AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
PRESS RELEASE 939
WHO IS JASON CLARE, THE NEW FEDERAL MINISTER FOR EDUCATION?
1 June 2022
Although public education and its unfair funding by the Morrison Government was not an articulated election issue it was there – in the votes of public school supporters against the Morrison Government; in their votes for the Greens and independents and in their preferences for the Labor Party.
For the last decade of Coalition Government more than two thirds of the school population of Australia, their parents, their teachers and their principals have had to endure the unfair funding deals and value laden sneers of private schools and their graduates in the Coalition, including their Ministers for Education.
Albanese is not silly. On Public Education Day 26 May 2022 he made the following statement:
The dawn of a new Federal Labor Government is a great time to acknowledge and emphasise the importance of public education, which is one of the bedrocks of an equal and successful society.
One of the keys for Australia’s success as a nation is to make sure every single child has access to a quality education, regardless of their post code of their parents’ income. Education is the biggest and most powerful weapon we have against disadvantage. A healthy, respected and valued public education system is one of the best ways we have of ensuring that no one is held back and no one is left behind.
The last few years have been tough for public education – that we’ve come through the pandemic is in part a testament to the dedication and hard work of the teachers and support staff all the way from kindergarten through to TAFEs.
I’ve been talking a lot about the better future that we can have as a nation. I have every confidence that, working together, we can make it a reality with a stronger public education system at the foundation.
Well, after a decade of having the rhetoric of ‘choice’ – for the wealthy and aspirational of course – pushed at us by the Federal Government, at least we are finally hearing the right ‘public school’ rhetoric. We can only hope it will become a reality with adequate funding.
Another plus is that public school supporters do not have to endure any longer the barbs of incompetent private school ‘born to rule’ graduates in the position of Minister for Education.
The new Minister for Education is himself a graduate of the NSW public school system. This is Jason Clare, he spokesman who acquitted himself admirably as spokesman for the Labour Party while Albanese had COVID. His rhetoric mirrors that of public school supporters:
On hs appointment he said:
On his appointment Jason Clare said:
Education is the most powerful cause for good in this country. It will be an extraordinary privilege to serve as Minister for Education in an Albanese Labor Government.
On his website he writes:
"Our education system is the most powerful cause for good in this country. Run well, it can ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their potential. It is the great equaliser in an unequal world. If we are serious about equal opportunity for men and women, for rich and poor, for indigenous and multicultural Australia, then let it begin with the youngest Australians."
Jason is a career politician, but his education was, from go to graduation in the public system. ANd he appears ot have been talking with AEU teachers in his electorate. As his website tells us proudly:
Jason was born and raised in western Sydney where he attended Cabramatta Public School and Canley Vale High School before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales. Before entering Parliament, he worked as a Senior Adviser to NSW Premier Bob Carr and as an executive at Transurban, one of Australia's top 100 companies.
Jason was elected as the Federal Member for Blaxland in 2007. In June 2009, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Employment. In September 2010, he was appointed Minister for Defence Materiel. In December 2011, he was appointed Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice. Following the 2013 election, Jason was appointed Shadow Minister for Communications. In July 2016, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment as well as Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia. In June 2019, Jason was appointed Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government and Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness.
He joined the Australian Labor Party because of its commitment to improving the lives of working Australians, particularly through education.
Jason is the Patron of Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN), the Bankstown Youth Development Service (BYDS), the Bankstown Sports Club and the Bankstown RSL.
Parliamentary service
- Elected to the House of Representatives for Blaxland, New South Wales, 2007. Re-elected 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019.
Ministerial appointments
- Parliamentary Secretary for Employment from 9.6.2009 to 14.9.2010.
- Minister for Defence Materiel from 14.9.2010 to 14.12.2011.
- Minister for Home Affairs from 14.12.2011 to 18.9.2013.
- Minister for Justice from 14.12.2011 to 18.9.2013.
- Minister for Defence Materiel from 5.3.2012 to 4.2.2013.
- Cabinet Secretary from 4.2.2013 to 1.7.2013.
- Cabinet Minister from 25.3.2013 to 1.7.2013.
Committee service
- Joint Statutory: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity from 18.2.2008 to 15.6.2009; Intelligence and Security from 26.11.2014 to 9.5.2016.
- House of Representatives Standing: Education and Training (Education and Vocational Training from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007) from 19.2.2008 to 15.6.2009; Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government from 19.2.2008 to 15.6.2009.
- House of Representatives Select: Regional Australia from 29.7.2019 to 2.9.2020.
Parliamentary party positions
- Shadow Minister for Communications from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
- Shadow Minister for Resources from 4.5.2016 to 23.7.2016.
- Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
- Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
- Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government from 2.6.2019.
- Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness from 2.6.2019.
Party positions
- Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1991.
- Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Cabramatta Branch from 1992 to 2001.
Personal
- Born 22.3.1972, Sydney, Australia
- Married
Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament
- BA(Hons) (University of New South Wales).
- LLB (University of New South Wales).
- Policy Adviser to the Minister for Police and Leader of the House (NSW), the Hon. P Whelan, MLA from 1995 to 1999.
- Senior Policy Adviser to the Premier (NSW), the Hon. R Carr, MLA from 1999 to 2003.
- Manager of Corporate Relations at Transurban from 2003 to 2007.
Electorate
- Name: Blaxland
- Location: Blaxland is bordered by Georges River, Prospect Creek and Woodville Road on the west, along Boorea Street, St Hilliers Road, the Western Motorway, Duck River, Mackay Road, Bennett Road, Clyde Street, Dellwood Street, Blaxcell Street, Adam Street, Excelsior Street and Constance Street in the north. Follows Olympic Drive, Joseph Street, Rookwood and Stacey Street and Fairford Road on the east and along the South Western Motorway in the south. The main suburbs include Auburn (part), Bankstown (part), Berala, Chester Hill, Condell Park, Georges Hall, Guilford (part), Lidcombe (part), Milperra, South Grandville, Villawood and Yagoona.
- Area: 61 Sq km
- Electors enrolled: 105,383 (at 17.6.2019)
- Industries: Retail, commercial and service industries including railway workshops, aircraft repairs, transport and storage.
LISTEN TO THE DOGS PROGRAM
855 ON THE AM DIAL: 12.00 NOON SATURDAYS
