Kevin Andrews (politician)

Kevin James Andrews (born 9 November 1955) is an Australian former politician and member of the Liberal Party of Australia. He was the Member of House of Representatives for the seat of Menzies from a by-election in 1991 until the 2022 Australian federal election. Andrews is a conservative and a Catholic.[1]

For other people named Kevin Andrews, see Kevin Andrews (disambiguation).

The Honourable
Kevin Andrews
Andrews in 2015
Father of the Australian House of Representatives
In office
10 May 2016 – 11 April 2022
Preceded byPhilip Ruddock
Succeeded byBob Katter
Minister for Defence
In office
23 December 2014 – 21 September 2015
Prime MinisterTony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded byDavid Johnston
Succeeded byMarise Payne
Minister for Social Services
In office
18 September 2013 – 23 December 2014
Prime MinisterTony Abbott
Preceded byJenny Macklin
Succeeded byScott Morrison
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
In office
30 January 2007 – 3 December 2007
Prime MinisterJohn Howard
Preceded byAmanda Vanstone
Succeeded byChris Evans
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
In office
7 October 2003 – 30 January 2007
Prime MinisterJohn Howard
Preceded byTony Abbott
Succeeded byJoe Hockey
Minister for Ageing
In office
26 November 2001 – 7 October 2003
Prime MinisterJohn Howard
Preceded byBronwyn Bishop
Succeeded byJulie Bishop
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Menzies
In office
11 May 1991 – 11 April 2022
Preceded byNeil Brown
Succeeded byKeith Wolahan
Personal details
Born
Kevin James Andrews

(1955-11-09) 9 November 1955
Sale, Victoria, Australia
Political partyLiberal Party
SpouseMargaret Ryan
Children5
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
Monash University
WebsiteOfficial website

Previously, Andrews served in the Howard government as the Minister for Ageing, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, and then the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship until the 2007 election, at which his party lost government.

Following the 2009 Liberal leadership ballot, Andrews served in the Shadow Cabinet of Tony Abbott as shadow minister for Families, Housing and Human Services until the 2013 election where his party won government.[2] In the Abbott government, Andrews served in the cabinet as Minister for Social Services and later Minister for Defence.[3] At the September 2015 Liberal leadership ballot, Andrews unsuccessfully contested for the Liberal deputy leadership against Julie Bishop, while supporting Tony Abbott against Malcolm Turnbull as Liberal leader. Upon the ascension of the Turnbull government Andrews was dropped from the new Ministry and moved to the backbench.[4]

With the retirement of Philip Ruddock at the 2016 federal election, Andrews became the Father of the House.[5] Although Warren Snowdon was first elected in 1987, Andrews was the longest continuously serving member, because Snowdon was out of the House between 1996 and 1998. Andrews was one of three parliamentary survivors of the Hawke government, the others being Snowdon and Russell Broadbent. From 2019 until his retirement in 2022, Andrews was the "Father of the Parliament", the currently longest, continuously serving member of the Australian Parliament.

On 31 January 2021, Andrews lost the Liberal Party's endorsement in a preselection challenge to barrister Keith Wolahan (181 votes to 111).[6][7]

Early life and education

Andrews was born on 9 November 1955 in Sale, Victoria, the son of Roy Gebhardt Andrews and Sheila Rosina O'Connor.[2] He was educated at the Rosedale Primary School, St Patrick's College, Sale, and the University of Melbourne, where he resided at Newman College and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1979 and a Bachelor of Arts in 1980.[2] At university, he was President of the Newman College Students' Club and the National Association of Australian University Colleges. He later completed a Master of Laws degree at Monash University in 1986.[2]

Andrews was a racing commentator in the 1970s and 80s, calling various sporting events including athletics, cycling and motor sports, and writing for a number of publications, including Australian Auto Action. He was also secretary of the Melbourne University Athletics Club, and a director of the Victorian Amateur Athletics Association. At Melbourne University, he trained with the legendary coach, Franz Stampfl.

