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Ted Baillieu

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Edward Norman Baillieu AO (born 31 July 1953) is a former Australian politician who was Premier of Victoria from 2010 to 2013. He was a Liberal Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1999 to 2014, representing the electorate of Hawthorn. He was elected leader of the Liberal Party in opposition in 2006, and served as Premier from 2010 until 2013 after winning the 2010 state election. He resigned as Premier on 6 March 2013, and was succeeded by Denis Napthine.

The Honourable
Ted Baillieu
AO
Baillieu in 2024
46th Premier of Victoria
Elections: 2010
In office
2 December 2010 – 6 March 2013
MonarchElizabeth II
GovernorDavid de Kretser
Alex Chernov
DeputyPeter Ryan
Preceded byJohn Brumby
Succeeded byDenis Napthine
Leader of the Opposition in Victoria
Elections: 2006
In office
8 May 2006 – 2 December 2010
PremierSteve Bracks
John Brumby
DeputyLouise Asher
Preceded byRobert Doyle
Succeeded byDaniel Andrews
Leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria
In office
8 May 2006 – 6 March 2013
DeputyLouise Asher
Preceded byRobert Doyle
Succeeded byDenis Napthine
Member of the Victorian Parliament
for Hawthorn
In office
18 September 1999 – 29 November 2014
Preceded byPhil Gude
Succeeded byJohn Pesutto
Personal details
Born
Edward Norman Baillieu

(1953-07-31) 31 July 1953 (age 71)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Political partyLiberal (since 1981)
SpouseRobyn Jubb
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
ProfessionArchitect
Signature

Early life

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Ted Baillieu is the youngest son of Darren and Diana Baillieu. He is also the younger brother of solicitor Ian Baillieu, former ABC presenter Fiona Baillieu, author David Baillieu, former journalist and Portsea activist Kate Baillieu (the widow of state Liberal politician Julian Doyle) and Olympic oarsman and America's Cup yachtsman Will Baillieu.[1] His Walloon great-great-great-grandfather, Étienne Lambert Baillieux (1773–1816), migrated to England from Liège, Belgium.[citation needed] The 3rd Baron Baillieu, James William Latham Baillieu (b. 1950) is his third cousin.[citation needed] He is also the great-grandson of Victorian politician William Knox.[citation needed] He was raised in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak and educated at Melbourne Grammar School and the University of Melbourne, where he graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.

Professional career

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He worked as an architect and for a time joined the family real estate firm Baillieu Knight Frank.[2] The Labor Party ran an election advertisement campaign in 2006 and 2010 claiming he profited from Liberal government policies. Baillieu was also employed by Tourism Victoria from 1998 to 1999, before entering politics.[3]

Political career

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Baillieu shortly after his election to the Victorian Parliament.

He joined the Carlton branch of the Liberal Party in 1981 because of his frustration at the power of unions on building sites. By 1987 he was vice-president of the Victorian Liberal Party and President in 1994. At Jeff Kennett's insistence, Baillieu nominated for Liberal Party preselection for the safe seat of Hawthorn at the 1999 election, to replace the retiring member, former Liberal deputy leader Phil Gude. Baillieu was preselected, and won the seat at the election. It was at this election that Steve Bracks unexpectedly led the Labor Party to victory, with the support of three country independents, one a former Labor supporter and the other two conservatives.

Baillieu immediately joined the Liberal frontbench, serving as Shadow Minister for Tertiary Education and Training (1999–2001), Gaming (July 2000 – August 2002) and Planning (September 2001 – May 2006).

Liberal Party leadership

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Baillieu in 2006

After Robert Doyle resigned as opposition leader on 4 May 2006, speculation mounted that former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett would return to politics and the position of Liberal Party Leader in order to lead the party into the 2006 state election set down for 25 November 2006. However, on the morning of 5 May 2006, Baillieu not only announced he was running for the leadership, but revealed that Kennett would not return to the leadership and was supporting Baillieu.[4] Shadow Minister for Transport Terry Mulder had earlier announced he was running, but withdrew from the race. This left Baillieu to take the leadership unopposed at a Liberal party room vote on 8 May.

Six months after assuming leadership of the Liberals, Baillieu took the party into the 2006 election. The governing Labor Party, keen to exploit Baillieu's wealth, dubbed him Ted the Toff from Toorak.[5]

Throughout the campaign, media stories about Baillieu's extensive blue chip share portfolio, at the time estimated to be worth almost $4 million, raised questions about conflicts of interest.[6] Baillieu's handling of the issue and his refusal to place his investments in a blind trust were both thought to have hurt the Liberal Party during the campaign.[7] At the 25 November 2006 election, the Liberals came up well short of winning government, though they managed to take six seats off Labor's large majority.

