For other people called Tony Abbott, see Tony Abbott (disambiguation).

Anthony John "Tony" Abbott (born 4 November 1957), Australian politician, is the Minister for Health and Ageing in the Australian federal government and Leader of the House in the Federal Parliament. Since 1994, he has been the Member for Warringah, in New South Wales in the House of Representatives for the Liberal Party. 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. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Minister for Health and Ageing is a portfolio in the Government of Australia with the responsibility for national health policy. ... Open seat redirects here. ... Kay Patterson Kay Christine Lesley Patterson (born November 21, 1944) has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since 1987, representing the state of Victoria. ... The Division of Warringah is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. ... is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Tony Abbott can be: Tony Abbott, Australian Minister for Health and Aging Tony Abbott (author), author Clarke A. Abbott, member of the legislature of Alberta, Canada Category: ... is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... 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... The Division of Warringah is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. ... “NSW” redirects here. ... Type Lower house Speaker of the House David Hawker, Liberal since November 16, 2004 Members 150 Political groups Liberal Party (74) ALP (60) National Party (12) Country Liberal Party (1) Last elections 9 October 2004 Meeting place Parliament House, Canberra, ACT Web site House of Representatives Entrance to the House... The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party. ...

Early life and family

Abbott was born in London^[1] to Australian parents. In 1960, his family returned to Australia, living first in Bronte then moving to Chatswood. Abbott was initially schooled at Highfield Kindergarten before attending the Holy Family Convent. In Year 3 he started at St Aloysius' College (Sydney) and attended there until he completed his secondary school education at St Ignatius' College, Riverview in Sydney.^[2] He graduated from the University of Sydney, residing at St John's College, with a Bachelor of Economics (BEc) and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB).^[1] At university he was active in student politics, gaining media attention for his political stance opposing the then dominant left-wing student leadership. He was also a prominent student boxer. He then went on to attend the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and graduated with a Master of Arts (MA). A devout Catholic, he then considered the Catholic priesthood, and entered St Patrick's diocesan seminary in Sydney, but subsequently decided to leave and choose another career path. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bronte is the name of a suburb and a beach in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney, Australia. ... Chatswoood area Chatswood skyline Chatswood is a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... St Aloysius College is a Roman Catholic day school for boys aged 8 - 18 years. ... Saint Ignatius College, Riverview is a Roman Catholic day school and boarding school for boys, aged between 10 - 18 years. ... This article is about the metropolitan area in Australia. ... The University of Sydney, established in Sydney in 1850, is the oldest university in Australia. ... Full name The College of St John the Evangelist Motto Nisi Dominus Frustra Unless the Lord is with us, our labor is vain Named after St John the Evangelist - author of the fourth Gospel Previous names The College of St John the Evangelist Established 1858 Sister College(s) - Rector Dr... The University of Oxford (usually abbreviated as Oxon. ... Rhodes House in Oxford Rhodes Scholarships were created by Cecil John Rhodes. ...

Despite his right wing leanings, Abbott has admitted he voted Labor in the 1988 NSW State Election as he thought "Barrie Unsworth was the best deal Premier that New South Wales had ever had.". ^[3] Elections to to the 49th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, March 19, 1988. ... Barrie Unsworth (born Dubbo, 16 April 1934), is an Australian politician. ...

After leaving the seminary, Abbott worked as a journalist for The Bulletin, an influential news magazine, and The Australian. He became well known for his strongly worded criticism of trade unions, feminism and left-wing politics. For a period, Abbott was a Plant Manager for Pioneer Concrete before becoming press secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, Dr John Hewson in 1990-93, and between 1993 and 1994 was the Executive Director of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy.^[1] The Bulletin is an Australian weekly magazine, which has been published in Sydney since 1880. ... The Australian is a national daily broadsheet newspaper published by Rupert Murdochs News Corporation. ... Feminists redirects here. ... For the English soldier and regicide, see John Hewson (regicide). ... Australians for Constitutional Monarchy (ACM) is a group that aims to preserve Australias current constitutional system, with Britains Queen Elizabeth 2 as head of state. ...

