Craig Emerson

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The Honourable
Dr Craig Emerson
File:Craig Emerson.jpg
Minister for Trade and Competitiveness
In office
14 September 2010 – 26 June 2013
Prime Minister Julia Gillard
Preceded by Stephen Smith
Succeeded by Richard Marles
Minister for Tertiary Education and Science
In office
25 March 2013 – 26 June 2013
Prime Minister Julia Gillard
Preceded by Chris Bowen
Succeeded by Kim Carr
Minister for Small Business
In office
3 December 2007 – 14 September 2010
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Julia Gillard
Preceded by Fran Bailey
Succeeded by Nick Sherry
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Rankin
In office
3 October 1998 – 5 August 2013
Preceded by David Beddall
Succeeded by Jim Chalmers
Personal details
Born Craig Anthony Emerson
(1954-11-15) 15 November 1954 (age 69)
Baradine, New South Wales, Australia
Political party Labor Party
Alma mater University of Sydney (BEc, MEc)
Australian National University (PhD)
Profession Economist, Politician
Religion Roman Catholic[1]
Website Parliamentary website
Personal website

Craig Anthony Emerson (born 15 November 1954) is a former Australian politician who represented the House of Representatives seat of Rankin in Queensland for the Australian Labor Party from 1998 until 2013. Emerson was the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness, the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Asian Century Policy in the Second Gillard Ministry until his resignation from the ministry on 26 June 2013. Emerson did not contest his seat at the following election.

Early life

Emerson was born in Baradine, New South Wales, and was educated at St Patrick's College, Strathfield and the University of Sydney where he graduated with a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) and a Master of Economics. He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from the Australian National University.

Career

In the past Emerson has variously been an economic analyst with the United Nations, an economic adviser to the Minister for Resources and Energy and the Minister for Finance, an Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and economic and environmental adviser to Prime Minister Bob Hawke.[2] He became Director-General of the Queensland Department of Environment in 1990.[2] He was chief executive officer of the South East Queensland Transit Authority from 1995–96.[2]

Emerson was appointed Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism from 2001 to 2003, and then Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations and the Public Service from 2001 to 2004. In December 2006 he was appointed Shadow Minister for the Service Economy, Small Business and Independent Contractors.[2]

On 3 December 2007, Emerson was named Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy and Minister assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation in the newly elected Rudd ministry.[2] In June 2009, he was also appointed Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs.[2]

On 14 September 2010 Emerson was appointed the Minister for Trade,[2] expanded to Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in a ministerial reshuffle announced on 2 March 2012.[3] On 29 October 2012, Emerson was assigned the role of Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Asian Century Policy.[4][5] In a further reshuffle of ministerial responsibilities in March 2013, Emerson gained an additional portfolio as Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research.[6]

Following a leadership spill for the position of Leader of the Australian Labor Party, in June 2013 Emerson resigned his ministerial portfolios and said he would not contest his seat at the next election.[7]

A notable moment in Emerson's political life saw him attempt to convince the Australian public on national television that the carbon tax put in place by the government would not prove catastrophic to the manufacturing industry. He chose to focus on Whyalla as an example, and did this by singing there would be "No Whyalla wipeout, there on my TV" to the tune of the chorus of The Skyhooks track "Horror Movie". Since retirement from politics, he has played a comical singing role in the house band for the ABC parody television program "The Hamster Decides", in which he sings various short messages to the same "Horror Movie" chorus tune.

After leaving parliament, Emerson commenced work as a registered political lobbyist. His clients have included AGL Energy, Santos, Wesfarmers and Coles Supermarkets Australia.[8] He is also a regular presenter on The Cabinet on Sky News Australia.[9] In 2014 Emerson was appointed as an Adjunct Professor of Victoria University.

Personal life

Emerson was in a relationship with Julia Gillard in 2002 while they were both members of Parliament, prior to her rise to the prime ministership.[10] He was previously married and has three children.

See also

References

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External links

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Rankin
1998–2013		 Succeeded by
Jim Chalmers
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Small Business
2007–2010		 Succeeded by
Nick Sherry
Preceded by Minister for Trade and Competitiveness
2010–2013		 Succeeded by
Richard Marles
Preceded by Minister for Tertiary Education and Science
2013		 Succeeded by
Kim Carr
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