John Brumby

Born in Melbourne, Brumby was educated at Ivanhoe Grammar School and then later, Melbourne Grammar School. He graduated in commerce (BCom) at University of Melbourne, in 1974; and he completed a Diploma of Education (DipEd) at the State College of Victoria at Rusden, in 1975.

He was a teacher at Eaglehawk High School, in Bendigo, from 1976 to 1979. From 1979 to 1983 he was an employee of the Victorian Teachers Union. He was also active in the Labor Party.

On 27 July 2007 the then Victorian premier, Steve Bracks, announced his retirement from politics, citing family reasons for the decision. Deputy Premier John Thwaites also announced his resignation later that day. On 30 July Brumby was elected unopposed as leader, and was sworn in as premier later that day with Attorney-General Rob Hulls as his deputy.

Brumby even gained the endorsement of Jeff Kennett, the man he made an unsuccessful attempt to oust as Premier at the 1996 election. [2]

An early challenge occurred in November 2007 when State Labor MP Tammy Lobato publicly criticised Brumby over a decision by cabinet to allow genetically modified canola to be grown in Victoria.[3][4] Other State Labor MPs were also said to be upset over Brumby's approach to the issue, and in particular, the way that he allegedly rail-roaded the policy through.[5]

Brumby's response to a plan proposed by then Liberal Party Prime Minister John Howard for the federal government to assume control of the Murray-Darling Basin water catchment from the states was also an early issue. Under the previous Premier, Steve Bracks, Victoria had been the only state to refuse to accept Howard's plan. Following the election on 24 November 2007 of a new Australian Labor Party controlled federal government Brumby agreed to commit Victoria to an amended plan on 26 March 2008.[6]

In April 2008 he was widely applauded for his move to break up the Victorian poker machine gambling duopoly starting in 2012.[7][8] The move was supported in particular by organisations such as the Interchurch Gambling Taskforce and the Australian Hotels Association.[9] Some concerns, however, were raised that the decision could ultimately result in a A$1 billion compensation claim from the companies standing to lose their duopoly status as a result of the decision, Tattersalls and Tabcorp. The government, however, denied that any claim for compensation would be successful.[7][10]

In May 2008, following the reporting of several episodes of violence in various Melbourne Bars and Clubs in the media, Brumby announced a 2am entry curfew on Melbourne city bars, pubs and clubs.[11] The move sparked considerable opposition, with venue operators launching successful legal contests to the legislation,[12] and patrons protesting outside State Parliament House.[13] Brumby announced the dropping of the plan in November 2008, following an increase in violence which the legislation had been aimed at curbing.[14] Critics of the curfew system called the plan populist and regressive, with little concern for the impact on the vast majority of club-goers that did not instigate violence.[15] Subsequently, liquor licensing changes impacted live music venues, notably with The Tote Hotel (amongst others) claiming they had been forced into closure as the operator could no longer afford to support the extra staff required under changes to legislation. Critics argued that these types of venues were not often problem areas for police, and that legislative changes were poorly planned and implemented.[16][17]

During 2008 Brumby's government passed an act decriminalising abortion.[18]

He contested as Premier at the November 2010 Victorian state election and his government was narrowly defeated by the Liberal/National Coalition led by Ted Baillieu.

On 30 November, Brumby announced that he was standing down as Labor leader in Victoria, and that the parliamentary Labor Party would meet on 3 December to elect a new leader and shadow ministry.[19] Ted Baillieu was sworn in as Premier on 2 December, formally ending both Brumby's tenure and what is still by far the longest-serving Labor government in Victoria. Brumby resigned from parliament on 21 December.[20]

Following his resignation from parliament, Brumby was appointed as a joint Vice Chancellor's Fellow at Monash University and the University of Melbourne,[21] chairman of Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund, member of the federal government's GST Distribution Review panel,[22] and a director of Huawei in Australia.[23] In 2017 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the Parliament of Victoria, to economic management and medical biotechnology innovation, to improved rural and regional infrastructure, and to the community.[24] He is currently the Australian China Business Council (ACBC) national president.

In February 2019, Brumby resigned from the Huawei board and [25] in March 2019 took up his appointment as Chancellor of La Trobe University.[26]

John Brumby is married to Rosemary McKenzie and has three children. His father, Malcolm Brumby, died from a stroke on 26 September 2010.[27]

• Brumby Ministry

Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Brumby.

• Victorian Labor: John Brumby