Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott

Infobox Prime Minister
honorific-prefix = The Honourable
name =Tony Abbott
small

order =Minister for Health and Ageing
term_start =2003
term_end =2007
predecessor =Kay Patterson
successor = Nicola Roxon
birth_date =Birth date and age|1957|11|4|df=y
birth_place =London, England, UK
nationality = Australian
death_date =
death_place =
spouse =Margaret
religion =Roman Catholic
constituency =Warringah
party =Liberal Party of Australia
languagesspoken =English

Anthony John "Tony" Abbott (born 4 November 1957), Australian politician, is the current Shadow Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs in the Australian federal opposition. From 2004-2007 he was Minister for Health and Ageing in the Howard government, and Leader of the House of Representatives in the Federal Parliament. Since 1994, he has been the Member for Warringah, in New South Wales in the House of Representatives for the Liberal Party.

Early life and family

Abbott was born in London, Englandcite web | url = http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/biography.asp?id=EZ5 | title = The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Member for Warringah (NSW) - Parliament of Australia: House of Representatives biography | accessdate = 2006-04-04 |] to Australian parents. In 1960, his family returned to Australia, living first in the Sydney suburbs of Bronte then moving to Chatswood. Abbott was schooled at St Aloysius' College before completing his secondary school education at St Ignatius' College, Riverview in Sydney.cite web | url = http://completelybiased.blogspot.com/2004/11/ignorance-reigns-supreme.html | title = Completely Biased: Ignorance Reigns Supreme | accessdate = 2006-04-04 |] He graduated from the University of Sydney, residing at St John's College, with a Bachelor of Economics (BEc) and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). At university he was active in student politics, gaining media attention for his political stance opposing the then dominant left-wing student leadership. He was also a prominent student boxer. He then went on to attend the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and graduated with a Master of Arts (MA). Said to be a devout Catholic, he then considered the Catholic priesthood, and entered St Patrick's Seminary, Manly, but subsequently decided to leave and chose another career path.

Despite his right-wing leanings, Abbott has acknowledged he voted Labor in the 1988 NSW State Election as he thought "Barrie Unsworth was the best deal Premier that New South Wales had ever had." cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/sundayprofile/stories/s1389511.htm
title=Tony Abbott: Sunday Profile
author=Monica Attard
work=ABC News
publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date=2005-06-12
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

After leaving the seminary, Abbott worked as a journalist for "The Bulletin", an influential news magazine, and "The Australian". He became well known for his strongly worded criticism of trade unions and left-wing politics. For a period, Abbott was a Plant Manager for Pioneer Concrete before becoming press secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, Dr John Hewson in 1990-93, and between 1993 and 1994 was the Executive Director of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy.

Abbott is married to Margaret with whom he has three daughters (Louise, Bridget and Frances).cite web | title = Tony Abbott-Liberal for Warringah - About Tony | url = http://www.tonyabbott.com.au/abouttony.aspx | accessdate = 2006-04-04 |]

Political life

Abbott was elected to the Australian House of Representatives for the Division of Warringah at a by-election in March 1994 following the resignation of Michael MacKellar. He served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (1996-98), Minister for Employment Services (1998-2001), Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Small Business (2001), Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (2001-03), and Minister for Health and Ageing from 2003 to November 2007. From late 2001 to November 2007, he was also Manager of Government Business in the House . cite news
url=http://abc.net.au/insiders/content/2001/s425027.htm
title=Abbott set to continue Reith's workplace reforms
author=Barrie Cassidy
work=Insiders
publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date=2001-11-25
accessdate=2007-11-11
] He acquired a reputation in these roles as a robust parliamentary debater and political tactician. cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2005/s1307940.htm
title=Abbott reunited with son
author=Kerry O'Brien
work=7.30 Report
publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date=2005-02-21
accessdate=2007-11-11
] cite news
url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/29/1064819869888.html
title=Doctor groups hail promotion of 'head kicker'
author=David Wroe
work=The Age
publisher=Fairfax
date=2003-09-30
accessdate=2007-11-11
]