After graduation, he worked for the Law Institute of Victoria from 1980 to 1983, as a research solicitor and co-ordinator of Continuing Legal Education.[2] From 1983 to 1985, he served as associate to Sir James Gobbo, Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, and subsequently the Governor of Victoria. He practised as a barrister from 1985 until his election to Parliament in 1991.[8]

While practising law he specialised in health law and bioethics and was involved with the St Vincent's Bioethics Centre, the Mercy Hospital for Women, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Lincoln School of Health Sciences.[9] He was also a board member of Caritas Christi Hospice.[9]

Early political career
Andrews early in his career

Andrews was elected to the House of Representatives for the Liberal Party at the 1991 Menzies by-election in Victoria. Andrews has never lived in his electorate but in the neighbouring Jagajaga.[10]

Andrews was a member of the Lyons Forum, a socially conservative Christian group within the Coalition that was disbanded in the mid-1990s. Andrews served as the Forum Secretary and is credited with suggesting the name for the group.[11][12]

Andrews was shadow minister for schools but was removed from the position when Alexander Downer replaced John Hewson as Liberal leader in May 1994.[13]

Howard government (1996–2007)

As a backbencher, Andrews chaired the House of Representatives Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. He presented a private member's bill, the Euthanasia Laws Bill 1996, which was passed in 1997 and overrode the Northern Territory's legislation, the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995, that legalised euthanasia in the Territory.

Andrews called for an end to trials of the RU-486 drug, and voted against a bill in 2006 that took away the Health Minister's power to veto applications to allow the drug to be used.[14]

In taking a stance against stem cell research in 2002, he stated that it was the "first time" that "human beings can be treated as a commodity".[15] He also took a stance against stem cell research during a debate in 2006, which resulted in the overturning of a previous ban on the research.[16]

After the Coalition's third victory in 2001, Andrews was brought into the outer ministry as Minister for Ageing, a portfolio in which he served from 26 November 2001 to 7 October 2003.[2] He was subsequently appointed to Cabinet as the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and was responsible for introducing the Howard government's major changes to industrial relations law in 2005, commonly known as WorkChoices, which introduced a national system of workplace relations in Australia. In a reshuffle in early 2007, Andrews was made Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, a position which he held until the swearing-in of the First Rudd Ministry on 3 December 2007, following the defeat of the Howard government in the 2007 election.

Opposition (2007–2013)

During 2008 and 2009, he served as Chairman of the Coalition's Policy Review Committee, reviewing and developing the Opposition's policies, until he was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet (to the position of Shadow Minister for Families, Housing and Human Services) in December 2009 by the newly elected Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott. He was also appointed Deputy Chairman of the Coalition Policy Development Committee.

In November 2009, Andrews declared his candidacy against Malcolm Turnbull in a vote for a leadership spill, in opposition to Turnbull's support for the government's emissions trading scheme. He had declared himself a climate change sceptic, saying that "the jury is still out" on human contributions to global warming.[17] However, the partyroom voted down a leadership spill 41 votes to 35 and Andrews' challenge consequently did not eventuate.[18] After continued leadership speculation, a second party room meeting was held, at which point the leadership was declared vacant. Tony Abbott, Joe Hockey, and Malcolm Turnbull all stood for the leadership, and Tony Abbott was ultimately successful. Following his election as Leader, Abbott promoted Andrews to the Shadow Cabinet as Minister for Families, Housing and Human Services.

At the 2010 federal election, Andrews was re-elected to the seat of Menzies with a 2.7-point swing against the Labor Party.[19] He was subsequently re-elected in 2013, 2016 and 2019, becoming the "Father of the Parliament".

Andrews chaired the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, the Joint Select Committee on Australia's Family Law System, the Coalition Policy Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, and the Australia–China Parliamentary Friendship Group. He was also co-chair of the informal Parliamentary Friends of Hong Kong.

Abbott government (2013–2015)

In the Abbott government, Andrews served as Minister for Social Services from September 2013 to December 2014. He was then Minister for Defence from December 2014 to September 2015.[20]

On 14 September 2015, after Deputy Leader Julie Bishop announced she would support Malcolm Turnbull in challenge against Prime Minister Tony Abbott for the leadership of the Liberal Party, Andrews announced he supported Abbott and would stand for the deputy leadership against Bishop. Bishop retained the position of Deputy Liberal Leader with 70 votes to Andrews' 30.[4]

Controversies

Haneef affair
Main article: Muhamed Haneef

As Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Andrews attracted controversy after he revoked on character grounds the visa of Dr Muhamed Haneef, who had been granted bail on charges of aiding terrorists.[21][22] This was criticised as a move to keep Haneef in detention; upon posting bail, Haneef would have been transferred from Brisbane's Wolston Correctional Centre to Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre.[23] Andrews defended his actions as being in accordance with the Migration Act and Haneef's lawyers challenged his interpretation of the Act in the Federal Court.[23][24]

