Bill Shorten facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Bill Shorten
Shorten in 2021
20th Leader of the Labor Party
In office 13 October 2013 – 30 May 2019
Prime Minister	Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison
Deputy	Tanya Plibersek
Preceded by	Kevin Rudd
Succeeded by	Anthony Albanese
Leader of the Opposition
In office 13 October 2013 – 30 May 2019
Deputy	Tanya Plibersek
Preceded by	Chris Bowen (Interim)
Succeeded by	Anthony Albanese
Ministerial roles Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme In office 1 June 2022 – 20 January 2025 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Preceded by Linda Reynolds Succeeded by Amanda Rishworth Minister for Government Services In office 1 June 2022 – 20 January 2025 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Preceded by Linda Reynolds Succeeded by Katy Gallagher Minister for Workplace Relations In office 14 December 2011 – 18 September 2013 Prime Minister Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd Preceded by Chris Evans Succeeded by Eric Abetz (as Minister for Employment) Minister for Education In office 1 July 2013 – 18 September 2013 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Preceded by Peter Garrett Succeeded by Christopher Pyne Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation In office 14 September 2010 – 1 July 2013 Prime Minister Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd Preceded by Chris Bowen Succeeded by David Bradbury Minister for Employment In office 14 December 2011 – 1 July 2013 Prime Minister Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd Preceded by Chris Evans Succeeded by Brendan O'Connor Assistant Treasurer of Australia In office 14 September 2010 – 14 December 2011 Prime Minister Julia Gillard Preceded by Nick Sherry Succeeded by Mark Arbib
Member of the Australian Parliament for Maribyrnong
In office 24 November 2007 – 20 January 2025
Preceded by	Bob Sercombe
Succeeded by	TBD
Personal details
Born	(1967-05-12) 12 May 1967 (age 58) Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
Political party	Labor
Spouses	Debbie Beale ​ ​ (m. 2000; div. 2008)​ Chloe Bryce ​ (m. 2009)​
Children	1
Relatives	Michael Bryce (father-in-law) Quentin Bryce (mother-in-law)
Education	Monash University (BA, LLB) University of Melbourne (MBA)
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Trade unionist
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army Reserve
Years of service	1985–1986

William Richard Shorten (born 12 May 1967) is an Australian politician. He used to be a leader for workers' unions. Since 2022, he has been a government minister. He helps manage the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and government services.

Before this, Bill Shorten was the leader of the opposition. He also led the Labor Party from 2013 to 2019. He has been a member of parliament (MP) for Maribyrnong since 2007. He also held several important jobs in earlier governments.

Bill Shorten was born in Melbourne. He studied law at Monash University. He worked as a lawyer before joining the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) in 1994. He became the national secretary of the AWU in 2001. He became well-known for his role in helping workers after the Beaconsfield Mine collapse in 2006.

He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2007. After the 2010 election, he became a minister. He held jobs like Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation. In 2013, he briefly served as Minister for Education.

After the 2013 election, Bill Shorten became the leader of the Labor Party. He led the party in the 2016 and 2019 elections. After the 2019 election, he stepped down as leader. In 2022, when Labor won the election, he became a minister again. He will be leaving politics in 2025 to work at the University of Canberra.

Early Life and Education

Birth and Family

Bill Shorten was born on 12 May 1967 in Melbourne. He has a twin brother named Robert. His mother was a university teacher and lawyer. His father was a marine engineer from England. His father often met with union leaders.

Growing Up and School

Bill Shorten grew up in Hughesdale, Melbourne. He went to Catholic primary school. Later, he attended Xavier College, a high school in Kew. He was good at debating and fencing. He was even the state champion in fencing for his age group.

University Studies

In 1985, Bill Shorten started studying at Monash University. He earned degrees in Arts and Law. He was very active in student politics. He also served in the Australian Army Reserve for a short time. After university, he worked as a lawyer. In 1994, he started his career with the Australian Workers' Union (AWU).

Working with Unions

Bill Shorten became the Victorian state secretary of the AWU in 1998. In 2001, he became the AWU's national secretary. He worked to improve the union's structure. He also helped workers during the Beaconsfield Mine collapse in 2006. This event made him well-known across Australia. He was also involved with groups like the Australian Netball Players Association.

Political Journey

Starting in Politics

Shorten speaking at an anti-WorkChoices rally in 2006

In 2005, Bill Shorten decided to run for parliament in the area of Maribyrnong. He wanted to bring new energy to the Labor Party. He was chosen to represent the Labor Party in Maribyrnong. His work during the Beaconsfield Mine rescue in 2006 helped him gain public attention.

First Government Roles

In 2007, Bill Shorten was elected as the Labor MP for Maribyrnong. He became a Parliamentary Secretary. In this role, he strongly supported the idea of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This scheme later became a major government policy.

Becoming a Minister

After the 2010 election, Bill Shorten became a full minister. He served as Assistant Treasurer. He was also the Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation. Later, he became the Minister for Workplace Relations. In 2013, he briefly served as Minister for Education.

Leading the Labor Party

Shorten in August 2010.

After the 2013 election, the Labor Party needed a new leader. Bill Shorten ran for the job against Anthony Albanese. For the first time, regular party members could vote for the leader. Bill Shorten won the vote and became the leader of the Labor Party. This also made him the Leader of the Opposition.

As Opposition Leader

Shorten (right) meeting with United States Secretary of State John Kerry, in 2014

As opposition leader, Bill Shorten spoke about important issues. He supported Australia becoming a republic, meaning it would have an Australian head of state instead of the British monarch. He also suggested lowering the voting age to 16. He worked to protect the rights of same-sex couples.

Elections as Leader

Shorten in Parliament in 2016

In the 2016 federal election, Bill Shorten led the Labor Party to gain more seats. The election was very close. In the 2019 federal election, Labor was expected to win, but the Coalition party won instead. After this, Bill Shorten announced he would step down as leader. Anthony Albanese then became the new Labor leader.

After Leadership

After stepping down as leader, Bill Shorten continued to be an important member of parliament. He became the shadow minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and for Government Services.

In Government Again

Shorten (front row, centre) attending a Commonwealth meeting in June 2022

When the Labor Party won the 2022 federal election, Bill Shorten became a minister again. He was sworn in as the Minister for the NDIS and Government Services. In September 2024, he announced that he would leave politics in 2025. He plans to become the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canberra.

Personal Life

Bill and Chloe Shorten in March 2019

Bill Shorten has been married twice. In 2000, he married Debbie Beale. They later divorced in 2008. In 2009, he married Chloe Bryce. Chloe's mother, Quentin Bryce, was the Governor-General at the time.

The Shortens live in Moonee Ponds, Victoria. They have a daughter together. Chloe also has two other children from a previous marriage. Bill Shorten was raised Catholic but later became an Anglican.

See also

In Spanish: Bill Shorten para niños

• Shadow Ministry of Bill Shorten