Warren Snowdon

The Honourable Warren Snowdon
Snowdon in 2011
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
In office 14 September 2010 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister	Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd
Preceded by	Alan Griffin
Succeeded by	Stuart Robert
In office 3 December 2007 – 9 June 2009
Prime Minister	Kevin Rudd
Preceded by	No immediate predecessor
Succeeded by	Alan Griffin
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC
In office 3 March 2011 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister	Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd
Preceded by	Office Established
Succeeded by	Michael Ronaldson
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
In office 13 September 2010 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister	Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd
Preceded by	Alan Griffin
Succeeded by	Michael Ronaldson
Minister for Indigenous Health
In office 9 June 2009 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister	Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard
Preceded by	No immediate predecessor
Succeeded by	Fiona Nash
Member of the Australian Parliament for Lingiari
In office 10 November 2001 – 21 May 2022
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Marion Scrymgour
Member of the Australian Parliament for Northern Territory
In office 3 October 1998 – 10 November 2001
Preceded by	Nick Dondas
Succeeded by	Division abolished
In office 11 July 1987 – 2 March 1996
Preceded by	Paul Everingham
Succeeded by	Nick Dondas
Personal details
Born	Warren Edward Snowdon (1950-03-20) 20 March 1950 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse	Elizabeth Verstappen
Children	Frances, Tom, Tessa and Jack
Residence	Alice Springs
Alma mater	Australian National University, University of Western Australia
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Teacher
Website	www.warrensnowdon.com

Warren Edward Snowdon (born 20 March 1950) is an Australian former politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from July 1987 to March 1996, and again from October 1998 until May 2022. Initially representing the Division of Northern Territory, and later the Division of Lingiari, his constituents consisted of all the residents of the Northern Territory located outside Darwin, as well as Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean. He was the last sitting MP who was first elected in the 1980s, and the last who served in Old Parliament House.

Snowdon was the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Indigenous Health, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC in the second Rudd ministry. Snowdon is a member of the left faction of the Labor Party.

Snowdon did not contest the 2022 federal election and retired from politics.

Early life and career

Snowdon was born in Canberra and was educated at St Edmund's College, the Australian National University and the University of Western Australia.

He worked as a teacher with the Northern Territory teaching service before entering politics. He was a senior project officer with the Central Land Council in Alice Springs 1983–87 and was founding president of the Central Australian Regional Trades and Labour Council, then assistant secretary of the Northern Territory Trades and Labour Council.

Political career

Snowdon was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Communications 1990–92, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education and Training 1992–96, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment, Sport and Territories 1993 and 1994–96 and Parliamentary Secretary (Territories) 1993–94.

Defeated at the 1996 federal election, Snowdon returned to parliament two years later. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Regional and Urban Development, Transport and Infrastructure (Northern Australia and the Territories) 2001–04. From 2004 to 2007 he was Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs.

Snowdon was sworn in as Minister for Defence Science and Personnel in the first Rudd ministry on 3 December 2007. Following a reshuffle of the Ministry on 9 June 2009 as a result of the resignation of the Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, Snowdon was promoted to Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Service Delivery. On 14 September 2010, he gained the portfolio of Veterans' Affairs and regained Defence Science and Personnel, while losing responsibility for Rural and Regional Health and Regional Service Delivery, but retaining Indigenous Health. On 12 September 2011 he was given the added responsibility of Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC.

Snowdon narrowly retained his seat at the 2013 federal election, largely due to his winning all but five booths. However, Snowdon was not appointed to the shadow ministry.

Snowdon was re-elected in the 2016 federal election with a seven-point swing towards him, becoming the longest-serving MP in the House, and the only member who was first elected in the 1980s. Snowdon was however not the Father of the House due to his continuous service only beginning from 1998. Kevin Andrews, whose continuous service began from 1991, became Father of the House instead. Snowdon again retained his seat at the 2019 federal election.

He sat on the "Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000-year-old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia" from June 2020.

In reference to his service from Old Parliament House, Snowdon said: "I'm a bit of a relic. I'm the only one left in this parliament - Senate or House of Reps - from the Old Parliament House."

Snowdon did not contest the 2022 federal election and retired from politics.

See also

• First Rudd Ministry
• First Gillard Ministry
• Second Gillard Ministry
• Second Rudd Ministry

External links

• Official website
• Search or browse Hansard for Warren Snowdon at OpenAustralia.org