Simon Corbell (born 21 November 1970) is a former Australian politician and Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. He was also Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Minister for the Environment and Minister for the Capital Metro.[2]

Simon Corbell
Corbell at the Make It Count event in 2008
12th Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
In office
11 December 2014 – 31 October 2016
LeaderAndrew Barr
Preceded byAndrew Barr
Succeeded byYvette Berry
Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch)
In office
11 December 2014 – 31 October 2016
LeaderAndrew Barr
Preceded byAndrew Barr
Succeeded byYvette Berry
Attorney-General
In office
20 April 2006 – 31 October 2016
LeaderJon Stanhope
Katy Gallagher
Andrew Barr
Preceded byJon Stanhope
Succeeded byGordon Ramsay
Minister for Health
In office
20 January 2015 – 31 October 2016
LeaderAndrew Barr
Minister for the Environment
In office
16 May 2011 – 31 October 2016
LeaderKaty Gallagher
Andrew Barr
Succeeded byMick Gentleman
Minister for Capital Metro
In office
11 December 2014 – 31 October 2016
LeaderAndrew Barr
Member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
for Molonglo
In office
9 January 1997 – 11 August 2016
Personal details
Born (1970-11-21) 21 November 1970 (age 53)
Political partyAustralian Labor Party
Alma materUniversity of Canberra
ProfessionPolitical advisor[1]

Early life

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Corbell grew up in Weston Creek. He attended the local primary and high school before studying at the University of Canberra where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in communication.[3]

Before his election to the Assembly, Corbell worked for John Langmore, the Member for Fraser in the Australian House of Representatives, until Langmore's departure from parliament.[1]

Political career

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Corbell was first elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in 1997 as a member for the electorate of Molonglo in a countback following the resignation of former Chief Minister Rosemary Follett.

As attorney-general, he was involved in the establishment of the Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT) and the Human Rights Commission, and legislating for gay marriage in the ACT after legislation called the Civil Union Act 2006 (of the Australian Capital Territory) was overturned by federal intervention. In 2013, he introduced the bill for the Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013 (ACT), which the Legislative Assembly passed by a single vote but which was soon overturned in the High Court.[4]

On 14 August 2015, Simon Corbell announced his decision to retire from politics[5] at the 2016 Australian Capital Territory general election.

List of ministerial positions held in ACT government

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  • Deputy Chief Minister (December 2014 - 31 October 2016)
  • Attorney-General (20 April 2006 - 31 October 2016)
  • Minister for Health (20 January 2015 - 31 October 2016), (23 December 2002 - 20 April 2006)
  • Minister for the Environment and Climate Change (May 2011 -31 October 2016)
  • Minister for Capital Metro (December 2014 - 30 June 2016)
  • Minister for Police and Emergency Services (December 2015 - 31 October 2016)
  • Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services (13 November 2001 - 23 December 2002)
  • Minister for Energy (10 November 2008 - 16 May 2011)
  • Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water (10 November 2008 – 16 May 2011)
  • Minister for Industrial Relations (13 November 2001 - 23 December 2002)
  • Minister for Planning (13 November 2001 - 17 April 2007)
  • Minister for Police and Emergency Services (20 April 2006 - December 2014)
  • Minister for Sustainable Development (16 May 2011 - December 2014)
  • Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations (9 November 2012 - July 2014)

Later career

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In April 2024, Corbell was appointed chairman of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Simon Corbell". Member profile. Legislative Assembly for the ACT. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  2. ^ "Simon Corbell". ACT Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  3. ^ "About Simon Corbell". Simon Corbell MLA. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Simon Corbell". ACT Labor. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Deputy Chief Minister Simon Corbell to retire at 2016 ACT election". ABC News. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  6. ^ Potter, Ben; Durkin, Patrick (29 April 2024). "Former Labor leader to chair Victoria's SEC". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
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Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Molonglo

1997–2016
Electorate abolished
Political offices
Preceded by ACT Attorney General
2006–present
Incumbent
Preceded by ACT Minister for Police and Emergency Services
2006–present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Himself
as Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water
ACT Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development
2011–present
Incumbent
Preceded byas Minister for Industrial Relations ACT Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations
2012–present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Jon Stanhope
ACT Minister for Health
2002–2006
Succeeded by
Preceded byas Minister for Urban Services ACT Minister for Planning
2001–2007
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Jon Stanhope
as Minister for the Environment
ACT Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water
2008–2011
Succeeded by
Himself
as Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development
Preceded byas Minister for Education ACT Education, Youth and Family Services
2001–2002
Succeeded by
Katy Gallagher
Preceded by
Brendan Smyth
as Minister for Business, Tourism and the Arts
ACT Minister for Industrial Relations
2001–2002
Succeeded by
Katy Gallagher