Following the Director of Public Prosecutions dropping all charges against Haneef, Andrews refused calls to reinstate Haneef's visa, stating that his personal evidence was still valid.[21][25] Andrews' refusal resulted in calls for a public inquiry into the incident by then Queensland Premier Peter Beattie.[26][27][28]

Andrews' justification of his decision, that he had a reasonable suspicion that Haneef had associated with suspected terrorists and therefore failed the test of good character that a person must pass to keep a visa, was rejected in the Federal Court, and the revocation of Haneef's visa was overturned.[29] However, in November, e-mails released under the Freedom of Information Act appeared to indicate that Andrews' office had a plan to revoke the visa before the case went to court, in the case that bail was granted.[30]

On 23 December 2008, a government-ordered inquiry report was released. Mr Clarke, the head of the judicial inquiry, determined Mr Andrews did not act with an improper motive.PM - Haneef calls for apology after Clarke Inquiry

Publications record

Following Andrews' criticism of irregularities discovered in the CV of an Indian doctor working on the Gold Coast,[31] various media organisations carried reports disputing Andrews' claim on parliamentary and ministerial websites to have co-authored three books, having contributed only a chapter to each.[32] Andrews argued in his own defence that

"In common, everyday parlance, as one of the authors (of a chapter) I presumed you called yourself a co-author – that's all I've simply done. I wasn't aware, to be frank, of some publishing convention that someone's referred to (that suggests otherwise). If that offends people's sensibilities well so be it, basically."[32]

2007 African immigration controversy

In October 2007, Andrews' decision to cut Australia's refugee intake from African nations was described by some critics as racist and a use of the race card to appeal to "racist" voters[33] before the 2007 Australian federal election.[34] Andrews defended the decision, saying: "Some groups don't seem to be settling and adjusting into the Australian way of life as quickly as we would hope."[35]

The Queensland Labor Premier, Anna Bligh, described Andrews' criticism of Sudanese as "disturbing". She said: "It has been a long time since I have heard such a pure form of racism out of the mouth of any Australian politician."[33] Labor politician Tony Burke described Andrews' decision as "incompetent".[36] However, Andrews' actions were applauded by then former One Nation politician, Pauline Hanson.[33] In addition members of the Australian community viewed Andrews as responsible for creating a racial tension leading to anti-African sentiment in the community and racially based attacks on Sudanese migrants in Australia.[37][38][39] Andrews stated in 2011 he did not regret raising the issue.[40]

Use of parliamentary entitlements

In February 2016, Andrews used $1,855 in taxpayer funds as part of approved "study allowance" to attend the US National "prayer breakfast" in Washington DC, a bipartisan annual event which is addressed by the President of the United States, address the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank, about Australia's security policy, and have a series of policy discussion meetings in Washington DC and in the process missed the first week of Parliament,[41] which had been approved by the party Whip.

Religious bakeries

In November 2017, Andrews advocated for "Jewish bakers" to have the legal right to refuse to bake cakes for Islamic weddings and the other way around.[42]

Causes and views

Andrews is a member of the National Right faction of the Liberal Party.[43]

Andrews has been associated with, or given speeches to, many organisations over the years. His most significant non-Parliamentary speeches are published in the volume One People One Destiny.

Andrews was an adviser to the board of Life Decisions International (LDI), an anti-abortion group. He has described his role with LDI as an "honorary patronage".[44]

In 2007, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that, on his entry in the Parliamentary Register of Pecuniary Interests, Andrews did not declare his wife's patronage of the board of advisors of Life Decisions International.[45]

On 9 April 2003, Andrews made a speech to the Endeavour Forum,[46] a conservative Christian group founded to counter the feminist movement which opposes abortion, equal opportunity and affirmative action.[47]

Andrews has given several speeches over the years at the Family Council of Victoria, an organisation opposed to homosexuality,[48] sex-education, and anti-homophobia policies in public schools, which it claims is "pro-homosexual indoctrination" of students.[49] He is a vocal public opponent of same-sex marriage and publicly stated he would vote against any bill, regardless of the results of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey.[50] He abstained from voting for the bill to legalise same-sex marriage in the Australian Parliament.