As Minister for Health and Ageing, Abbott introduced the Medicare Safety Net to cap the annual out-of-pocket costs of Medicare cardholders to a maximum amount. In 2007, he attracted criticism over long delays in funding for cancer diagnostic equipment (PET scanners). cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s1998936.htm
title='Scientific fraud' hampered spread of cancer technique
author=Matt Peacock
work=7.30 Report
publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date=2007-07-09
accessdate=2007-11-11
] cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/11/1975390.htm
title=Govt rethinks PET scan funding decision
author=Alison Caldwell
work=ABC News
publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date=2007-07-11
accessdate=2007-11-11
] cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s2043989.htm
title=Cancer detection technology waits for Govt approval
author=Matt Peacock
work=7.30 Report
publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date=2007-09-26
accessdate=2007-11-11
] cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/27/2044610.htm
title=Doctors angry as PET scan delay wears on
author=Matt Peacock
work=ABC News
publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date=2007-09-27
accessdate=2007-11-11
]

Abbott is widely known as an outspoken socially conservative Catholic. Abbott sees reducing the number of abortions performed each year as a national priority. In March 2004 he asked "Why isn't the fact that 100,000 women choose to end their pregnancies regarded as a national tragedy approaching the scale, say, of Aboriginal life expectancy being 20 years less than that of the general community?" cite news
url=http://www.cathnews.com/news/403/97.php
title=Abbott stirs Christians on abortion complacency
author=
work=
publisher=Catholic News
date=2004-03-17
accessdate=2007-11-28
] Abbott promised to launch an investigation into a product called Pink or Blue, which is made by UK-based DNA Worldwide, a division of US-based Consumer Genetics. This test is one of several pre-natal blood tests designed to detect the sex of a fetus as early as six weeks into pregnancy. Ethicists have raised concerns that knowing the sex of a foetus so early into pregnancy would facilitate Sex-selective abortion and infanticide. [cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21715528-5001021,00.html | title=Pick-your-baby test investigated | publisher=The Daily Telegraph | date=May 12 2007 | author=Masters, Clare | accessdate=2007-05-18]

A conscience vote took place in February 2006, approving a measure that deprived the Health Minister of regulatory control of the abortion drug RU486. Abbott and previous Health Ministers had decided not to allow it to be made available. Abbott responded to the vote by calling for funding of alternative counselling to pregnant women through church-affiliated groups. During this time, Abbott criticised the acceptance of abortion, saying "... we have a bizarre double standard, a bizarre double standard in this country where someone who kills a pregnant woman's baby is guilty of murder but a woman who aborts an unborn baby is simply exercising choice." cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1571075.htm
title=MPs to vote on RU486 control
author=Jennifer Macey
work=AM, ABC News
publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date=2006-02-16
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

Abbott opposed allowing the introduction of Embryonic stem cell research or "therapeutic cloning" in another conscience vote, preferring continued use of Adult stem cells for research into cures for debilitating diseases. He argued that:"there are very important ethical questions here and even the very best end does not justify every possible means." cite news
url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/science/abbott-opposes-call-to-relax-cloning-laws/2005/09/29/1127804597157.html
title=Abbott opposes call to relax cloning laws
author=AAP, with Chris Evans
work=
publisher=Sydney Morning Herald
date=2005-08-29
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

Abbott is also a supporter of the constutional monarchy in Australia. He has previously accused some sections of the Australia public of "suffering self-imposed historical and cultural amnesia" in relation to Australia's British heritage and acting like "teenagers blowing raspberries at their parents". cite news
url=http://www.nationalobserver.net/2004_spring_abbott.htm
title=The Brother Countries
author=Tony Abbott
work=
publisher=National Observer
date=2004-05-17
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

After losing Government [2007] and his Health portfolio, in Opposition, Abbott was re-elected to the seat of Warringah with a 1.79% swing toward the Labor Party.cite web | url=http://results.aec.gov.au/13745/website/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-13745-151.htm | title=Australian Electoral Commission summary of Warringah, Federal Election 2007. | publisher="Australian Electoral Commission" | date=2007-12-19 | accessdate=2007-12-19] Following Peter Costello's rejection of the leadership of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, Abbott nominated for the position of party leader, along with Malcolm Turnbull and Brendan Nelson. After canvassing the support of his colleagues, Abbott decided to withdraw his nomination. He seemly did not have the numbers, noting that he was "obviously very closely identified with the outgoing prime minister." cite news
url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22836392-2,00.html
title=Tony Abbott pulls out of Liberal leadership race
author=
work=
publisher=News.com.au
date=2007-11-28
accessdate=2007-11-28
] He also he would not rule out contesting the leadership at some time in the future. cite news
url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/abbott-quits-leader-race/2007/11/28/1196036951844.html
title=Tony Abbott quits race to be Lib leader
author=AAP
work=
publisher=Sydney Morning Herald
date=2007-11-28
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

