In conversation with Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham
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The Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS:ACRI) was delighted to welcome Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Australia’s Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, to discuss the present state and the future of Australia-China relations. Senator Birmingham delivered an address before joining UTS:ACRI Director Professor James Laurenceson in conversation.
This event was made possible with the support of MA Financial Group.
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Speaker
Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham
Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham is the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and Senator for South Australia.
Prior to entering the Senate, Senator Birmingham worked for a number of industry bodies, establishing particular experience in the wine, tourism and hospitality sectors – industries that are critical to South Australia’s prosperity.
After less than three years in the Senate Senator Birmingham was appointed to the Shadow Ministry, serving as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray-Darling Basin and the Environment until the 2013 election. Following the change of government in 2013 Senator Birmingham served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment, with responsibility for water policy, including the Murray-Darling Basin, National Parks and the Bureau of Meteorology.
In 2014 Senator Birmingham was appointed to serve as the Assistant Minister for Education and Training in the Abbott Ministry, with specific responsibility for vocational education, apprenticeships, training and skills. Senator Birmingham then went on to become Minister for Education and Training in the Turnbull government in September 2015 and was made Manager of Government Business in the Senate in February 2018.
Under the Morrison Government, Senator Birmingham was appointed as Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate in August 2018. Senator Birmingham was then appointed as Minister for Finance in October 2020 while also having the responsibility as Leader of the Government in the Senate. Following the 2022 federal election, Senator Birmingham was appointed Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.
He has previously served as the Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Assistant Minister for Local Government.
Moderator
Professor James Laurenceson
Professor James Laurenceson is Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney. His research interests relate to the Chinese economy and the Australia-China economic and broader relationship.
