Tony Smith (Victorian politician)
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The Honourable Tony Smith MP |
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|---|---|
| 30th Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives | |
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Assumed office 10 August 2015 |
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| Deputy |
Bruce Scott Mark Coulton |
| Preceded by | Bronwyn Bishop |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Casey |
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Assumed office 10 November 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Michael Wooldridge |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Anthony David Hawthorn Smith 13 March 1967 Melbourne, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Spouse(s) | Pam Read |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
| Occupation | Political adviser |
Anthony David Hawthorn "Tony" Smith (born 13 March 1967) is an Australian politician who has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2001, representing the Division of Casey, Victoria. He has been Speaker of the House of Representatives since 10 August 2015.
Smith was born in Melbourne, to parents Alan Smith, a chemistry teacher, and Noel Smith, a medical secretary. Tony was the youngest child, with two older sisters: Christine (born 1960) and Heather (born 1962). He was educated first at Kerrimuir Primary School in Box Hill North before attending Carey Baptist Grammar School in Kew, and then later at the University of Melbourne, where he was president of the Melbourne University Liberal Club, and is now an honorary life member.
After completing his education, Smith was a research assistant at the Institute of Public Affairs, a conservative think-tank, before becoming first a media adviser and then a senior political adviser to Peter Costello, the then-Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and Treasurer.
On 23 January 2007, Smith was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, John Howard. He managed to hold his seat of Casey by a considerable margin at the federal election in November of that year, although the Liberal-National Coalition was defeated. On 22 September 2008, Smith was appointed Shadow Assistant Treasurer by Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull. Smith had previously been Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training. He was appointed Shadow Minister for Communications in a reshuffle which took place on 8 December 2009.
When Malcolm Turnbull's hold on the Liberal leadership became terminal, it was speculated that Smith was part of a "two-Tony" ticket in which Smith would be the running mate of Tony Abbott in a leadership challenge. Although Abbott successfully challenged Turnbull for the Liberal leadership on 1 December 2009, Smith was not Abbott's running mate, and Julie Bishop remained deputy under Abbott.
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