The Honourable Simon Crean MP

Simon Crean (BEc 1970, LLB 1972) is the Minister for the Arts and Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development, and Local Government in the Australian Federal Goverment. He is also the member for Hotham (Victoria).

After graduating from Monash University Mr Crean assumed several trade union leadership positions, including assistant general secretary and general secretary of the Federated Storemen and Packers Union of Australia from 1976-1985.

In 1985 he was elected president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), having been active in the organisation since 1981.

He was a member of many national and international labour organisations and during the late 1980s held memberships on the boards of Qantas and the Australian Industry Development Corporation.

He entered Federal Parliament in 1990 holding a number of ministerial roles while the Labor Party was in Government, including Minister for Science and Technology, Minister assisting the Treasurer, Minister for Primary Industries and Energy and Minister for Employment, Education and Training.

From 1996 Mr Crean was a shadow minister covering the areas of trade, industry development, treasury and regional development.

He was Leader of the Opposition between 2001 and 2003, Shadow Treasurer for the period 2003-2004 and Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Treasurer from 1998 until 2001.