Shorten, Bill

Bill Shorten is now MP for Maribyrnong (VIC) and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services.

Before entering parliament he was National Secretary of the Australian Workers' Union (AWU), Australia's oldest continuous union, which represents workers from industries as diverse and oil and gas, fruit pickers, manufacturing workers and jockeys.

After completing an Arts and a Law degree at Monash University, Mr Shorten joined law firm Maurice, Blackburn and Cashman.

In 1994, he joined the Victorian Branch of the AWU as an organiser, and was elected Secretary of the Branch in 1998. Under his stewardship, membership increased from16,000 to 21,000 workers.

In 2001, he was elected AWU National Secretary and re-elected Victorian Secretary. Re-elected to both positions in 2005, Mr Shorten stepped down from his Victorian role in August 2006 to focus his energies as National Secretary and leading the fight to defeat John Howard's unfair work laws.

President of the Victorian Branch of the ALP and a member of the ALP National Executive, Mr Shorten also serves on the ACTU Executive, is a director of AustralianSuper, the Victorian Funds Management Corporation and the Victorian Jockeys' Association. He is also the interim CEO of the Australian Netball Players' Association, is on the advisory board to the Australian Cricketers' Association and Patron of the Australian Jockeys' Association.

In 2007, he was elected as the member for the federal seat of Maribyrnong, Victoria. He is Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services in the Rudd government.

CONTACT:
Parliament House Contact
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 4778
Fax: (02) 6277 8554

Electorate Office Contact
Moonee Ponds Office:
Level 5, 641 Mount Alexander Road
Moonee Ponds Vic 3039
Tel: (03) 9326 1300
Fax: (03) 9326 0611