Andrew Wallace
Andrew Wallace | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 31st Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office 23 November 2021 | |
| Deputy | Llew O'Brien |
| Preceded by | Tony Smith |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Fisher | |
| Assumed office 2 July 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Mal Brough |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 February 1968 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal (federal) |
| Other political affiliations | LNP (state) |
| Alma mater | Queensland University of Technology |
| Profession | Builder, barrister |
Andrew Bruce Wallace (born 27 February 1968) is an Australian politician currently serving as the 31st Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is a member of the Liberal Party and has been a member of the House of Representatives since the 2016 federal election, representing the Division of Fisher.
Early life[]
Wallace was born in Melbourne.[1] At the age of 19, he entered a Pallottine monastery in Victoria. He was asked to leave after less than a year when it was judged that he would not be able to fulfil his monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.[2] Dismissed by the rector, he was told, "there's many ways you can serve God, you don't have to be a priest."[2]
His mother organised his apprenticeship as a carpenter, and Wallace eventually started his own building business.[3][2] Wallace qualified as a barrister in 2000 after studying law at the Queensland University of Technology, subsequently practising in construction law for 16 years prior to his election to parliament.[2]
Politics[]
Wallace was elected to parliament at the 2016 federal election, succeeding Mal Brough as the Liberal National Party member for the Division of Fisher.[4] He has chaired the standing committees on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities; Social Policy and Legal Affairs; and Corporations and Financial Services.[1]
Wallace was a member of the Speaker's panel since September 2019.[1] Following the resignation of Tony Smith as Speaker of the House of Representatives on 23 November 2021, Wallace was elected as the new Speaker by the House of Representatives 70 votes to 59 against Labor Party member and Second Deputy Speaker Rob Mitchell.[5][6] Like his predecessor, Wallace said he would maintain the practice of not sitting in the Liberal Party room while he holds the Speaker position.
Political positions[]
Wallace was initially opposed to same-sex marriage on religious grounds, but later spoke in favour of the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017. He cited his daughter's coming out and his "legal background" as influential in his change of mind.[7]
In February 2021, Wallace said that Australian banks should create a voluntary code of conduct barring the use of credit cards for online gambling.[8]
Personal life[]
Wallace has four daughters with his wife Leonie. The couple are practising Catholics who "go to church every Sunday."[7] His youngest daughter lives with a disability, as she was born with a segment missing from her chromosome 16.[2]
References[]
- ^ a b c "Mr Andrew Wallace MP". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Beech, Alexandra (4 May 2017). "Keeping the faith: Andrew Wallace on the priesthood, carpentry and same-sex marriage". ABC News. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- ^ Alex, ABC News; Beech, ra (21 April 2017). "Backbench MP Andrew Wallace is a father, former carpenter and former barrister". ABC News. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Fisher - Australia Votes". Election 2016. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ "Andrew Wallace becomes new Speaker, taking on the 'difficult task' of replacing well-respected MP Tony Smith". ABC News. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Qld MP Wallace elected House Speaker". The West Australian. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ a b Borys, Stephanie (5 December 2017). "Same-sex marriage: Liberal MP Andrew Wallace 'shocked' by daughter's gay relationship". ABC News. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ Jacques, Owen (17 February 2021). "Online gambling lobby says 'no problem' with punting on credit as MP calls for crackdown". ABC News. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
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- 1968 births
- Living people
- Speakers of the Australian House of Representatives
- Liberal National Party of Queensland members of the Parliament of Australia
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Fisher
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives
- Australian barristers
- 21st-century Australian politicians
- Australian Roman Catholics
- Liberal Party of Australia politician stubs