Tim Holding

Tim Holding (born 21 August, 1972) is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 1999. He currently serves as Minister for Water, Minister for Finance and Minister for Tourism and Major Events.

Holding served on the City of Waverley council from 1992-1994. He also served in 126 Signals Squadron of the 1st Commando Regiment in the Army Reserves from 1991-1993. He was educated at Haileybury College and the University of Melbourne graduating in Law in 1997. He soon became active in the Australian Labor Party and Young Labor; working as an Electorate Officer to State and Federal Members of Parliament, and later as an assistant Ministerial Adviser.

In 1999, Holding was elected to Victorian Legislative Assembly as the Member for Springvale at the age of 25. In 2002 he was elected the Member for Lyndhurst and appointed Minister for Manufacturing and Exports, and Minister for the Financial Services Industry. In 2005, Holding was promoted to position of Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrections. After the 2006 election, he was given the portfolios of Finance and Tourism as well as Information and Communication Technology. Some initially saw this as a demotion, but Premier Steve Bracks described Holding as having done a 'great job' with Finance being seen as central to government decision-making with fewer potential political difficulties than the notoriously tricky Police responsibilities. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/victoria-votes/bracks-names-his-team/2006/11/29/1164476246224.html Bracks names his team] ]

Due to his relative youth and prominence, Holding has often been touted as a possible future Victorian Labor leader. He did, however, suffer some criticism for his performance as Police Minister. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/training-wheels-tim-losing-his-sheen/2005/08/27/1124563067497.html Training wheels Tim losing his sheen] ]

Holding easily won the safe Labor seat of Lyndhurst in the 2006 state election by a margin of 25.1% (a swing of 3.0% against Labor). [ [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/vic/2006/results/lynd.htm 2006 Victoria State Election. Party Totals. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)] ] He was subsequently promoted in an August 2007 reshuffle following the accession of John Brumby to the premiership, receiving his current responsibilities. Holding had been touted as a serious candidate for Treasurer, but lost out to John Lenders.

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