Chris Bowen

The Honourable Chris Bowen
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 September 2010
Prime Minister	Julia Gillard
Preceded by	Chris Evans
Minister for Financial Services Superannuation and Corporate Law
In office 9 June 2009 – 13 September 2010
Prime Minister	Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard
Preceded by	Nick Sherry
Succeeded by	Bill Shorten
Member of the Australian Parliament for Prospect
In office 9 October 2004 – 21 August 2010
Preceded by	Janice Crosio
Succeeded by	seat abolished
Member of the Australian Parliament for McMahon
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 August 2010
Preceded by	new seat
Personal details
Born	17 January 1973 (1973-01-17) (age 38) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Alma mater	The University of Sydney (USYD)
Occupation	Politician

Christopher Eyles "Chris" Bowen (born 17 January 1973), an Australian federal politician, is a member of the Australian House of Representatives, initially elected to represent the seat of Prospect in western Sydney for the Australian Labor Party at the 2004 federal election. Bowen was re-elected at the 2007 federal election and, at the 2010 federal election, elected to represent the seat of McMahon, following the abolition of the seat of Prospect.

Early years and background

Bowen was educated at Smithfield Public School, St Johns Park High School and the University of Sydney, where he graduated with an undergraduate degree in Economics. He was elected to Fairfield City Council in 1995 and was Mayor of Fairfield in 1998 and 1999. He was elected President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) in 1999 and served as President until 2001. Bowen has openly stated that he is an atheist.^[1]

Political career

In 2004, Bowen was elected to the House of Representatives replacing Janice Crosio after she retired after 25 years in both state and federal politics.

In 2006, Bowen was appointed to the Labor front bench as Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Revenue and Competition Policy. In December 2007 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed him Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs. In June 2009 Bowen was promoted to cabinet as Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law and Minister for Human Services.

In April 2010 Bowen announced significant reforms to the financial services sector including banning of commissions for financial planners giving advice on retail investment products including superannuation, managed investments and margin loans; instituting a statutory fiduciary duty so that financial advisers must act in the best interests of their clients, and increasing the powers of the corporate regulator; the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.^[2] The reforms were partially a response to the high profile collapse of Storm Financial, Westpoint and Opes Prime and the resultant losses for retail investors, but also reflected global concerns with financial governance following the Global Financial crisis of 2007–2010.^[3] The reforms are due to be fully implemented on 1 July 2012.

In September 2010, Bowen was appointed Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, succeeding Senator Chris Evans.^[4]

See also

• Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 2004–2007
• Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 2007–2010
• Rudd Ministry
• Gillard Ministry

External links

• Chris Bowen's official website
• Search or browse Hansard for Chris Bowen at OpenAustralia.org
• Profile on the Parliament of Australia website

References

1. ^ Gordon, Josh; Fyfe, Melissa (14 March 2010). "Pollies in the no-God squad"]. The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). http://www.smh.com.au/national/pollies-in-the-nogod-squad-20100313-q547.html. 
2. ^ http://ministers.treasury.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2010/036.htm&pageID=003&min=ceba&Year=&DocType=0
3. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s2883019.htm
4. ^ http://www.aph.gov.au/Library/parl/43/ministry/ministry.htm

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Janice Crosio	Member for Prospect 2004–2010	Division abolished
New division	Member for McMahon 2010–present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Peter Dutton	Assistant Treasurer 2007–2009	Succeeded by Nick Sherry
Preceded by Chris Pearce	Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs 2007–2009	Succeeded by Craig Emerson
Preceded by Joe Ludwig	Minister for Human Services 2009–2010	Succeeded by Tanya Plibersek
Preceded by Nick Sherry	Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law 2009–2010	Succeeded by Bill Shorten
Preceded by Chris Evans	Minister for Immigration and Citizenship 2010–present	Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Bowen, Chris
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	17 January 1973
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death