John Alexander (Australian politician)
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John Alexander OAM, MP |
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Alexander in 2010
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| Member of the Australian Parliament for Bennelong |
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Assumed office 21 August 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Maxine McKew |
| Majority | 7.8% |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Gilbert Alexander 4 July 1951 Sydney, New South Wales |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Spouse(s) | Rosemary Brown (div.) |
| Domestic partner | Gillian Lloyd |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Sydney |
| Occupation | Politician, Tennis player |
| Website | Official website |
| Nickname(s) | J.A. |
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Tennis career |
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| Country (sports) | Australia |
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Turned pro | 1969 |
| Retired | 1985 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $1,214,079 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 515–385 (Grand Slam, Grand Prix and WCT level, and Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 7 |
| Highest ranking | No. 8 (15 December 1975) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (1973, 1977Jan, 1977Dec) |
| French Open | 4R (1975, 1978, 1983) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (1969, 1978) |
| US Open | 4R (1971, 1973) |
| Other tournaments | |
| WCT Finals | SF (1975) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 451–300 (Grand Slam, Grand Prix and WCT level, and Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 28 |
| Highest ranking | No. 15 (23 August 1977) |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1975, 1982) |
| French Open | F (1975) |
| Wimbledon | F (1977) |
| US Open | QF (1972, 1973, 1974) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | W (1977) |
John Gilbert Alexander OAM MP (born 4 July 1951 in Sydney) is a former professional touring tennis player and current Australian politician.
As a Liberal Party candidate John Alexander won the seat of Bennelong from the Australian Labor Party in the 2010 election with a swing of 4.52 points, giving a two-party-preferred margin of 3.1 points.
Alexander delivered his maiden speech to parliament on 28 October 2010, detailing his particular interest in areas of preventative health, infrastructure, transport and sustainable growth. During his first term Alexander was put in charge of several internal policy committees, with a particular focus on regional development and policies to tackle urban congestion.
In October 2011 Alexander ran the inaugural Bennelong Cup Table Tennis Test match, involving players from China, Korea and Australia playing in a formal competition in Ryde. In October 2012 the opening games were played in the Great Hall of Parliament House – the first competitive sporting event ever played there. The Ambassadors for China and Korea participated in a friendly competition with Alexander and Minister for Sport Kate Lundy. The Bennelong Cup is the celebration of Alexander's Bennelong Schools Table Tennis Program which has put tables in all 40 Bennelong schools in order to encourage social interaction between students of different cultural backgrounds, together with a healthy activity. The Bennelong Cup has continued every year since with an interschool tournament followed by international competition in Ryde, preceded by exhibition matches in Parliament House, Canberra.
Alexander has also established a range of other local programs including Bennelong Gardens, which provides work opportunities for people with disabilities in specially designed market gardens, and Bennelong Village Business program which promotes the benefits of local small business shopping and negotiates discounted advertising rates for small businesses in the local newspaper. John Alexander received much publicity for his 100 km charity walk around Bennelong to raise money and awareness of motor neurone disease after the loss of two close friends to the disease.
Alexander was not challenged in Liberal preselection in 2012. In the 2013 election Alexander was re-elected as Member for Bennelong, increasing his two party preferred margin to 7.8%.
In September 2013 Alexander was appointed Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax & Revenue where he worked on improving access to 'light touch' tax returns for individuals with simple tax affairs. Following this he was appointed Chair of the House Standing Committee on Economics where he instigated an inquiry into home ownership and opportunities for tax reform. Following Malcolm Turnbull's ascension to Prime Minister John Alexander was appointed Chair of the newly formed House Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport & Cities where he commenced an inquiry into transport connectivity, regional development, high speed rail and the use of value capture as an innovative funding mechanism.
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