In a speech at the State Council of the Victorian Liberal Party, Ballieu opposed the push by John Howard for nuclear reactors in Victoria.[8][citation needed]

An online campaign against Baillieu by senior Liberal Party members was uncovered and made public, with Baillieu promising to root out the disloyal elements in his party. The media suspected that forces loyal to former Federal Treasurer Peter Costello and former State Party President Michael Kroger, themselves from Melbourne, had attempted to undermine Baillieu.[9]

In February 2008, at a joint news conference it was announced that the Victorian Nationals and Liberals would join in a new Coalition agreement forged between Baillieu and Peter Ryan. As part of the arrangement, the parties agreed to hold joint party meetings, develop joint policies, allocate five shadow cabinet positions to the Nationals, abolish three-cornered contests (unless otherwise agreed) and run joint Legislative Council tickets in the non-metropolitan Regions.[citation needed] The Liberals and Nationals have historically had strained relations in Victoria. They had fought the 1992 and 1996 state elections as a Coalition after having sat separately for most of the second half of the 20th century, but went their separate ways after the 1999 election.[10]

During his leadership of the Liberals, Baillieu was considered to be a moderate Liberal; as opposition leader he backed voluntary assisted dying, equal rights for the LGBTQI community, gambling reforms, a plan to give condoms to prisoners, and the decriminalisation of abortion;[11] in 2008, Baillieu voted for abortion law reform which decriminalised abortion up to twenty four weeks and the moment of birth if two doctors grant approval.[12][13]

Premier of Victoria

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Teachers and students outside Baillieu's offices on 10 May 2012, protesting against cuts to TAFE funding.

Baillieu, as Leader of the Opposition, contested the 2010 Victorian state election as the alternative Premier of Victoria with the Leader of the Nationals, Peter Ryan, as the alternative Deputy Premier. Baillieu focused during the election campaign mainly on the policies of health, law and order, government expenditure and the longevity and the ability of the incumbent Labor government to deliver on its promises. Until election eve, polling indicated Labor would win a record fourth term in government, albeit by a tight margin. The final Newspoll saw a two party preferred figure of 48.9 percent for Labor and 51.1 percent to the Liberals and Nationals.

Ultimately, the Coalition picked up a swing of 5.96 percent, larger than what it won during its landslide victory in 1992. Two days after the election, on 29 November, the Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, conceded defeat after it became clear that his government had lost its majority to the opposition. The Coalition only just managed the 13-seat swing it needed to make Baillieu premier. It won 45 seats to Labor's 43, with a parliamentary majority of just one seat after the appointment of Ken Smith as Speaker.[14] On 2 December, Baillieu was sworn in as the 46th Premier of Victoria, along with 22 of the Baillieu/Ryan government ministers.

After two years in office, Baillieu was criticised by business and community leaders for acting too slowly and failing to present a credible policy agenda. His government was criticised for its "backward" environmental record for dismantling protection of native species, cutting support for renewable energy and introducing cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park, as well as for cutting funding for TAFE vocational education.[15]

International engagement

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In September 2012, Baillieu led what was until then Australia's largest-ever international trade delegation to China. Because of the unprecedented scale of the delegation it was dubbed the "Super Trade Mission" and was attended by more than 400 Victorian business and 3 of Baillieu's key Ministers as his government launched a $50 million funding initiative to boost Victoria's international engagement efforts. The week long schedule covered 26 cities in China.[citation needed]

Secret recordings

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On 4 March 2013, the Herald Sun released secret recordings which revealed Baillieu's chief of staff, Tony Nutt, had offered to help former Ryan police adviser Tristan Weston find a new job. Weston had been fired after an OPI report found he had undermined Victoria Police chief Simon Overland. The tapes also revealed Nutt had claimed the Baillieu government had hamstrung the operations of a new anti-corruption commission. More tapes were released the next day, in which deputy police chief Sir Ken Jones expressed concerns about Overland and promised to discuss them with Ryan. On 7 March, Liberal MLA Geoff Shaw resigned from the parliamentary Liberal Party and refused to commit to supporting the Government if Baillieu remained Premier. That afternoon, Ryan insisted that Baillieu would not resign. However, after a crisis meeting of Liberal MLAs later that night, Baillieu resigned as Leader of the Liberal Party and hence as Premier of Victoria.[16] He remained in the legislature as a backbencher until his retirement at the 2014 election.

