The Honourable  Dr. Brendan Nelson  BM BS MP
30th Leader of the Opposition
Incumbent
Assumed office  3 December 2007
Preceded by	Kevin Rudd
12th Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia
Incumbent
Assumed office  29 November 2007
Deputy	Julie Bishop
Preceded by	John Howard
50th Minister for Defence
In office 27 January 2006 – 3 December 2007
Preceded by	Robert Hill
Succeeded by	Joel Fitzgibbon
20th Minister for Education, Science and Training
In office 26 November 2001 – 27 January 2006
Preceded by	David Kemp
Succeeded by	Julie Bishop
Member of the Australian Parliament for Bradfield
Incumbent
Assumed office  2 March 1996
Preceded by	David Connolly
Born	19 August 1958 (1958-08-19) (age 49) Melbourne, Victoria
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse	Gillian[1]
Alma mater	Flinders University
Profession	GP

Brendan John Nelson, MP (born 19 August 1958) is the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Australia, as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. Nelson has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2 March 1996, representing the Division of Bradfield, New South Wales, and was appointed Leader of the Opposition following his party's defeat at the 2007 federal election.^[2] The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable ( or formerly The Honble) is a title of quality attached to the names of certain classes of persons. ... In the Australian House of Representatives, the Leader of the Opposition sits at the front table to the left of the Speakers Chair (on the right-hand side in this photo). ... Open seat redirects here. ... is the 337th day of the year (338th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Kevin Michael Rudd (born 21 September 1957), is the leader of the federal Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition in the Australian Parliament. ... This article is about the modern Australian political party. ... Open seat redirects here. ... is the 333rd day of the year (334th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... For the American actress, see Julie Bishop (actress). ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ... List of Australian Ministers for Defence (see Australian Defence Force, Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force. ... is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 337th day of the year (338th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Senator Robert Hill Robert Murray Hill (born 25 September 1946), Australian politician, was a Liberal member of the Australian Senate from July 1981 to January 2006, representing South Australia. ... Joel Andrew Fitzgibbon (born 16 January 1962), Australian politician, has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1996, representing the Division of Hunter, New South Wales. ... The current Minister for Education, Science and Training is out-going Julie Bishop. ... is the 330th day of the year (331st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the American actress, see Julie Bishop (actress). ... Parliament House, Canberra The Parliament of Australia is a bicameral parliament consisting of the Queen of Australia, the House of Representatives (the lower house) and the Senate (the upper house or house of review). Section 1 of the Constitution of Australia provides that: The legislative power of the Commonwealth shall... The Division of Bradfield is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. ... Open seat redirects here. ... -1... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jan. ... This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre (also known as The CBD). ... VIC redirects here. ... This article is about the modern Australian political party. ... For other uses, see Alma mater (disambiguation). ... Flinders University, or The Flinders University of South Australia, is a public university in Adelaide, founded in 1966. ... A general practitioner (GP), family physician or family practitioner (FP) is a medical doctor who provides primary care. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jan. ... The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government. ... Type Bicameral Houses House of Representatives Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives David Hawker, Liberal Party since 16 November 2004 President of the Senate Alan Ferguson, Liberal Party since 14 August 2007 Members 226 (150 Representatives, 76 Senators) Political groups Liberal Party ALP National Party Country Liberal Party Greens... This article is about the modern Australian political party. ... Type Lower house Speaker of the House David Hawker, Liberal since November 16, 2004 Members 150 Political groups ALP (85) Liberal Party (53) National Party (10) Last elections 24 November 2007 Meeting place Parliament House, Canberra, ACT Web site House of Representatives Entrance to the House of Representatives Judicial High... Legislative elections were held in Australia on 2 March 1996. ... The Division of Bradfield is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. ... NSW redirects here. ... The 2007 election for the federal Parliament of Australia, in which 13. ...

Early life

Nelson was born in Melbourne, Victoria.^[1] His father, Des, was "removed" from his unmarried teenage mother, Patricia,^[3] however Nelson grew up with both parents. His father's strong involvement in the union movement and the Australian Labor Party^[4] led Nelson to join the party in 1988.^[1] Nelson attended Saint Ignatius' College, Adelaide and The University of Adelaide. He commenced, though did not complete, a Bachelor of Finance in Economics at Flinders University, Adelaide where he graduated in medicine (BM BS). He was a general practitioner in Hobart, Tasmania 1985-95, Director of Hobart and Launceston After Hours Medical Services 1987-91, Tasmanian State President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) 1990-92, Federal Vice-President 1991-93 and Federal President 1993-95. This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre (also known as The CBD). ... VIC redirects here. ... ALP redirects here. ... Saint Ignatius College is an independent reception to Year 12 school in Adelaide, South Australia. ... Flinders University, or The Flinders University of South Australia, is a public university in Adelaide, founded in 1966. ... For other uses, see Adelaide (disambiguation). ... Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinæ Baccalaureus et Baccalaureus Chirurgiæ (abbreviated MB BChir, MB BCh, MB ChB, BM BS, MB BS etc. ... A general practitioner (GP), family physician or family practitioner (FP) is a medical doctor who provides primary care. ... Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. ... Slogan or Nickname: Island of Inspiration; The Apple Isle; Holiday Isle Motto(s): Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product... This article is about the year. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... This article is about the year 1987. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar. ... The Australian Medical Association (the AMA) is the dominant professional association for Australian doctors and medical students. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ...