Abbott is married to Margaret with whom he has three daughters. ^[4]

Political life

Abbott was elected to the Australian House of Representatives at a by-election in March 1994 following the resignation of Michael MacKellar. He served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (1996-98), Minister for Employment Services (1998-2001), Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business (2001), Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (2001-03), and Minister for Health and Ageing since 2003. Since late 2001, he has also served as Manager of Government Business in the House.^[5] He acquired a reputation in these roles as a robust parliamentary debater and political tactician.^[6][7] Type Lower house Speaker of the House David Hawker, Liberal since November 16, 2004 Members 150 Political groups Liberal Party (74) ALP (60) National Party (12) Country Liberal Party (1) Last elections 9 October 2004 Meeting place Parliament House, Canberra, ACT Web site House of Representatives Entrance to the House... Michael Mackellar is an Australian politician and was the Liberal Member for Warringah from 1969 until 1994. ...

As Minister for Health and Ageing, Abbott reduced government funding to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Medicare. In 2004, he introduced the Medicare Safety Net to cap the annual out-of-pocket costs of Medicare cardholders to a maximum amount. In 2007, he attracted criticism over long delays in funding for cancer diagnostic equipment (PET scanners).^{[8][9][10][11]} The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or PBS is a programme of the Australian Government that provides heavily subsidised prescription drugs to residents of Australia. ... Medicare is Australias publicly-funded universal health care system, operated by the government authority Medicare Australia. ... Medicare is Australias publicly-funded universal health care system, operated by the government authority Medicare Australia. ... Out-of-pocket expenses are direct outlays of cash which are not reimbursed. ... Image of a typical positron emission tomography (PET) facility Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine medical imaging technique which produces a three-dimensional image or map of functional processes in the body. ...

Abbott is widely known as an outspoken socially conservative Catholic. Abbott opposes abortion, publically musing in March 2004 "Why isn't the fact that 100,000 women choose to end their pregnancies regarded as a national tragedy approaching the scale, say, of Aboriginal life expectancy being 20 years less than that of the general community?" ^[12]. Abbott promised to launch an investigation into a product called Pink or Blue, which is made by UK-based DNA Worldwide, a division of US-based Consumer Genetics. This test is one of several pre-natal blood tests designed to detect the sex of a fetus as early as six weeks into pregnancy. Ethicists have raised concerns that knowing the sex of a foetus so early into pregancy would facilitate Sex-selective abortion and infanticide.^[13] Social conservatism generally refers to a political ideology or personal belief system that advocates the conservation or resurrection of what one, or ones community, considers to be traditional morality and social structure. ... Languages Several hundred Indigenous Australian languages (many extinct or nearly so), Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English, Torres Strait Creole, Kriol Religions 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 names Indigenous... This article is about the measure of remaining life. ... The Baby Gender Mentor packaging advertises a 99. ... “UK” redirects here. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Issues of discussion Sex-selective abortion is the targeted abortion of a fetus based upon its sex. ...

A conscience vote took place in February 2006, approving a measure that moved regulatory control of the abortion drug RU486 from the Health Minister. Abbott and previous Health Ministers had decided not to allow it to be made available. Abbott responded to the vote by calling for funding of alternative counselling to pregnant women through church-affiliated groups. During this time, Abbott criticised the acceptance of abortion, saying "... we have a bizarre double standard, a bizarre double standard in this country where someone who kills a pregnant woman's baby is guilty of murder but a woman who aborts an unborn baby is simply exercising choice"^[14]. A conscience vote or free vote is a type of vote in a legislative body where legislators are each expected to vote according to their own personal conscience rather than according to an official line set down by their political party. ... Mifepristone is a synthetic steroid. ...

Abbott is also a supporter of the constutional monarchy in Australia. He has previously accused some sections of the Australia public of "suffering self-imposed historical and cultural amnesia" in relation to Australia's British heritage and acting like "teenagers blowing raspberries at their parents".^[15] Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, in 1952 and 2002 The title Queen of Australia has existed since 1973, when the Parliament of Australia passed the Royal Style and Titles Act (1973). ...

Controversies

• In May 2006, Abbott, as Manager of Government Business, called the Opposition MP, Kelvin Thompson, a "snivelling grub" in the Parliament for speaking about Nationals MP John Anderson's shares in the disgraced Australian Wheat Board. Abbott then said "If I've offended grubs, I withdraw unconditionally." The comments were not widely reported until a week later when Labor Deputy Leader Julia Gillard (then Shadow Minister for Health) was ejected from Parliament for 24 hours after using the exact same phrases about Abbott. Abbott later told the Parliament "It would have been better if I had not moved the motion in the terms that I originally did."^[16]

• In July 2006, when visiting the Pitlands in north-west South Australia, Abbott suggested Aboriginal people could be recruited to shoot wild camels that inhabit Central Australia. "Why not get them out shooting the camels," he said. "It gives them something they would love to do and it beats petrol sniffing." ^[17].