Covert recording controversy

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Former State Liberal MP Michael Gidley was among those Baillieu was critical of on a leaked recording.

In 2014, Baillieu made off-the-record comments "critical of parliamentary colleagues" including Murray Thompson and Michael Gidley[17][18] to Sunday Age state political editor Farrah Tomazin. Tomazin recorded the comments without Baillieu's knowledge or consent. Tomazin subsequently lost her recorder at an ALP state conference.[19] The recorder was found by security staff and handed over to Labor Party officials. The Baillieu recording was distributed from a fake email address on 24 June 2014.[20] Party leader Daniel Andrews initially denied any Labor involvement. However, The Age's investigation of the incident led to ALP sources admitting senior figures in Andrews' team had listened to and made copies of the recording, before it was later emailed to hundreds of Liberal members and MPs.[21] The matter was subject to a police investigation, but the Department of Public Prosecutions determined that no charges be laid.[22]

Retirement from politics

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On 22 August 2014, Baillieu announced that he would not re-contest his seat of Hawthorn and that he would be retiring from politics at the 2014 Victorian state election.[23] Since April 2013, Baillieu has acted as Chair of the Victorian Government's ANZAC Centenary Committee, coordinating Victoria's commemorations, and is passionate about connecting as many Victorians as possible with Original ANZACs, whether by family, institution, geography, occupation or place of residence.[24] Baillieu is the recipient of the 2013 Ashoka Medal from the Australia India Business Council Victoria in recognition of his contribution to Australia-India relations;[25] and the Asian Leadership Network of Australia's 2014 Special Public Service Award. He also acted as an Honorary Ambassador for the Victorian Government's 80 Days of Melbourne initiative during which Victoria hosted an unprecedented number of internationally recognised sporting, arts, cultural and trade events between 9 January and 29 March 2015.[26] In 2016 Baillieu became Melbourne University's Honorary Enterprise Professor associated with the Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning.[27] In 2017 Baillieu joined the Committee of the Melbourne Cricket Club,[28] The Australian Institute of Architects Foundation Board,[29] and was appointed adjunct professor at Swinburne University. In 2017 he was appointed co-chair of the Victorian Government's Cladding Task Force.[30] In July 2020, Baillieu was appointed a member of the Australia India Council by the Foreign Minister.[31] In June 2021, Baillieu was appointed by the Australian Government as Chair of the Australian Heritage Council.[32] Baillieu is Patron of a number of groups including Multicultural Arts Victoria,[33] Public Record Office of Victoria, The Sovereign Hill Museums Association,[34] Queenscliffe Historical Museum,[35] Cancer Council Victoria: Relay for Life, Hawthorn[36] and the Australia India Chamber of Commerce.[37] Ballieu is also Chieftain of the Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association.[38] Baillieu's donated to Pesutto's defence after Moira Deeming sued Pesutto. Kennett along with two former Liberals Premiers gave donations to John Pesutto's defence after Deeming issue a legal notice to him. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-21/moira-deeming-john-pesutto-defamation-battle-mp-gifts/103492714

Personal life

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Ted Baillieu is married to Robyn and they have three children. He is a supporter of the Geelong Football Club,[39] where he is a joint convener of We Are Geelong Supporters. Baillieu is a regular Sunday morning swimmer with the Brighton Icebergs.[40] He regularly enters the Pier to Pub swim organised by the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club, and in 1989 he co-founded and has swum in all the Portsea Surf Life Saving Club's Pier to Perignon events, over the 4.5 km course from Sorrento Pier to Portsea Pier. [41]

In December 2010, Baillieu underwent surgery at the Epworth Hospital to remove a kidney stone.[42]

He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, and a member of the Geelong Football Club, the Melbourne Cricket Club, the Melbourne Rugby Union Football Club, the Melbourne Savage Club, the Melbourne Victory FC, the Rotary Club of Glenferrie, the Royal Melbourne Golf Club, the Sorrento Golf Club, the Hawthorn Rowing Club and Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria (as a member of the Patrons Council).[43]

Since Sep 2020, he is also a board member of the Australia India Council. [44]

Baillieu is a teetotaler.[45]