Political career

Nelson with Donald Rumsfeld at a Pentagon press conference in June 2006.

Nelson with Robert Gates in August 2007.

His partner in his medical practice was Dr. David Crean, brother of Labor politician Simon Crean and later a Tasmanian state Labor minister. Nelson in 1988 was a member of the Australian Labor Party. By 1994, however, Nelson was a member of the Liberal Party and in 1995 he gained the party's endorsement for Bradfield, one of the safest Liberal electorates in Australia. It is speculated he joined the Labor Party in the hope of winning Denison, the strongest Labor seat in Tasmania (held by Duncan Kerr), and that when he was rejected he defected to the Liberal Party.^[5] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is a businessman, a U.S. Republican politician, the 13th Secretary of Defense under President Gerald Ford from 1975 to 1977, and the 21st Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006. ... This article is about the United States military building. ... Robert Michael Gates (born September 25, 1943) is currently serving as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense. ... David Crean is a former member of the Parliament of Tasmania. ... Simon Findlay Crean (born 26 February 1949) an Australian politician, was leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition at the Federal level, from November 2001 to 2 December 2003. ... ALP redirects here. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... The Division of Denison is an Australian Electoral Division in Tasmania. ... Duncan James Colquhoun Kerr, SC (born February 26, 1952) Australian politician, has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since July 1987, representing the Division of Denison, Tasmania. ...

Nelson was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence in 2001. This article is about the year. ...

Minister for Education, Science and Training

After the 2001 federal election he was promoted directly to Cabinet with the senior portfolio of Minister for Education, Science and Training. He introduced a series of radical changes to Australia's higher education system that simultaneously imposed more direct government control over the management of universities while also allowing them to earn more revenue by charging higher fees to students. He extended the government's policy of directing more federal funding to non-government schools, as well as becoming more involved in reviewing the state education systems. In 2005 he introduced Voluntary Student Unionism. He was a popular target for student activism because of these changes.^[6] Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 November 2001. ... The current Minister for Education, Science and Training is out-going Julie Bishop. ... Voluntary student unionism (VSU) is a policy under which membership of – and payment of membership fees to – university student organisations is not compulsory. ...

In 2005 Nelson expressed support for the teaching the controversial theory of intelligent design alongside evolution if parents wished it.^[7] He later said it should only be taught in religion or philosophy classes.^[8] For other uses, see Intelligent design (disambiguation). ... This article is about evolution in biology. ...

Minister for Defence

After his rapid promotion to Cabinet, Nelson was spoken of as a possible future Liberal leader. On 24 January 2006, former Prime Minister John Howard announced Nelson's promotion from the Education, Science and Training portfolio to the high profile Defence portfolio. is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ...

As Defence Minister, he made the controversial decision to purchase Boeing's Super Hornet aircraft instead of a fighter perceived by some to be more capable.^[9] The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661) is a major aerospace and defense corporation, originally founded by William Edward Boeing. ... The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a supersonic carrier-based fighter/attack aircraft. ...

Leader of the Opposition

Crowds controversially turn their backs part way through Brendan Nelson's reply to the Parliamentary apology for the stolen generations in February 2008.^[10]

Following the defeat of the Howard government at the 2007 federal election, he was elected party leader and therefore Leader of the Opposition, narrowly defeating Malcolm Turnbull in a 45 to 42 vote^[2], after the withdrawal from the race of Tony Abbott. After Nelson's election, his political past resurfaced, with him claiming he came from a Labor family.^[11] The Stolen Generation is a term used to describe the Australian Aboriginal children, usually of mixed descent, who were removed from their families by Australian government agencies and church missions, under various state acts of parliament, denying the rights of parents and making all Aboriginal cildren wards of the state... The Stolen Generation is a term used to describe the Australian Aboriginal children, usually of mixed descent, who were removed from their families by Australian government agencies and church missions, under various state acts of parliament, denying the rights of parents and making all Aboriginal cildren wards of the state... The Stolen Generation is a term used to describe the Australian Aboriginal children, usually of mixed descent, who were removed from their families by Australian government agencies and church missions, under various state acts of parliament, denying the rights of parents and making all Aboriginal cildren wards of the state... The 2007 election for the federal Parliament of Australia, in which 13. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... Malcolm Bligh Turnbull (born 24 October 1954), Australian politician, was the Federal Minister for Environment and Water Resources until November 2007. ... For other people called Tony Abbott, see Tony Abbott (disambiguation). ...