Andrews supports immigration as a way to slow population ageing in Australia.[51]

During an address to the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia, he said that "The level of net overseas migration is important as net inflows of migrants to Australia reduce the rate of population ageing because migrants are younger on average than the resident population. Just under 70% of the migrant intake are in the 15–44 age cohort, compared to 43% of the Australian population as a whole. Just 10% of the migrant intake are 45 or over, compared with 38% of the Australian population."[51]

In 2011, as a Liberal Shadow Cabinet frontbencher, Andrews published a critique of the Greens' policy agenda in Quadrant Magazine in which he wrote that the Australian Greens' "objective involves a radical transformation of the culture that underpins Western civilisation" and that their agenda would threaten the "Judeo-Christian/Enlightenment synthesis that upholds the individual" as well as "the economic system that has resulted in the creation of wealth and prosperity for the most people in human history."[52]

Andrews supported the move to make Australia a republic at the Australian Constitutional Convention 1998.[53]

Andrews was an adjunct lecturer in politics and in marriage education at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Melbourne.[9]

He has long advocated the critical importance of Australia's reliance on natural resources. He is credited with suggesting the title of the Coalition's then pro-national resources interest group, the Monash Forum.

He has served on many bodies in addition to serving in the Parliament since 1991, including the Marriage Education Programme Inc, the Australian Association of Marriage Education, the Newman College council, the Institute for Social NeuroScience, and the council of the National Archives.

Andrews is a keen cyclist, participating in many charitable rides, including the annual Pollie Pedal event, and competing in Masters racing. His youngest son, Ben, rode as a professional cyclist in Australia, on the Asian circuit, and in the kermesse series in Europe. Andrews' most recent book, Great Rivalries, is the story of cycling and the history of Italy from 1860 to 1960.

He has published a policy journal, Australian Polity, since 2008.

