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Arthur Sinodinos AO (born 25 February 1957) is an Australian politician who has been a Senator for New South Wales since 2011, representing the Liberal Party. He served as a minister in the Abbott and Turnbull Governments.
| Senator The Honourable Arthur Sinodinos AO |
|
|---|---|
| Senator for New South Wales | |
|
Incumbent
|
|
| Assumed office 2 November 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Helen Coonan |
| Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science | |
| In office 24 January 2017 – 20 December 2017 |
|
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Greg Hunt |
| Succeeded by | Michaelia Cash (as Minister for Jobs and Innovation) |
| Cabinet Secretary | |
| In office 21 September 2015 – 24 January 2017 |
|
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Alan Griffin |
| Assistant Treasurer | |
| In office 18 September 2013 – 19 December 2014 |
|
| Prime Minister | Tony Abbott |
| Preceded by | David Bradbury |
| Succeeded by | Josh Frydenberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 February 1957 (age 61) Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Tserdanis |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Rose Bay |
| Alma mater | University of Newcastle |
| Profession | Economist; Investment banker; politician |
Sinodinos was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, and attended the University of Newcastle. He subsequently worked as a public servant and political adviser, most notably as chief of staff to Prime Minister John Howard between 1997 and 2006. Before being elected to the Senate at the 2010 federal election, Sinodinos spent periods working for Goldman Sachs and the National Australia Bank. He was appointed Assistant Treasurer in the Abbott Government in 2013,[2] but stepped aside from his ministerial duties in March 2014 during an investigation by the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC);[3] he still formally held the position until resigning in December 2014.[4] In September 2015, Sinodinos returned to the ministry as Cabinet Secretary in the Turnbull Government. He was made Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science in January 2017.[5] He took a leave of absence from parliament in October 2017 due to ill health, and left the ministry in December 2017.
Background and early career
Sinodinos was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, to Greek immigrant parents.[6] His father was a member of the left-aligned Seaman's Union that, during Sinodinos' early years, was campaigning against the United States intervention in Vietnam. His mother recalled stories of the Greek Civil War of the 1940s where Communist insurgents would knock on the door of their family home at night. Sinodinos has said that this helped him form his early political views.[1]
Sinodinos graduated from the University of Newcastle in 1979 with a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours. He then entered the Australian Public Service as a graduate recruit, working within the Department of Finance, before working in the Department of the Treasury between 1980 and 1987 and again between 1989 and 1995.[6]
He was the Chief of Staff to the then Prime Minister of Australia John Howard from 1997 to 2006, after serving with him previously from 1987 to 1989 when he was Opposition Leader and rejoining him in 1995.[7] As a close confidant of the Prime Minister, he was regarded as one of the most powerful people in the country.[8]
Corporate career
Sinodinos left his position as prime ministerial chief of staff to become a director with the investment bank Goldman Sachs JBWere,[9] and a regional general manager at the National Australia Bank; he reportedly declined an offer to become Australian Ambassador to the United States.[4] In 2008, he was part of a panel that mediated public input into the Defence White Paper.[10] In March 2009, he was appointed a managing director at the National Australia Bank.[11]
Sinodinos became a director of Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd (AWH) in 2008 and chairman in 2010. He resigned from these positions on becoming a senator.[12][13]
Political career
See also: Abbott Government and Turnbull Government
Sinodinos served as honorary Finance Director (2009 to 2011) and President (2011-2012) for the NSW branch of the Liberal Party. Initially touted as a candidate for the lower house seat of Bradfield,[14] on 2 November 2011 Sinodinos was appointed to the Australian Senate representing New South Wales, replacing the resigned Liberal Senator Helen Coonan for the remainder of her term, which was due to expire on 30 June 2014.[6][15] At the 2013 election he was elected to a further six-year term from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2020. Howard was present in Parliament when Sinodinos delivered his maiden speech.[16]
Sinodinos is a member of the board of Global Panel Foundation - Australasia, a non-governmental organisation.[17]
During 2012 Sinodinos was a regular columnist, writing in The Australian.[18]
On 19 March 2014, Sinodinos stood aside from his role as Assistant Treasurer prior to giving evidence as a witness before New South Wales's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). During the enquiry Sinodinos advised he was unaware of a $74,000 donation made to the Liberal Party by Australian Water Holdings, despite being Deputy Chairman on a $200,000 salary. At the time of the payment Sinodinos was also Treasurer of the Liberal Party.[19] He formally resigned on 19 December 2014 as Assistant Treasurer and was succeeded as Assistant Treasurer by Josh Frydenberg.[20][21] Sussan Ley temporarily stood aside as the Minister for Health and Aged Care and Minister for Sport and then subsequently resigned from the ministry in January 2017. Sinodinos briefly acted in her portfolios until a subsequent rearrangement of the Turnbull ministry where Sinodinos was appointed as the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science.[5] The portfolio of Cabinet Secretary was abolished.
