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| Greg Combet | |
|---|---|
| Name | Greg Combet |
| Birth date | 1968-03-28 |
| Birth place | Wollongong |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Trade unionist; politician |
| Party | Australian Labor Party |
Greg Combet Greg Combet is an Australian trade unionist and former Australian Labor Party politician who served as a federal MP and cabinet minister. He was national secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions before entering the Parliament of Australia, representing the Division of Charlton in New South Wales. Combet played a prominent role in industrial disputes, climate policy negotiations, and workplace reform during the governments of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.
Combet was born in Wollongong, New South Wales, and raised in the Illawarra region near Port Kembla and Shellharbour. He attended Wollongong High School and later studied at the University of Wollongong, where he completed a Bachelor of Science and subsequently undertook postgraduate studies at the University of New South Wales. During his student years he was involved with campus branches of the Australian Labor Party and student organisations aligned with union movements in Australia.
Combet began his industrial career working at the BlueScope Steel facilities in the Illawarra and became active in the Federated Ironworkers' Association of Australia and later the Australian Workers' Union. He rose through the ranks of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, serving in senior roles during campaigns involving WorkChoices, the Howard Ministry's industrial relations framework, and national wage bargaining. As national secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions he led high-profile campaigns and negotiated with employers and governments including interactions with Business Council of Australia members, industry groups such as the Australian Industry Group, and state-based unions like the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union. His tenure coincided with industrial disputes that involved major corporations such as Qantas and BHP Billiton, and national debates over policies advocated by the Liberal Party of Australia and the National Party of Australia.
In 2007 Combet transitioned from union leadership to parliamentary politics, winning endorsement from the Australian Labor Party for preselection in the Division of Charlton, succeeding the retiring MP Darlene Hooley's counterpart in a regional contest (note: not to be linked). He contested the 2007 federal election and took his seat in the House of Representatives during the first term of the Rudd Government. Within caucus he worked alongside senior figures such as Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Wayne Swan, Anthony Albanese, and Kim Beazley. Combet was re-elected in the 2010 election during the period of the Gillard Ministry and the minority government supported by crossbenchers including members of the Australian Greens and independents like Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.
Combet served in ministerial positions related to climate change, energy, and industry. He was appointed to the outer ministry in the Rudd Government and later elevated under the Gillard Ministry to roles including Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and Minister for Industry and Innovation in portfolios that required engagement with entities such as the Clean Energy Council, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, and international forums like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. During his ministerial tenure he negotiated with state governments including those of New South Wales and Victoria, industry stakeholders like Origin Energy and AGL Energy, and addressed regulatory frameworks involving the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. He was involved in implementing the Clean Energy Act 2011 initiatives, managing responses to energy market contingencies related to major infrastructure such as the National Electricity Market and interacting with parliamentary processes including inquiries by the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications.
After retiring from the House of Representatives in 2013, Combet took up roles in the private and nonprofit sectors, providing advisory services and board-level governance. He accepted positions involving corporate responsibility and climate policy advice, engaging with organisations such as the Climate Institute and corporate boards including entities within the resources and energy sectors that liaise with bodies like the International Energy Agency and the World Bank. Combet has been active in public commentary on Australian energy policy, contributing to debates involving the Australian Energy Market Operator, emissions reduction strategies tied to the Paris Agreement, and industry transition planning in discussions with the Minerals Council of Australia and renewable groups including Siemens and Tesla, Inc. affiliates operating in Australia.
Combet resides in New South Wales and has maintained ties to the Illawarra community, including engagement with local institutions such as the University of Wollongong and regional councils. He has been associated with advocacy networks and policy forums that include former ministers and union leaders such as Paul Keating, Bob Hawke, and influential parliamentarians like Gareth Evans and Mark Latham in public policy discussions. Combet's personal interests have included participation in regional initiatives touching on industrial heritage sites like Port Kembla Steelworks and community service organisations such as local branches of Rotary International.
Category:Australian trade unionists Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives