Steve Fielding

Infobox Politician
name = Steve Fielding
honorific-suffix =


caption =
small_

office = Senator for Victoria
term_start = 1 July 2004
term_end =
predecessor =
successor =
constituency =
majority =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1960|10|17|mf=y
birth_place = Victoria, Australia
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = Australian flagicon|Australia
party = Family First Party
spouse =
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater =
occupation =
profession =


website = [http://www.stevefielding.com.au/ Official website]
footnotes =

Steven Fielding (born 17 October 1960), is a Victorian Senator and the Federal parliamentary leader of the Family First Party in Australia.

Earlier life

Fielding was born in Melbourne and educated at RMIT University, where he graduated in engineering [ [http://www.stevefielding.com.au/html/bio.htm Senator Steve Fielding - Biography] ] , and at Monash University, where he gained an MBA. He worked as an engineer and a senior superannuation executive before entering politics. He was a member of the Knox City Council in 2003-04. Fielding is a member of CityLife Church, a large Pentecostal church in Melbourne. Fielding and his wife Susan have three children, James, Campbell and Gabrielle.

tate politics

Fielding was elected to represent Victoria in the Senate at the 2004 federal election. He is the first representative of Family First to be elected to the Federal Parliament.

Since he polled less than 2% of the popular vote, Fielding's election was not expected. Like many Senators he gained a quota under the Senate's proportional representation system by receiving preferences from other parties (see Australian electoral system). The Australian Democrats and the Australian Labor Party agreed to swap preferences with Family First. But Fielding benefited from the larger-than-expected surplus of Liberal preferences, and stayed in the count long enough to receive Democrat and Labor preferences, defeating the Australian Greens' candidate David Risstrom for the last Senate place in Victoria. (For more detail see [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/results/sendVIC.htm this explanation of the count] by Antony Green).

Federal politics

While Family First is generally regarded as a conservative party, Fielding has said that he will not be an automatic supporter of the federal opposition in the Senate. On some issues which he sees as affecting the well-being of families, such as the WorkChoices industrial relations policies, he has indicated disagreement with government policies.

Balance of Power

With some backbenchers being willing to cross the floor, Fielding's vote has been important on some of the Howard government's more controversial legislation. His vote ensured the passage of Voluntary student unionism, [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Graffiti-attack-on-Family-First-office/2005/12/10/1134086840993.html Graffiti Attack on Steve Fielding's Office After VSU Vote] , "The Age", 10 Dec 2005] the overturning of civil unions legislation in the Australian Capital Territory, [ [http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1664191.htm Bid to save ACT civil unions fails] , "PM", Jun 15 2006] and changes to media ownership laws. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1763643.htm Media laws pass the Senate] , "PM", Oct 12 2006] Conversely, his intention to vote "no" ensured the defeat of the Howard government's proposed tightening of asylum seeker laws. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1714861.htm Backbench rebellion forces border protection backdown] , "Lateline", Aug 14 2006]

Voluntary Student Unionism

Fielding's decision to support the Howard government's Voluntary Student Unionism legislation resulted in his office being targeted by anti-VSU activists, who vandalised the walls with pro-union graffiti. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Graffiti-attack-on-Family-First-office/2005/12/10/1134086840993.html Graffiti Attack on Steve Fielding's Office After VSU Vote] , "The Age", 10 Dec 2005]

Luxury car tax

An increase to the luxury car tax was defeated in the Senate on 4 September, 2008, with Fielding joining the coalition in blocking the budget legislation. It was passed after Fielding negotiated exemptions for farmers and tourism operators. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/17/2367134.htm http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/17/2367134.htm] , ABC news, 17 September, 2008]

Considered changing parties

Wanting to "relaunch himself as a mainstream political player, beyond Family First's ultra-conservative evangelical Christian support base" as some commentators put it, Fielding considered breaking away from Family First to create another party. He tried to recruit Tim Costello and other big names around the beginning of 2008, but failed to convince them. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24423234-661,00.html Senator Steve Fielding wanted to quit: Herald Sun 30/9/2008] ] The revelations came after Fielding changed his position on abortion, after being rebuffed by his party for taking a softer approach. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24408444-662,00.html Family First Senator Steve Fielding retreats from abortion comments] , Herald Sun, 27/9/2008]

tunts

Steve Fielding is renowned for his stunts. Fielding joined protesting pensioners in May 2008, who brought traffic to a standstill in the Melbourne CBD, when he and others took their tops off in the style of the successful cab drivers who successfully stripped for increased cab security, to demand an increase in the Pension from the government, of an extra $70 to $100 a week. [ [http://news.theage.com.au/world/ageing-aussies-strip-in-pension-protest-20080516-2ezb.html Ageing Aussies strip in pension protest - Breaking News - World - Breaking News ] ] [ [http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/05/16/Pensioners_strip_during_pay_protest LIVENEWS.com.au > National > Pensioners strip during pay protest ] ]

References

External Links

* [http://www.stevefielding.com.au/ Official website]

Persondata
NAME=Fielding, Steven
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Australian politician
DATE OF BIRTH=17 October 1960
PLACE OF BIRTH=Melbourne, Australia
DATE OF DEATH=living
PLACE OF DEATH=