In December 2007, Abbott was assigned the Shadow Portfolio of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. cite news
url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22880030-953,00.html
title=Brendan Nelson Assigns Shadow Ministry
author=News Ltd
work=
publisher=Courier Mail
date=2007-12-06
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

Controversies

* In May 2006, Abbott, as Leader of the House, called the Opposition MP, Kelvin Thompson, a "snivelling grub" in the Parliament for speaking about Nationals MP John Anderson's shares in the disgraced Australian Wheat Board. Abbott then said "If I've offended grubs, I withdraw unconditionally." The comments were not widely reported until a week later when Labor Deputy Leader Julia Gillard (then Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing) used exactly the same phrase about Abbott, refused to withdraw it, and was ejected from Parliament for 24 hours. Abbott later told the Parliament "It would have been better if I had not moved the motion in the terms that I originally did." cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1652219.htm
title=Gillard ejected over 'snivelling grub' remark
author=Louise Yaxley
work=PM, ABC News
publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date=2006-05-31
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

* In July 2007, Abbott gained attention after swearing once on a national TV interview and repeating the phrase when asked about the incident by journalists the next day. After renewed controversy over John Howard's alleged broken promise to hand over the Liberal leadership position to Peter Costello, Abbott said to an interviewer: "Not to put too fine a point on it, shit happens, Tony". When asked if he regretted it he cackled and repeated "shit happens", garnering some laughs from the journalists. cite news
url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22104377-29277,00.html
title=S**t, Tony Abbott swears on TV
author=
work=
publisher=News.com.au
date=2007-07-20
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

* In the 2007 federal election campaign, Abbott was again drawn into controversy over comments he made about asbestos campaigner Bernie Banton. Banton, who was suffering, and later died, from terminal mesothelioma, attempted to deliver a petition to Abbott's electorate office in Manly. As Abbott was not there, he was accused of being "gutless". Abbott said the event was a "stunt" and said: "I know Bernie is very sick, but just because a person is sick doesn't mean that he is necessarily pure of heart in all things." Abbott later apologised for the comments, owing to a wave of condemnation and an upcoming election. cite news
url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22678290-5013945,00.html
title=Abbott insults asbestos sufferer
author=Sid Marris & AAP
work=
publisher=The Australian
date=2007-10-31
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

* The next day, 30 October 2007, Abbott arrived more than 30 minutes late for a nationally televised debate with his Labor counterpart in the health portfolio (Nicola Roxon) after being held up by masses of journalists in relation to the incident the day before. Roxon answered questions and joked with the media about "debating herself" while waiting. After the debate, Abbott was heard saying to Roxon that her suggestion that he could have made the debate on time was "bullshit". [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2007/10/31/2077894.htm Tony Abbott caught swearing at Nicola Roxon: ABC News 31/10/2007] ] cite news
url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22688978-11949,00.html
title=Liberal campaign wheels get wobbly
author= John Lyons
work=
publisher=The Australian
date=2007-11-02
accessdate=2007-11-28
] Abbot was a recipient of "The Chaser Decides"' 'Mal Award' for this and later bungles in the campaign.

Action against One Nation Party

In 1998, Abbott established a trust fund called "Australians for Honest Politics Trust" to help bankroll civil court cases against the One Nation Party and its leader Pauline Hanson. cite news
url=http://www.smh.com.au/specials/abbottaffair/
title=Targeting One Nation
author=Various
work=Collection
publisher=Sydney Morning Herald
date=2003-09-04
accessdate=2007-11-28
] Prime Minister John Howard denied any knowledge of existence of such a fund. cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2003/s933534.htm
title=Abbot denies lying over anti-Hanson fund
author=Dana Robertson
work=Lateline
publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date=2003-08-27
accessdate=2007-11-28
] Abbott was also accused of offering funds to One Nation dissident Terry Sharples to support his court battle against the party. However, Prime Minister Howard defended the honesty of Abbott in this matter. cite news
url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/28/1062028265844.html
title=Honest Tony's too up front, says PM
author=AAP
work=
publisher=Sydney Morning Herald
date=2003-08-28
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

