Ian Goodenough

Ian Reginald Goodenough (born 3 July 1975) is a Singaporean-born Australian politician who is the current Liberal Party member for the Division of Moore in the House of Representatives, located in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. Goodenough was elected to parliament at the 2013 federal election, replacing the retiring Mal Washer. A property developer and businessman before his election, he had previously also served as a City of Wanneroo councillor.

Ian Goodenough MP JP
Member of the Australian Parliament for Moore
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 September 2013
Preceded by	Mal Washer
Personal details
Born	Ian Reginald Goodenough (1975-07-03) 3 July 1975 Bedok, Singapore
Citizenship	Australian Singaporean (1975–2004)[1]
Political party	Liberal
Relations	Samuel Goodenough (ancestor) William Goodenough (great-granduncle)
Education	Aranmore Catholic College
Alma mater	Curtin University University of Pennsylvania; Wharton School
Occupation	Property developer (Westcapital Group)
Profession	Businessman politician
Awards	Centenary Medal (2001)

Early life and business career

Goodenough was born in Singapore in 1975, and emigrated to Australia with his family in December 1984, becoming an Australian citizen in 1987.[2] He is of English, Portuguese, and Malaysian Chinese descent,[3] and identifies as a member of the Eurasian community,[4] with his branch of the Goodenough family having first arrived in Singapore in the 1800s. A direct ancestor, Samuel Goodenough, was Bishop of Carlisle in the early 19th century, and a great-granduncle, Sir William Goodenough, was an admiral in the Royal Navy.[5] After moving to Australia, Goodenough attended Leederville Primary School and Aranmore Catholic College. He graduated as the dux of his high school in 1992, and then began work for an accounting firm, Hendry Rae & Court. At the same time, he attended night classes at Curtin University, eventually receiving a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) degree in 1998.[6] In 2003, Goodenough returned to Curtin for two years to obtain a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, and later also attended an executive development program (EDP) at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in Philadelphia, USA.[7]

Aged 21, Goodenough invested money borrowed from his parents into Pipe Supports Australia, a pipe manufacturing and wholesale business, and in 1998 he co-founded Westcapital Group, a property developer. He remains a managing director of both companies, and in 2006 was named in Business News' 40 Under 40, with his profile noting his "diverse business interests".[8] Until resigning in February 2011, he additionally served as managing director of several companies in the Claymont Group, on his resignation exchanging his shares in the companies for land worth $9.7 million.[9] From 1997 to 2001, during the Court–Cowan government, Goodenough worked part-time as a research officer in WA's Department of the Premier and Cabinet, assisting, amongst others, George Cash (the President of the Legislative Council), and Ian Osborne (the government whip).[7] He was a recipient of the Australian government's Centenary Medal in 2001, for "service to the community through local government, education and charity".[10]

Local government and political career

Goodenough was an unsuccessful candidate for the Town of Vincent's Mount Hawthorn Ward in December 1997, placing third of three candidates with 19.40% of the vote.[11] In 1999, after the City of Joondalup's separation from the City of Wanneroo necessitated new elections for both councils, Goodenough was elected to the City of Wanneroo's Coastal Ward. He remained a councillor until his election to federal parliament in September 2013.[12] A "longstanding member of the Liberal Party",[13] Goodenough was president of the party's branch in the Division of Moore from 2007 to 2011, replacing Michaelia Cash following her election to the Senate at the 2007 federal election.[14] He was preselected for Moore in July 2012,[15] and won the seat at the 2013 federal election with 53.08 percent on first preferences (and 61.86 percent of the 2PP vote), replacing the retiring Mal Washer.[16] A member of the conservative faction of the Liberal Party,[17] Goodenough sits on the Standing Committees for Procedure and Tax and Revenue, and on the Joint Standing Committee for Electoral Matters. He also sits on the Speaker's Panel, whose members chair the house in the absence of both the Speaker and Deputy Speakers.[7]

In 2018 he supported Peter Dutton calls to treat white South African farmers, who are sometimes targets of attacks, as refugees.[18] Goodenough is not a supporter of environmental conservation efforts: voting against a carbon price, increasing marine conservation, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and efforts to support the Great Barrier Reef.[19] He does not believe in restricting gambling and restricting foreign ownership in Australia.[20] With regards to tertiary education, he voted to increase indexation of HECS-HELP debts,[21] deregulate undergraduate university fees[22] and charge postgraduate research students additional fees.[23]

Goodenough is a vocal opponent of marriage equality. In 2016, he wrote an article for Yahoo!, which was also published in The West Australian newspaper, entitled, "The complexities of gay marriage are too risky", in which he claimed that legalising same-sex marriage would create "an enormous cost to society in terms of dealing with social dysfunction, psychological and mental health issues", implying that children raised by same-sex couples would suffer mental illness.[24][25] Notably, such claims have been thoroughly disputed by the Australian Psychological Society.[26] In Parliament, Labor member Terri Butler responded to Goodenough's comments, stating, "I do think we may have found an explanation for [Goodenough's] bachelor status, given his description of marriage being not romantic, but a social construct important for progeny. If I was to counsel the member for Moore in his quest for love, I would say, maybe don’t roll that one out on the first date."[27] Goodenough's voting record also indicates that he believes civil celebrants should be allowed to refuse to marry same-sex couples.[20] Goodenough falsely claimed that Anglicare would face federal funding cuts if same-sex marriage was legalised - a claim that was dismissed by Anglicare WA's chief executive officer, Ian Carter.[28] Goodenough's electorate of Moore voted 68% in favour of same-sex marriage.[29]

