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Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott

About Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott (Anthony John Abbott), the current Prime Minister of Australia is a Roman Catholic born on 4th November 1957 in London. He has been part of the Liberal Party since 2009 and became the 28th Prime Minister of Australia on 18th September 2013. He represents Warringah in the parliament.

Political Career

Tony Abbott also served as Health Minister, opposition leader and as Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs.

Tony Abbott as Prime Minister

Tony Abbott introduced legislation to repeal the carbon tax. He received strong public support for his Coalition's policy- Operation Sovereign Borders, aimed at blocking illegal maritime arrivals. Abbott’s federal government challenged Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly’s Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013 that supports same- sex marriage. He authored four books- The Minimal Monarchy: and why it still makes sense for Australia, How to Win the Constitutional War: and give both sides what they want, Battlelines and A Strong Australia.

Early Life and Education

Born to an Australian mother and English-born father, he and his family had shifted to Australia in 1960s as part of the "Assisted Passage Migration Scheme”. He completed his schooling at the Holy Family Convent and at St Aloysius' College. Later he joined St Ignatius' College to complete his secondary school education. He holds bachelor’s degree in both economics and law from Sidney University. During his life at university, his girlfriend became pregnant and claimed Tony Abbott to be the biological father. Their relationship ended soon and they gave up the baby for adoption. DNA testing years later disproved his girlfriend’s claim. He joined The Queen's College, Oxford, as a Rhodes scholar from where he took master’s degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. After returning to Australia, he joined St Patrick's Seminary in Manly to become a Catholic priest and started writing for The Catholic Weekly and The Bulletin.

Personal Life

In 1987, he quit the Seminary to try his hand at politics. He met New Zealander Margie Aitkin the same year, whom he married later. He has three children- Louise, Bridget and Frances.

28th Prime Minister of Australia
In office: 18 September 2013
Monarch Elizabeth II
Governor General Quentin Bryce
Deputy Warren Truss
Preceded by Kevin Rudd
Leader of the Liberal Party
In office: 1 December 2009
Deputy Julie Bishop
Preceded by Malcolm Turnbull
10th Chairperson-in-office of the Commonwealth of Nations
In office: 18 September 2013– 15 November 2013
Preceded by Kevin Rudd
Succeeded by Mahinda Rajapaksa
Leader of the Opposition
In office: 1 December 2009– 18 September 2013
Deputy Julie Bishop
Preceded by Malcolm Turnbull
Succeeded by Chris Bowen
Minister for Health and Ageing
In office: 7 October 2003– 3 December 2007
Prime Minister John Howard
Preceded by Kay Patterson
Succeeded by Nicola Roxon
Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business
In office: 21 October 1998– 7 October 2003
Prime Minister John Howard
Preceded by Chris Ellison
Succeeded by Kevin Andrews
Member of the Australian Parliament for Warringah
In office: 26 March 1994
Preceded by Michael MacKellar
Majority 27,421 (15.35%)
Personal details
Born 4 November 1957 (age 56) London, England, UK
Political party Liberal Party
Other political affiliations Coalition
Spouse(s) Margie Abbott (m. 1988–present)
Children Louise Bridget Frances
Residence Kirribilli House (Sydney) Australian Federal Police College (Canberra)
Alma mater University of Sydney Queen's College, Oxford St Patrick's Seminary, Manly
Religion Roman Catholicism

Types Of Visas

Immigration Info

Australian History

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