Warren Snowdon

Australian politician

The Honourable

Warren Snowdon

Snowdon in 2011

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
In office
14 September 2010 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister| Julia Gillard
Kevin Rudd
Preceded by| Alan Griffin
Succeeded by| Stuart Robert
In office
3 December 2007 – 9 June 2009
Prime Minister| Kevin Rudd
Preceded by| No immediate predecessor
Succeeded by| Alan Griffin
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC
In office
3 March 2011 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister| Julia Gillard
Kevin Rudd
Preceded by| Office Established
Succeeded by| Michael Ronaldson
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
In office
13 September 2010 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister| Julia Gillard
Kevin Rudd
Preceded by| Alan Griffin
Succeeded by| Michael Ronaldson
Minister for Indigenous Health
In office
9 June 2009 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister| Kevin Rudd
Julia Gillard
Preceded by| No immediate predecessor
Succeeded by| Fiona Nash
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Lingiari
In office
10 November 2001 – 21 May 2022
Preceded by| New seat
Succeeded by| Marion Scrymgour
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Northern Territory
In office
3 October 1998 – 10 November 2001
Preceded by| Nick Dondas
Succeeded by| Division abolished
In office
11 July 1987 – 2 March 1996
Preceded by| Paul Everingham
Succeeded by| Nick Dondas
Personal details
Born|

Warren Edward Snowdon

(1950-03-20) 20 March 1950 (age 75)
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Political party| Australian Labor Party
Spouse| Elizabeth Verstappen
Children| Frances, Tom, Tessa and Jack
Residence| Alice Springs
Alma mater| Australian National University,
University of Western Australia
Occupation| Politician
Profession| Teacher

Warren Edward Snowdon (born 20 March 1950) is an Australian former politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from July 1987 to March 1996, and again from October 1998 until May 2022. Initially representing the Division of Northern Territory, and later the Division of Lingiari, his constituents consisted of all the residents of the Northern Territory located outside Darwin, as well as Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean. He was the last sitting MP who was first elected in the 1980s, and the last who served in Old Parliament House.

Snowdon was the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Indigenous Health, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC in the second Rudd ministry. Snowdon is a member of the left faction of the Labor Party.[1]

Snowdon did not contest the 2022 federal election and retired from politics.[2]

## Early life and career

[edit]

Snowdon was born in Canberra and was educated at St Edmund's College, the Australian National University and the University of Western Australia.

He worked as a teacher with the Northern Territory teaching service before entering politics. He was a senior project officer with the Central Land Council in Alice Springs 1983–87 and was founding president of the Central Australian Regional Trades and Labour Council, then assistant secretary of the Northern Territory Trades and Labour Council.

## Political career

[edit]

Snowdon was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Communications 1990–92, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education and Training 1992–96, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment, Sport and Territories 1993 and 1994–96 and Parliamentary Secretary (Territories) 1993–94.

Defeated at the 1996 federal election, Snowdon returned to parliament two years later. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Regional and Urban Development, Transport and Infrastructure (Northern Australia and the Territories) 2001–04. From 2004 to 2007 he was Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs.

Snowdon was sworn in as Minister for Defence Science and Personnel in the first Rudd ministry on 3 December 2007.[3] Following a reshuffle of the Ministry on 9 June 2009 as a result of the resignation of the Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, Snowdon was promoted to Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Service Delivery. On 14 September 2010, he gained the portfolio of Veterans' Affairs and regained Defence Science and Personnel, while losing responsibility for Rural and Regional Health and Regional Service Delivery, but retaining Indigenous Health. On 12 September 2011 he was given the added responsibility of Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC.[4]

Snowdon narrowly retained his seat at the 2013 federal election, largely due to his winning all but five booths.[5] However, Snowdon was not appointed to the shadow ministry.[6]

Snowdon was re-elected in the 2016 federal election with a seven-point swing towards him, becoming the longest-serving MP in the House, and the only member who was first elected in the 1980s.[7] Snowdon was however not the Father of the House due to his continuous service only beginning from 1998. Kevin Andrews, whose continuous service began from 1991, became Father of the House instead. Snowdon again retained his seat at the 2019 federal election.

He sat on the "Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000-year-old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia" from June 2020.[8][9]

In reference to his service from Old Parliament House, Snowdon said: "I'm a bit of a relic. I'm the only one left in this parliament - Senate or House of Reps - from the Old Parliament House."[10]

Snowdon did not contest the 2022 federal election and retired from politics.

## See also

[edit]

* First Rudd Ministry
* First Gillard Ministry
* Second Gillard Ministry
* Second Rudd Ministry

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Kerr, Christian (15 October 2013). "Love-in gives way to faction muscle". The Australian. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
2. ^ Coughlan, Matt (10 December 2020). "NT MP Snowdon to depart at next election". Perth Now. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
3. ^ "Rudd drops six: report". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 November 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
4. ^ "Ministries and Cabinets". 43rd Parliamentary Handbook: Historical information on the Australian Parliament. Parliament of Australia. 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
5. ^ Aikman, Amos (10 September 2013). "NT chief demotes ally of Tony Abbott, Alison Anderson". The Australian. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
6. ^ Crowe, David (15 October 2013). "Fraction too much faction in Labor 'cabal'". The Australian. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
7. ^ "Warren Snowdon keeps on keeping on with easy win in Lingiari". NT News. NT News. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
8. ^ "Release of interim report into Juukan Gorge tragedy". Parliament of Australia. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
9. ^ Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia (December 2020). Never again: Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000 year old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia - Interim Report. Commonwealth of Australia. ISBN 978-1-76092-197-2. PDF
10. ^ Coughlan, Matt (10 December 2020). "NT MP Snowdon to depart at next election". Perth Now. Retrieved 10 December 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Search or browse Hansard for Warren Snowdon at OpenAustralia.org

Political offices

New title |  Minister for Indigenous Health
2009–2013  | Succeeded by

Fiona Nash
as Assistant Minister for Health

Preceded by

Alan Griffin

|  Minister for Veterans' Affairs
2010–2013  | Succeeded by

Michael Ronaldson

Preceded by

Greg Combet

|  Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
2010–2013  | Succeeded by

Stuart Robert
as Assistant Minister for Defence

Preceded by

Bronwyn Bishop

|  Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
2007–2009  | Succeeded by

Greg Combet

Parliament of Australia
New division |  Member for Lingiari
2001–2022  | Succeeded by

Marion Scrymgour

Preceded by

Nick Dondas

|  Member for Northern Territory
1998–2001  | Division abolished
Preceded by

Paul Everingham

|  Member for Northern Territory
1987–1996  | Succeeded by

Nick Dondas

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