Nelson became the first person to become Opposition Leader without previous or existing experience in Opposition since Billy Snedden.

On 1 December 2007 Nelson attempted to distance himself from some of the conservative policies of his predecessor, saying "I don't support gay marriage, adoption or IVF. But I believe in addressing the social and economic injustices affecting homosexuals."^[12] is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

Nelson declared that the Liberal Party had "listened and learned" from the Australian public and that WorkChoices is "dead", and called on the Government to move quickly to introduce draft industrial relations legislation.^[13] WorkChoices, or the Workplace Relations Act 1996 as amended by the Workplace Relations Amendment (Workchoices) Act 2005, came into effect in March 2006. ...

In January 2008, Nelson opposed making any formal apology to the indigenous Australians known as the "Stolen Generations". Nelson said such an apology would fuel guilt among middle Australia, and cause a mentality of "victimhood" among indigenous Australians.^[14] In early February 2008, Nelson changed his stance, and declared that he supported the apology, first personally^[15][16][17], then also on behalf of his party: January 2008 was the first month of the current year. ... Language(s) Several hundred Indigenous Australian languages (many extinct or nearly so), Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English, Torres Strait Creole, Kriol Religion(s) Primarily Christian, with minorities of other religions including various forms of Traditional belief systems based around the Dreamtime Related ethnic groups see List of Indigenous Australian group... The Stolen Generation is a term used to describe the Australian Aboriginal children, usually of mixed descent, who were removed from their families by Australian government agencies and church missions, under various state acts of parliament, denying the rights of parents and making all Aboriginal cildren wards of the state... February 2008 is the second month of the leap year and has yet to occur. ...

I, on behalf of the Coalition, of the alternative government of Australia, are [sic] providing in-principle support for the offer of an apology to the forcibly removed generations of Aboriginal children.^[18]

Nelson's leadership has come under increased pressure in January 2008, after an MP shifted loyalties to Turnbull, and taking into consideration that former MP David Tollner was still allowed to vote, the leadership vote would now be deadlocked at 43-43.^[19] Newspoll polling in February 2008 set a record low "Preferred Prime Minister" rating for any opposition leader at 9 percent, with March polling setting another record of 7 percent, with two party preferred setting another Newspoll record at 37-63 percent.^[20] Nelson responded by declaring himself the underdog.^[21] In response to increased speculation about his leadership Nelson commented in April that he "will keep fighting and standing up for everyday Australians.".^[22] Dave Tollner David Tollner (born 31 January 1966), Australian politician, has been a Country Liberal Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since November 2001, representing the Division of Solomon, Northern Territory. ... Newspoll Market Research is an Australian company providing opinion polling and other market research services. ... When the single transferable vote voting system is applied to a single-winner election it is sometimes called instant-runoff voting (IRV), as it is much like holding a series of runoff elections in which the lowest polling candidate is eliminated in each round until someone receives majority vote. ...

Nelson used his 2008 budget reply to declare the Rudd government budget a "tax and spend" budget, as well as arguing for a 5 cent reduction in petrol excise, and pledging to block an increase in the "alcopop" tax.^[23]. Nelson's performance prompted Deputy Leader Julie Bishop to declare that Nelson's leadership was "not in question"^[24] Two Bacardi Breezers Alcopop is a term often used to describe flavored alcoholic beverages including: malt beverages to which various fruit juices or other flavorings have been added, beverages containing wine to which ingredients such as fruit juice or other flavorings have been added, or beverages containing distilled alcohol and... For the American actress, see Julie Bishop (actress). ...

In May 2008, Nelson gave his approval of a Liberal/National merger occurring in the state division of the Queensland Party.^[25]

Personal life

• Nelson has been married three times.
• In 1995, his brother, Philip, died after a long battle with AIDS.^[1]
• He owns five guitars, including four Fender Stratocasters.^[26]

Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). ... Stratocaster redirects here. ...

See also

• Next Australian federal election

References

This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 333rd day of the year (334th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Australian Broadcasting Corporation or ABC is Australias national non-profit public broadcaster. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 4 Corners redirects here. ... The Australian Broadcasting Corporation or ABC is Australias national non-profit public broadcaster. ... The Herald Sun is a newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that is published by The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, a subsidiary of Rupert Murdochs News Corporation. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Personal website
• Nelson's sorry speech Part 1 and Part 2