Greg Combet

Infobox MP
honorific-prefix = The Honourable
name = Greg Combet
honorific-suffix = MP


caption = Greg Combet speaking at the Your Rights at Work rally in Melbourne, 15 November 2005
constituency_MP = Charlton
parliament = Australian
majority =
term_start = 24 November 2007
term_end = present
predecessor = Kelly Hoare
successor = Incumbent
birth_date = birth date and age|1958|04|28|df=yes
birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = Australian
party = Australian Labor Party
spouse = Petra Hilsen
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater = University of New South Wales
University of Sydney
occupation =
profession = Trade unionist and politician
religion =


website =
footnotes =

Gregory Ivan Combet AM MP (born 28 April 1958) is an Australian politician and trade unionist. He was Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) between 2000 and 2007. He was elected member for the New South Wales seat of Charlton at the 2007 election. Combet is the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement in the First Rudd Ministry since December 2007.

Greg Combet was born in Sydney and attended Baulkham Hills High School. He was later educated at the Universities of New South Wales and Sydney, where he studied engineering, economics and labour relations. He was a project officer for the New South Wales Tenants' Union before working for the Lidcombe Workers' Health Centre. In 1987, he was employed by the Waterside Workers' Federation (now part of the Maritime Union of Australia).

Combet's association with the ACTU began in 1993 when he became a Senior Industrial Officer. In 1996 he was elected Assistant Secretary, and in 2000, following the retirement of Bill Kelty, he became Secretary. Over his time at the ACTU, Combet has co-ordinated many union campaigns, including the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute in which he rose to prominence, as well as campaigns to secure entitlements and compensation for the staff of the collapsed airline Ansett and asbestos victims of the James Hardie company. In his capacity as Secretary of the ACTU, Combet led the campaign against the Howard Government's industrial relations law changes.

On 25 March 2007, "The Sunday Age" reported that senior Australian Labor Party figures had announced that Combet would run for election representing the ALP in the safe seat of Charlton in New South Wales. [cite news|first=Jason|last=Koutsoukis|title=Rudd drafts another star recruit to his team|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rudd-drafts-another-star-recruit/2007/03/24/1174597954761.html|work=The Age|date=2007-03-25|accessdate=2007-11-25] However, later that day Combet told "The Age" newspaper that he was not planning an entry into federal politics at the 2007 election, preferring instead to continue leading the ACTU's campaign against the industrial relations law changes. [cite news|first=Royce|last=Millar|coauthors=Nicholson, Brendan|title=Combet rejects rumours of standing for safe seat|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/combet-rejects-rumours-of-standing-for-safe-seat/2007/03/25/1174761282580.html|work=The Age|date=2007-03-26|accessdate=2007-11-25] On 4 May 2007, Combet confirmed his intention to run for Charlton. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1914175.htm Combet confirms he'll stand for ALP] , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 4 May 2007.] The sitting member for Charlton, Kelly Hoare, expressed anger at losing preselection for her seat [ [http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s1939321.htm Combet painted as Charlton outsider] , "", 31 May 2007.] , and for a time considered running as an independent.

Combet stood down as ACTU Secretary to campaign full time in Charlton in the lead up to the federal election. On 14 June 2007 Jeff Lawrence, National Secretary of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) was elected unopposed as the next Secretary of the ACTU. [cite news|first=Meaghan|last=Shaw|title=Little-known Lawrence confirmed as ACTU head|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/littleknown-lawrence-confirmed-as-actu-head/2007/06/13/1181414376500.html|work=The Age|date=2007-06-13|accessdate=2007-11-25]

Combet was elected as the new member for Charlton on 25 November as part of the ALP's victory in the 2007 Australian federal election, achieving a two party preferred swing of 4.47%. [cite web |url=http://results.aec.gov.au/13745/website/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-13745-110.htm |title=NSW Division - Charlton |accessdate=2008-01-27 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date=2007-12-13 |work= |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission] Following the election Prime Minister Kevin Rudd selected Combet to be the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement in the First Rudd Ministry. He was sworn in on 3 December 2007. [cite web
title=Rudd Ministry
publisher=Government of Australia
url=http://www.pmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/ministry_list_2007.pdf
format=PDF
accessdate=2008-01-27]

Other

Combet is a director of the Chifley Research Institute.

On 12 June 2006, in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, he was made a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia. [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1132872&search_type=simple&showInd=true It's an Honour] - Member of the Order of Australia - 12 June 2006
Citation: "For service to industrial relations and through advocacy for the improved health and safety of workers, including people affected by asbestos-related diseases, and to the community."]

Combet is married to Petra Hilsen and has one daughter, one stepdaughter and one stepson.

The role of Combet was played by Daniel Frederiksen in the 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation television series "Bastard Boys", dramatising the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute.

References

External links

* [http://www.actu.asn.au/about/whoswho.html ACTU Profile]
* [http://www.rightsatwork.com.au/ Your Rights At Work Website]
* [http://myspace.com/officialgregcombet Official MySpace profile]
*

Persondata
NAME=Combet, Greg Ivan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Australian politicians
DATE OF BIRTH=28 April 1958
PLACE OF BIRTH=Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=