References

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  1. ^ "Endearing matriarch frowned on pomposity". Melbourne: theage.com.au. 27 May 2008. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Members Information - Ted Baillieu (Hawthorn)". Archived from the original on 10 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Members Information - Ted Baillieu (Hawthorn)". Archived from the original on 10 January 2011.
  4. ^ Austin, Paul; Tomazin, Farrah (6 May 2006). "Kennett backdown infuriates Howard". Melbourne: The Age. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Nobody votes for them, so why do they matter?". Melbourne: theage.com.au. 18 November 2006. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  6. ^ "Baillieu under fire on shares". theaustralian.com.au. 6 November 2006.
  7. ^ Bachelard, Michael (8 November 2006). "Baillieu share silence may be hurting campaign". theage.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  8. ^ Rose, Danny (29 April 2007). "State Libs NIMBY on nuclear power". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2007.
  9. ^ Fyfe, Melissa; Bachelard, Michael (25 May 2008). "Crisis deepens for Baillieu". theage.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  10. ^ Green, Antony. "Victoria Votes 2010 - Election Preview". ABC News. Archived from the original on 21 December 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  11. ^ Smethurst, Annika. "No, no, no: Pesutto was meant to be the great moderate. Where's the evidence?". The Age. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Find out how your MP voted on the 2008 abortion legislation". www.prolife.org.au. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Abortion in Australia". www.lifenetwork.org.au. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  14. ^ Austin, Paul (16 December 2010). "The figures point to electoral wilderness for Victorian Labor". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 12 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  15. ^ "Baillieu challenged to be bold, decisive". The Age. 25 November 2012. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  16. ^ Johnston, Matt (7 March 2013). "Ted Baillieu resigns and says 'I love this state but a change in leadership is needed'". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  17. ^ "Victorian Liberals reject claims of a plot to oust Baillieu". ABC News. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  18. ^ Hawthorne, Mark; Willingham, Richard (24 June 2014). "Baillieu stolen tape exposes ructions". The Age. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  19. ^ Gordon, Josh; Tomazin, Farrah (25 July 2014). "ALP the guilty party". The Age. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  20. ^ "The tape, the journo and the politicians". Media Watch. ABC TV. 4 August 2014. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023.
  21. ^ Gordon, Josh; Tomazin, Farrah (24 July 2014). "ALP the guilty party". The Age. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  22. ^ Willingham, Richard; Grace, Robyn (14 January 2015). "Senior Labor official dodges charges over dictaphone affair". The Age. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  23. ^ Savage, Alison (22 August 2014). "Former Victorian premier Ted Baillieu to quit politics". ABC News. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  24. ^ "VICTORIAN ANZAC CENTENARY COMMITTEE". Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  25. ^ "Governor of Victoria 2013 ASHOKA AWARD" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  26. ^ "Melbourne promotes packed program of events over 80 days" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  27. ^ "New Enterprise Professors to help build bridge between academia and industry". 13 February 2019. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  28. ^ "MCC Committee". Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  29. ^ "About the Foundation". Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Taskforce to Address Cladding in Victoria | Premier of Victoria". Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  31. ^ "Appointment of Australia-India Council board members | Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women". www.foreignminister.gov.au. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  32. ^ "New appointments to the Australian Heritage Council | Ministers". minister.awe.gov.au. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  33. ^ "Patrons". Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  34. ^ "Sovereign Hill Annual Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  35. ^ "Who We Are - Queenscliffe Historical Museum". Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Kooyong Colts ready for fourth Hawthorn Relay for Life". heraldsun.com.au. 18 March 2015. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  37. ^ "Australia India Chamber of Commerce". Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  38. ^ "About VHPBA – Pipe Bands Victoria". www.pipebandsvic.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  39. ^ Beveridge, Riley (29 January 2016). "Your AFL club's most famous supporters, from Barack Obama to Cam Newton". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  40. ^ "Icebergers and yacht club in battle of Brighton". heraldsun.com.au. 2 May 2015. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  41. ^ "Edward (Ted) Norman BAILLIEU MP Member for Hawthorn VIC Legislative Assembly". Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  42. ^ "Ted Baillieu has emergency surgery weeks after taking power". The Herald Sun. 15 December 2010. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  43. ^ "Parliament of Victoria, Ted Baillieu - Member for Hawthorn, Premier of Victoria". Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  44. ^ "Baillieu, Hayden on AIC Board". The Indian Sun. 1 September 2020.
  45. ^ Gordon, Michael (27 November 2006). "Baillieu finds himself washed up with everywhere to go". The Age. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
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Victorian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Hawthorn
1999–2014 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria
2006–2013 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition of Victoria
2006–2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Premier of Victoria
2010–2013 		Succeeded by
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