- Matthew Gardiner
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For the footballer, see Matthew Gardiner (footballer).
Matthew John Gardiner (born 16 May 1971) is the former Secretary for Unions NT, he held this position from 2008 till 2010 when he stood down to take endorsement as a political candidate. Unions NT[1] (also known as Northern Territory Trades and Labour Council) has been an active part of the NT Labour movement since the early 1980s and is the Northern Territory's representative of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).
He is also the Secretary of the NT Branch[2] of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union and has overseen the growth of the branch to become the largest and oldest Union in the Northern Territory.[3] The Union represents workers in many varied industries in the Northern Territory including Mining,[4] Firefighters, Prison Officers,[5] Childcare, Healthcare, Cleaners, Security and Indigenous Organisations. The Union has grown between 5-10% per annum under his term of office and was recently re elected unopposed to continue his tenure till 2014.
Matthew grew up in Merrylands, NSW where he attended Parramatta High School. After schooling he joined the Australian Army where he trained to become a Combat Engineer. It was while posted to 17 Troop, 18 Field Squadron of the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment in Lavarack Barracks, Townsville that he was deployed on active duty to Somalia as part of Operation Solace as part of the 1RAR Battalion Group deployment as part of UNITAF. Matthew later trained to become a surveyor and was posted to 17 Construction Squadron where he spent several months living in remote communities in the Northern Territory as part of the Army's AACAP programs.[6]
Matthew briefly studied surveying at Queensland University of Technology before transferring to Charles Darwin University to complete an undergraduate Nursing degree before working at Royal Darwin Hospital in the Emergency Department and Operating Theatre. It was at this time that Matthew became more active in the Union movement becoming a delegate and later an organiser for the NT Branch of the Australian Nursing Federation[7] before taking on the role as Lead Organiser at the LHMU before taking on the role as Branch Secretary.
Matthew is a member of the Charles Darwin University Council[8] and is married to Andrea and has three young sons Liam, Patrick and Daniel. He is also an active member of the MG Car Club of the NT (MGCCNT).
Matthew is active in politics being Vice President of the NT Branch of the Australian Labor Party and having stood for pre-selection for the seat of Solomon only to narrowly lose to the current member for Solomon, Damian Hale[9] and was the second endorsed ALP candidate for the senate in the Australian General Election held on the 21st August 2010[10][11]
Matthew has been a vocal advocate for Territory issues included the proposed nuclear waste dump,[12] indigenous jobs,[13] the NT Intervention and remote health.[14]
Matthew is involved in fundraising for charitable organisations including MAG International and Total Recreation.
References
- ^ http://www.unionsnt.com.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=home&m=7
- ^ http://www.lhmu.org.au/branches/nt
- ^ http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/12/05/106691_ntnews.html
- ^ http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/01/27/29511_ntnews.html
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/11/2652398.htm
- ^ http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1032/story04.htm
- ^ http://www.anfnt.org.au/pdf/nsltr_apr_06.pdf
- ^ http://www.cdu.edu.au/governance/MrMatthewGardiner.htm
- ^ http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2007/08/25/seat-du-jour-solomon/
- ^ http://alp.org.au/federal-government/labor-people/matthew-gardiner/
- ^ http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/07/30/168641_election2010.html
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/10/2594189.htm
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/08/2619965.htm
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/26/2255489.htm
Categories:- 1971 births
- Living people
- Australian trade unionists
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