In October 2017, Sinodinos took leave from parliament and the ministry to aid his recovery from an unnamed type of cancer. He "believes the prognosis is very positive and that the cancer is eminently treatable".[22] He was voluntarily removed from cabinet in the December 2017 rearrangement.[23]
On 24 August 2018, Sinodinos returned to Canberra and attended the Liberal Party meeting where Malcolm Turnbull was replaced by Scott Morrison as Leader.[24][not in citation given] In TV coverage, he could be seen being greeted by Whip, Nola Marino, and various others after the meeting.
Honours
Sinodinos was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2008 for service to politics through the executive function of government, to the development of economic policy and reform, and to the Greek community.[25][26]
Personal
Sinodinos lives in New South Wales with his wife, whom he met at a Greek Orthodox Church, and their children.[1] He has been a director of the Mary MacKillop Foundation.[27]
References
Sinodinos, Arthur (28 November 2011). "Senator Arthur Sinodinos interview". Sunday Profile (transcript and streaming audio). Interviewed by Julia Baird. Australia: ABC Local Radio. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
"Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
"Arthur Sinodinos quits frontbench, but ICAC scrutiny set to continue". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
Wright, Tony (19 December 2014). "Arthur Sinodinos resigns as Assistant Treasurer: tragedy wrapped in mystery". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
"New federal ministers officially sworn in". Sky News. Australia. AAP. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
"Biography for SINODINOS, Arthur". Parliament of Australia. 2011.
"PM'S chief of staff resigns". news.com.au. 8 December 2006.
Kirk, Alexandra (2 October 2003). "Backroom politics with the PM's Chief of Staff". PM (ABC Radio). Australia.
Meterell, Mark (8 December 2006). "PM's top gun quits for bank". The Sydney Morning Herald.
"Top Howard aide signs with Labor". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 March 2008.
"Profile of Arthur Sinodinos". Celebrity Speakers. Archived from the original on 29 July 2011.
"Australian Water Holdings: what you need to know". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
McClymont, Kate; Swan, Jonathan; Whitbourn, Michaela (22 March 2014). "Arthur Sinodinos: The man least likely". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
Priestley, Andrew (16 June 2009). "Bradfield-ing the question: will Arthur Sinodinos be the next MP for Bradfield?". North Shore times. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
"Howard adviser to claim Coonan's seat in Senate". The Age. Australia. 26 August 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
"Howard flinches during Sinodinos maiden speech". ABC News. Australia. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
"Board of Directors—Global Panel". Retrieved 18 June 2016.
"Opinion: Arthur Sinodinos". The Australian. 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
Jabour, Bridie. "Arthur Sinodinos denies knowledge of $74,000 AWH donation to NSW Libs". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
"Tony Abbott's revamped Ministry sworn in at Government House". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
Coch, Lukas (23 December 2014). "Sussan Ley sworn in". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
"Cabinet minister Arthur Sinodinos reveals private fight with cancer". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 October 2017.
Turnbull, Malcolm (19 December 2017). "Ministerial Arrangements" (Press release). Government of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2018. "Senator Arthur Sinodinos wrote to me this week to tell me his medical treatment is taking longer than anticipated and he is unlikely to be able to return from leave until the middle of next year. In those circumstances, he has asked that he not be included in this new ministry. Senator Sinodinos is one of this generation’s most accomplished and experienced public servants and his contributions to the Cabinet have been sorely missed since his illness was first diagnosed. Naturally, we wish him well in his recovery and I look forward to him regaining full health and returning to a senior Ministerial or other government role in the future."
Peter Dutton hands spill petition to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, ABC News Online, 2018-08-24
"Search Australian Honours: SINODINOS, Arthur". It's an honour. Commonwealth of Australia. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
Coorey, Phillip (10 June 2008). "High honours for Howard and his right-hand man". The Sydney Morning Herald.
"Board of Directors: Arthur Sinodinos AO". Mary MacKillop Foundation. 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
External links
Summary of parliamentary voting for Senator Arthur Sinodinos on TheyVoteForYou.org.au
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