• In July 2007 Abbott gained attention after swearing once on a national TV interview and repeating the phrase when asked about the incident by journalists the next day. After renewed controversy over John Howard's alleged broken promise to hand over the Liberal leadership position to Peter Costello, Abbott said to an interview: "not to put too fine a point on it, shit happens, Tony." When asked if he regretted it he cackled and repeated "shit happens", garnering some laughs from the journalists.^[18]

• In the 2007 federal election campaign, Abbott was again drawn into controversy over comments he made about asbestos campaigner Bernie Banton. Banton, who is suffering terminal mesothelioma, attempted to deliver a petition to Abbott's constiuency office in Manly. Abbott said the event was a stunt and said: "I know Bernie is very sick, but just because a person is sick doesn't mean that he is necessarily pure of heart in all things." Abbott later apologised for the comments, which drew a wave of condemnation. ^[19]
• The next day, 30 October 2007, Abbott arrived more than 30 minutes late for a nationally televised debate with his Labor counterpart in the health portfolio, Nicola Roxon. Roxon was forced to debate herself for half an hour while waiting. After the debate, Abbott was heard saying to Roxon that her suggestion that he could have made the debate on time was "bullshit". For this however, Abbott would not apologise.^[20]

May 2006 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → May 1, 2006 (Monday) Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association outraged Vatican by planning to ordain another bishop, Liu Xinhong in Anhui Province. ... Kelvin Thomson Kelvin John Thomson (born 1 May 1955), Australian politician, has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1996, representing the Division of Wills, Victoria. ... The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party. ... Hon John Anderson John Duncan Anderson (born 14 November 1956) is an Australian politician. ... The Cole Inquiry, formally the Inquiry into certain Australian companies in relation to the UN Oil-For-Food Programme was a Royal Commission set up by the Government of Australia in November 2005. ... The Australian Wheat Board (AWB) is the Australian company which oversees the exports of grain, paticularly wheat. ... This article has been selected as the current Australian Collaboration of the Fortnight! Please help improve it to featured article standard. ... Early elections in November are announced in the Netherlands. ... Capital Adelaide Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Premier Mike Rann (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 11  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $59,819 (5th)  - Product per capita  $38,838/person (7th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  1,558,200 (5th)  - Density  1. ... Languages Several hundred Indigenous Australian languages (many extinct or nearly so), Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English, Torres Strait Creole, Kriol Religions 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 names Indigenous... Central Australia is a term used to describe the area of land surrounding and including Alice Springs in Australia. ... July 2007 is the seventh month of that year. ... For other uses, see Asbestos (disambiguation). ... Bernard Douglas (Bernie) Banton AM (born 1946) is an Australian political campaigner. ... Look up Manly in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Manly may refer to: Manly, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia Manly, Queensland is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia Manly, Iowa is a city in the United States of America Manly is also an adjective referring to masculinity. ... Nicola Roxon (born 1 April 1967) is an Australian politician. ...

Action against One Nation Party

In 1998, Abbott established a trust fund called "Australians for Honest Politics Trust" to help bankroll civil court cases against the One Nation Party and its leader Pauline Hanson. Prime Minister John Howard denied any knowledge of existence of such a fund. ^[21] Abbott was also accused of offering funds to One Nation dissident Terry Sharples to support his court battle against the party. However, Prime Minister Howard defended the honesty of Abbott in this matter. ^[22] One Nation is a nationalist and protectionist political group in Australia. ... Pauline Hanson at a book signing, 2007 Pauline Lee Hanson (née Seccombe; born May 27, 1954) is an Australian politician and former leader of the One Nation Party, a party with a populist, anti-immigration platform. ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ...

It was Sharples' legal action that laid the basis for the successful prosecution of the One Nation founders Pauline Hanson and David Ettridge. ^[23] David William Ettridge (born in June, 1945) in Adelaide, Australia, is an Australian politician who co-founded the One Nation Party (ONP) in 1996 alongside ONP leader Pauline Hanson and senior advisor David Oldfield. ...

