Simon Crean

The Hon. Simon Crean was born in Melbourne, Australia, on February 26, 1949. He is a former Australian politician who has served as the President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, was the leader of the Australian Labor Party, and Leader of the Opposition. He was also the Minister of the Arts and Minister for the Regional Australia, Regional Development, and Local Government.

Education

He graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor in Economics and a Bachelor of Laws.

Experience

Simon Crean became the General Secretary of the Storeman and Packers Union in 1979. He became the Vice-President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) in 1981. Four-years later, Crean was elected the President of the (ACTU). In 1990, he left the (ACTU) to pursue politics. During the 1990 elections, he was elected to Parliament and then entered the Hawke Ministry as the Minister for Science and Technology. He became the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy in 1991. Two-years after, he became the Minister for Employment, Education, and Training. In 1998, he was elected Deputy Leader of the Opposition and became Shadow Treasurer in succession to Gareth Evans. Crean was elected as the Leader of the Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition after the resignation of Kim Beazley in 2001. In 2007, he was appointed to Minister for Trade in Kevin Rudd’s ministry. Crean was appointed to Minister for the Arts and Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development, and Local Government in 2010.

External Links and References

http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/academy/index.php?simon-crean http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=DT4