In October 2017, it was reported in The West Australian that a Year 12 student from Duncraig Senior High School, Grace Gouldstone, had refused to accept an award sponsored by Goodenough due to his beliefs over same-sex marriage.[30] She wrote, "I feel strongly that the sponsor of the award... does not support the values of that particular award and does not reflect the values of our school as a positive and inclusive environment... As such, I reject his award."[30] The event received significant national media coverage, including on The Project.[31][32]

In 2019, claims emerged that Goodenough had "[taken] a group of overseas visitors to local businesses while being the director of a company that is paid for striking export deals". Goodenough denied the conflict of interest claims and blamed them on "tall poppy syndrome".[33] Goodenough has also admitted to meeting and speaking with a neo-Nazi extremist in 2018.[34]

Goodenough was re-elected as the member for Moore at the 2019 federal election, but suffered a -3.7% swing in the primary votes. His two-party preferred vote sat at 61.7%.[35]

See also

• Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 2013–2016

References

1. Sainty, Lane; Di Stefano, Mark (18 July 2017). "Australian Politicians Are Falling Over Themselves To Prove They're Not Dual Citizens". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
2. "Goodenough arrived in Australia with his parents as a nine-year-old and became an Australian citizen in 1987." (16 January 2007). "Leadership role" – Wanneroo Times. Retrieved from Factiva, 7 June 2014.
3. Shalailah Medhora (5 April 2014). "The changing face of Australian politics" – SBS. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
4. House debates (Wednesday, 5 March 2014) – Statements by Members: Australian Eurasian Association of Western Australia – Open Australia. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
5. Justin Bianchini (19 December 2013). "‘Sound values and hard work’" – Joondalup Weekender. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
6. Ian Goodenough inaugural speech to the House of Representatives, 9 December 2013 – Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
7. Mr Ian Goodenough MP – Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
8. 2006 WINNERS: Ian Goodenough Archived 7 June 2014 at Archive.today – 40 Under 40. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
9. (3 March 2011). "Councillor bids to distance himself" – Joondalup Times. Retrieved from Factiva, 7 June 2014.
10. GOODENOUGH, Ian Reginald – It's An Honour. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
11. Paul Lampathakis (8 December 1997). "Liberal MPs Fail To Sway Local Poll" – The West Australian. Retrieved from Factiva, 7 June 2014.
12. "Goodenough was among the first cohort of councillors in 1999 after the City of Wanneroo split, creating the City of Joondalup." (17 September 2013). "Federal arena beckons" – Wanneroo Times. Retrieved from Factiva, 7 June 2014.
13. Adam Gartrell (13 February 2007). "Councillor embarrassed to learn he acted for Brian Burke" – AAP. Retrieved from Factiva, 7 June 2014.
14. Peter Kennedy (22 September 2011). "Time for pre-election largesse?" – WA Business News. Retrieved from Factiva, 7 June 2014.
15. (31 July 2012). "Libs make choice for Moore" – Wanneroo Times. Retrieved from Factiva, 7 June 2014.
16. WA DIVISION: MOORE – Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
17. "…Ian Goodenough, who is close to right-wing figures in that state." Michelle Grattan (5 March 2012). "Abbott: I will be next elected PM" – The Age. Retrieved from Factiva, 7 June 2014.
18. "Conservative push to resettle 'persecuted' white South African farmers gains momentum". www.abc.net.au. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
19. Facebook; Twitter. "How does Ian Goodenough vote on issues that matter to you?". They Vote For You. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
20. "Ian Goodenough voted very strongly for civil celebrants having the right to refuse to marry same-sex couples — They Vote For You". theyvoteforyou.org.au. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
21. "Ian Goodenough voted very strongly for increasing indexation of HECS-HELP debts — They Vote For You". theyvoteforyou.org.au. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
22. "Ian Goodenough voted very strongly for deregulating undergraduate university fees — They Vote For You". theyvoteforyou.org.au. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
23. "Ian Goodenough voted very strongly for charging postgraduate research students fees — They Vote For You". theyvoteforyou.org.au. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
24. "Complexities of gay marriage are too risky". au.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
25. "Complexities of gay marriage are too risky". The West Australian. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
26. "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Parented Families" (PDF). Australian Psychological Society. Australian Psychological Society. n.d.
27. Stefano, Mark Di. "Terri Butler Delivered One Of The Most Brutal Owns In Parliament Ever". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
28. "Anglicare WA dismisses marriage claims from Ian Goodenough". OUTInPerth - LGBTIQ News and Culture. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
29. "Full SSM survey results: See how people who live near you responded". ABC News. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
30. "Teen's award decision makes news around the country". The West Australian. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
31. "Teen's award decision makes news around the country". The West Australian. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
32. The Project (30 October 2017). "Teen rejects award".
33. Weber, David (4 February 2019). "MP Ian Goodenough blames 'tall poppy syndrome' as conflict of interest claims emerge". ABC News. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
34. McCulloch, Daniel (1 May 2019). "Liberals riddled with extremists: Shorten". Port Macquarie News. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
35. "Moore - Federal Election 2019 Electorate, Candidates, Results | Australia Votes - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". ABC News. Retrieved 21 July 2019.

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Mal Washer	Member for Moore 2013–present	Incumbent