Opposition MP Craig Emerson demanded to know where the money for the Trust, reportedly $100,000, had come from saying that taxpayers had a right to know. ^[24] Treasurer Peter Costello said of the actions of Abbott that "I don't think that the way to resolve political disputes is through the courts. I think the way to resolve it is at the ballot box." ^[25] Craig Emerson Dr Craig Anthony Emerson (born 15 November 1954), Australian politician, has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since October 1998, representing the seat of Rankin, Queensland. ... Peter Howard Costello (born 14 August 1957) is an Australian politician. ...

Abbott conceded that the political threat One Nation posed to the Howard Government was "a very big factor" in his decision to pursue the legal attack, but he also claimed to be acting "in Australia's national interest". Prime Minister Howard also defended Abbott's actions saying "It's the job of the Liberal Party to politically attack other parties - there's nothing wrong with that."^[23]

Alleged son

When Abbott was 19, his then girlfriend Kathy Donnelly gave birth to a son whom she adopted out. Abbott believed the son was his and described this as an intense personal experience. The identity of this son was not known until late 2004, and it was soon publically revealed that this child was Daniel O'Connor, an Australian Broadcasting Corporation sound recordist who worked in Parliament House, Canberra and who had often been involved in making television programs in which Abbott appeared. DNA testing later revealed, however, that Abbott was not O'Connor's biological father.^[26] The Australian Broadcasting Corporation or ABC is Australias national non-profit public broadcaster. ... Parliament House is the building in which a National (or State) Parliament sits. ... For other uses, see Canberra (disambiguation). ... Genetic fingerprinting or DNA testing is a technique to distinguish between individuals of the same species using only samples of their DNA. Its invention by Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester was announced in 1985. ...

Goodbye Jerusalem allegation

In 1997, author, film producer and Labor Party supporter Bob Ellis published the first of two books titled Goodbye Jerusalem (the second was Goodbye Babylon). In it, he made the allegation that Tony Abbott and Treasurer, Peter Costello were both involved in left wing politics while at university and that Costello's wife, Tayna (née Coleman) had slept with both men and seduced them into joining the Liberal Party. Ellis had claimed that the story was recounted to him by former NSW Labor member Rodney Cavalier. The two Ministers and their wives took Ellis to court for defamation and the allegation was proven to be untrue. The publisher, Random House accepted that the story was fabricated and the book was removed from sale. A new addition of the book was published three months later, which omitted the particular passage^[27]. For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Bob Ellis ( born 1942, Lismore, New South Wales) is an Australian writer/journalist, film-maker, and political commentator. ... Peter Howard Costello (born 14 August 1957) is an Australian politician. ... “NSW” redirects here. ... // Random House is a publishing house based in New York City. ...

Community Service

Abbott is a volunteer member of the NSW Rural Fire Service ^[28] as a member of the Davidson Rural Fire Brigade. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) is a volunteer firefighting service and is responsible for providing fire protection to over 90% of the geographical area of the state of New South Wales in Australia. ...

Abbott has participated in many events for charity. He has even run in a 100km marathon for charity. ^[29]. In April 2007, Abbott launched the 10th annual Pollie Pedal, a charitable event which aimed to raise money for breast cancer. ^[30]. Colleague Jim Lloyd said that the event was Abbott's "brainchild". ^[31] For other senses of this word, see Marathon (disambiguation). ... Breast cancer is cancer of breast tissue. ... Hon Jim Lloyd James Eric Lloyd (born 17 July 1954), Australian politician, has been a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1996, representing the Division of Robertson, New South Wales. ... Someones brainchild is an idea or invention that they have thought up or created. ...

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... Michael Mackellar is an Australian politician and was the Liberal Member for Warringah from 1969 until 1994. ... The Division of Warringah is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. ... Hon Mal Brough Malcolm Thomas Mal Brough (pronounced Bruff) (born 29 December 1961), Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1996, representing the Division of Longman, Queensland. ... Kay Patterson Kay Christine Lesley Patterson (born November 21, 1944) has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since 1987, representing the state of Victoria. ... Australian Ministers for Health Under Section 51(xi) of the Constitution of Australia, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia had the power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to Quarantine. ...

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

External links

Wikinews has related news:

Australian Health minister makes inappropriate comments about Brogden suicide attempt

• Personal website
• Story on reunion with his putative son
• Abbott opposing stem cell research
• Documentation of Abbott's religio-political links
• Wide-ranging discussion of personal beliefs
• Sydney Morning Herald Coverage of the Trust Fund Controversy