Nelson". ABC News. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
External links edit
- Australian Parliament House biography