References
  1. "In God they trust – National – www.smh.com.au". www.smh.com.au. 12 April 2004. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  2. "Hon Kevin Andrews MP". Senators and Members. Parliament of Australia. 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  3. Susan McDonald (21 December 2014). "Cabinet reshuffle: Scott Morrison moves to Social Services; Sussan Ley promoted as second woman in Cabinet; David Johnston leaves". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. After months of pressure, David Johnston has been dumped as Defence Minister and replaced by Kevin Andrews, whom the Prime Minister said was a "safe pair of hands".
  4. "Australian PM Tony Abbott confirms evening leadership ballot after Malcolm Turnbull's challenge – politics live | Australia news". The Guardian. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  5. Green, Antony (10 February 2016). "Who will be the Father of the House when Philip Ruddock Retires?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  6. Ferguson, Richard. "Liberal stalwart Kevin Andrews loses Menzies preselection to Keith Wolahan". The Australian. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  7. "Victorian Liberal MP Kevin Andrews loses preselection for seat of Menzies". ABC News. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  8. "Hon Kevin Andrews MP". Parliament of Australia Senators and Members. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  9. "Hon Kevin Andrews MP". Adjunct Lecturers. John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family. Archived from the original on 8 September 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  10. "How local is local? The 12 MPs who don't live in the seats they're trying to win". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  11. "The Lyons Forum". Censorship and Free Speech. Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc. 1998. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  12. Bradford, John. "Autobiography". John Bradford, former Liberal MP representing Division of McPherson. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  13. "Dumped". The Canberra Times. 27 May 1994. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  14. 17/1140151809831.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 "For the biggest loser it's just bad memories". Sydney Morning Herald. 18 February 2006. Retrieved 3 October 2007. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  15. "Politicians prepare to vote on stem cell issue". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 August 2002. Archived from the original on 25 December 2004. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
  16. "Stem cell cloning ban overturned". News.com.au. 6 December 2006. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
  17. "Andrews sets out leadership challenge". ABC News. 24 November 2009.
  18. Sharp, Ari (25 November 2009). "Malcolm Turnbull survives leadership challenge". The Age. Melbourne.
  19. "Australian Electoral Commission summary of Menzies, Federal Election 2010". Australian Electoral Commission. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  20. Hon Kevin Andrews MP, Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  21. "Dr Haneef" (Press release). Kevin Andrews MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. 30 July 2007. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  22. Viellaris, Renee; Gregory, Jason; Lill, Jasmin (18 July 2007). "Haneef moved to prison". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 23 August 2007.
  23. Roberts, Kathryn (18 July 2007). "Lawyers launch campaign to restore Haneef's visa". ABC News and Current Affairs#ABC Radio programs – PM. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  24. Coorey, Phillip; Gibson, Joel; Skehan, Craig (18 July 2007). "India raises concern over detention". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  25. "Haneef decision due today". The Australian. 27 July 2007. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  26. "Beattie wants Andrews carpeted over Haneef". News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 July 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2007.
  27. "I was never a threat: Haneef". Sydney Morning Herald. 29 July 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2007.
  28. Menon, Parvathi (29 July 2007). "Debate over detention, departure continues". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  29. [2007] FCA 1273 Haneef v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
  30. Welch, Dylan (2 November 2007). "'Secret plan' to keep Haneef in jail". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  31. "Andrews calls for Beattie's assurance on foreign doctors". Local news for Gold and Tweed Coasts. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 August 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  32. "Minister Andrews denies fudging CV". Sydney Morning Herald. 27 August 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  33. Heywood, Lachlan; Philip, Martin; Wray, Michael (5 October 2007). "Pauline Hanson backs Kevin Andrews on migrants". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2 December 2007.
  34. "Hardgrave backs call to cut African refugee intake". The World Today. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2007.
  35. Collins, Sarah-Jane (10 October 2007). "Murder 'shame on entire community'". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  36. "Andrews' handling of African refugees 'incompetent'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 October 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  37. "Andrews sparks anti-African abuse: community". ABC News. 9 October 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  38. "Lateline – 10/10/2007: NT Sudanese community protest refugee comments". abc.net.au. 10 October 2007.
  39. "Minister's claims an 'injustice'". theage.com.au. 10 October 2007.
  40. "Lateline – 11/10/2007: Immigration Minister denies inciting racial tension". abc.net.au. 11 October 2007.
  41. Gartrell, Adam (14 January 2017). "Kevin Andrews charged taxpayers $2000 to attend prayer breakfast". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  42. "Jewish bakers should be able to refuse service to Muslims: Liberal MP". SBS News.
  43. 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.
  44. "Andrews in radical group that boycotts Disney – National". smh.com.au. 5 August 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  45. Walsh, Kerry-Anne; Michelle Singer (7 August 2007). "Andrews in radical group that boycotts Disney". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 August 2007.
  46. "Endeavour Forum's 24th Birthday Dinner". Important Coming Events, April 2003. Endeavour Forum. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  47. "Introduction 1". What we are about. Endeavour Forum. Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  48. ""Homosexual Vilification Legislation "The Bill" is Wrong"". Issues. Family Council of Victoria. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  49. "Why the Prime Minister is Right on Public Schools Values". Issues. Bill Muehlenberg, Family Council of Victoria. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  50. "How your MP will vote if Australia says Yes to same-sex marriage". ABC News. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  51. Andrews, Kevin (17 May 2007). "Address to the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia". Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  52. "The Greens' Agenda, in Their Own Words — Quadrant Online". quadrant.org.au. January 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  53. "774 ABC MORNINGS WITH JON FAINE – 27 JANUARY, 2015". Kevin Andrews MP (self published). 27 January 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. I'm saying that as someone who actually supported a Republic at the convention in 1998.

Further reading
  • Aldred, Ken; Andrews, Kevin; Filing, Paul (eds.)(1994), The Heart of Liberalism. The Albury Papers, Mitcham, Victoria. ISBN 0-646-21290-7
  • Andrews, Kevin and Curtis, Michelle (1998) Changing Australia. The Federation Press, Annadale NSW ISBN 1 86287 278 3
  • Andrews, Kevin (2014) Maybe 'I do' – Modern marriage and the pursuit of happiness. Connor Court, Ballarat ISBN 9781925138122
  • Andrews, Kevin (2016) Joseph Lyons and the management of adversity. Connor Court, Brisbane ISBN 9781925501339
  • Andrews, Kevin (2018) One People One Destiny. Threshold Publishing, Melbourne. ISBN 9780646975627
  • Andrews, Kevin (2019) Great Rivalries - Cycling & the Story of Italy. Connor Court, Brisbane ISBN 9781925826456
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