It was Sharples' legal action that laid the basis for the successful prosecution of the One Nation founders Pauline Hanson and David Ettridge. cite news
url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/27/1061663855108.html
title=Watchdog rethinks Liberal links to Abbott's slush fund
author=Mike Seccombe and Damien Murphy
work=
publisher=Sydney Morning Herald
date=2003-08-28
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

Opposition MP Craig Emerson demanded to know where the money for the Trust, reportedly $100,000, had come from, saying that taxpayers had a right to know. cite news
url=http://www.australianpolitics.com/news/2003/08/03-08-26.shtml
title=Truth Overboard Again Says ALP
author=Craig Emerson
work=Doorstop Interview
publisher=AustralianPolitics.com
date=2003-08-26
accessdate=2007-11-28
] Treasurer Peter Costello said of Abbott's actions, "I don't think that the way to resolve political disputes is through the courts. I think the way to resolve it is at the ballot box." cite news
url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/02/1062403516586.html
title=Costello does it his way
author=Mark Riley
work=
publisher=Sydney Morning Herald
date=2003-09-03
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

Abbott conceded that the political threat One Nation posed to the Howard Government was "a very big factor" in his decision to pursue the legal attack, but he also claimed to be acting "in Australia's national interest". Prime Minister Howard also defended Abbott's actions saying "It's the job of the Liberal Party to politically attack other parties - there's nothing wrong with that."

Alleged son

When Abbott was 19, his then-girlfriend Kathy Donnelly gave birth to a son and had him adopted. Abbott believed the son was his and described this as an intense personal experience. The identity of this son was not known until late 2004, when it was publicly revealed that this child was Daniel O'Connor, an Australian Broadcasting Corporation sound recordist who worked in Parliament House, Canberra and who had often been involved in making television programs in which Abbott appeared. cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1306958.htm
title=Abbott reunited with long-lost son
author=
work=ABC News Online
publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date=2005-03-21
accessdate=2007-11-28
] DNA testing later revealed, however, that Abbott was not O'Connor's biological father. cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1328485.htm
title=DNA test shows Abbott not father of 'son'
author=
work=ABC News Online
publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date=2005-03-21
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

Community Service

Abbott is a volunteer member of the NSW Rural Fire Service cite news
url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/abbott-fights-flames-in-bushfires/2006/01/27/1138319422809.html
title=Abbott fights flames in bushfires
author=AAP
work=
publisher=Sydney Morning Herald
date=2006-01-27
accessdate=2007-11-28
] as a member of the Davidson Rural Fire Brigade.

Abbott has participated in many events for charity. He has run in a 100 km ultramarathon for charity. cite news
url=http://www.walksydneystreets.net/media_press_radio02.htm
title=New Sydney Harbour Walking Track
author=
work=Walk Sydney Streets - Media Items
publisher=Manly Daily (Sydney)
date=2006-10-22
accessdate=2007-11-28
] . In April 2007, Abbott launched the tenth annual Pollie Pedal, a charitable event which aimed to raise money for breast cancer. cite news
url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21562363-5006009,00.html
title=Charity ride and a blushing bride
author=Michelle Cazzulino
work=
publisher=The Daily Telegraph
date=2007-04-16
accessdate=2007-11-28
] Federal Territories Minister Jim Lloyd said that the event was Abbott's "brainchild". cite news
url=http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/jl/pressconf/2005/LPC_9_2005.htm
title=Transcript on Morning Show
author=Georgie Klug
work=ABC Darwin
publisher=Jim Lloyd MP
date=2005-04-05
accessdate=2007-11-28
]

References

External links

* [http://www.tonyabbott.com.au/ Personal website]
*OpenAustralia

Persondata
NAME=Abbott, Tony
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Abbott, Anthony John (full name)
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Australian politician
DATE OF BIRTH=4 November 1957
PLACE OF BIRTH=London, United Kingdom
DATE OF DEATH=Living
PLACE OF DEATH=


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