Paul Fletcher (politician)

Paul William Fletcher (born 16 January 1965) is an Australian Liberal Party politician serving as Minister for Communications and Arts since 2019, and has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Bradfield since 2009.[2]

The Honourable

Paul Fletcher

MP
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts
Assumed office
26 May 2019
Prime MinisterScott Morrison
Preceded byMitch Fifield
Minister for Families and Social Services
In office
28 August 2018 – 26 May 2019
Prime MinisterScott Morrison
Preceded byDan Tehan
Succeeded byAnne Ruston
Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities
In office
19 July 2016 – 27 August 2018
Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull
Scott Morrison
Preceded byJamie Briggs
Succeeded byAlan Tudge
Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects
In office
21 September 2015 – 16 July 2017
27 October 2017 – 20 December 2017
Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull
Preceded byFiona Nash
Succeeded byJohn McVeigh
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Bradfield
Assumed office
5 December 2009
Preceded byBrendan Nelson
Personal details
Born
Paul William Fletcher

(1965-01-16) 16 January 1965
Devizes, England, United Kingdom
Citizenship
Political partyLiberal Party of Australia
Spouse(s)Manuela Zappacosta
Children2
ResidenceRoseville, Sydney
Alma mater
Websitewww.paulfletcher.com.au

Fletcher served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications between September 2013 and September 2015 in the Abbott Ministry, and between September 2015 and July 2016, he served as the Minister for Major Projects, Territories, and Local Government. He briefly served as the Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects between October and December 2017. He served as Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities from July 2016 to August 2018 in the Second Turnbull Ministry, and Minister for Families and Social Services in the First Morrison Ministry.

Background and early career

Fletcher was born in the English town of Devizes and came to Australia with his family at age two. He was a dual Australian/British citizen until 2009 when he renounced his British citizenship.[3][4]

Fletcher attended Sydney Grammar School, before going on to earn first-class honours degrees in economics and law from the University of Sydney. In 1993 he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to go to Columbia University's Graduate School of Business in New York City,[5] where he completed a Master of Business Administration degree.[6]

In his early career, Fletcher worked as a management consultant, a corporate lawyer for Mallesons Stephen Jaques, and a corporate strategist for TNT Limited. From 1996 to 2000, he worked as Chief of Staff to Minister for Communications Richard Alston, a Liberal Party politician. Fletcher joined Optus in 2000 and worked as Director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs until 2008. He then founded Fletchergroup Advisers, a strategy consultancy focusing on the communications industry.[7] He also wrote a book entitled Wired Brown Land? Telstra's Battle for Broadband that was published in 2009, discussing Telstra's bid to operate the Australian Government's proposed National Broadband Network.[8]

Political career

Fletcher was selected from a field of 17 people to be the Liberal Party candidate, following the retirement of former Liberal leader Brendan Nelson. Bradfield, a seat located in the North Shore of Sydney, has been held continuously by the Liberal Party since its creation in 1949, and is one of the safest Liberal Party seats in Parliament. He was required to renounce his dual British citizenship before entering Parliament, as required by Section 44 of the Constitution of Australia.[1] Fletcher had previously unsuccessfully sought Liberal Party pre-selection in the Division of Cook in 2007.[9]

Under the Abbott government, Fletcher was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications. In September 2015 Fletcher was appointed as the Minister for Major Projects, Territories, and Local Government in the Turnbull government.[10] Fletcher has served as the Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities since July 2016.

Personal life

Fletcher is married to jeweller Manuela Zappacosta and they have one son, and they live with her son from a previous marriage.[3][11]

References
  1. Cranston, Belinda (27 September 2009). "UK executive pre-selected for Bradfield". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  2. "NSW Division – Bradfield". Virtual Tally Room. Australian Electoral Commission. 15 December 2009. Archived from the original on 8 December 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  3. Salusinszky, Imre (28 September 2009). "Ex-Optus exec enters politics". The Australian.
  4. "Paul Fletcher Citizenship Renunciation" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  5. "About Paul Fletcher". Paul Fletcher MP. Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  6. "Australian Chamber of Commerce and IndustryThe Hon Paul Fletcher MP - Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry". www.australianchamber.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  7. Network Insight Institute (2009). Paul Fletcher Archived 28 June 2005 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  8. Fletcher, Paul (2009). "Wired brown land : Telstra's battle for broadband". UNSW Press. ISBN 978-1-74223-003-0. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  9. "NSW Liberals reject Cook candidate Towke". Brisbane Times. 3 August 2007. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  10. "Turnbull cabinet reshuffle: who's going where". ABC News. Australia. 20 September 2015. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015.
  11. "Fletcher an outstanding choice for Bradfield: Nelson". ABC News. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Brendan Nelson		 Member for Bradfield
2009–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Jamie Briggs
as Minister for Urban Infrastructure		 Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities
2016–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Fiona Nash
as Minister for Regional Development		 Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects
2017		 Succeeded by
John McVeigh
as Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government
New ministerial post Minister for Major Projects,
Territories, and Local Government
2015–2016		 Succeeded by
Fiona Nash
as Minister for Territories and Local Government
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