Bob Carr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bob Carr
|
|
|---|---|
Carr in 2012
|
|
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 13 March 2012 – 18 September 2013 |
|
| Prime Minister | Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd |
| Preceded by | Kevin Rudd |
| Succeeded by | Julie Bishop |
| 39th Premier of New South Wales | |
| In office 4 April 1995 – 3 August 2005 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor | Peter Sinclair Gordon Samuels Marie Bashir |
| Deputy | Andrew Refshauge |
| Preceded by | John Fahey |
| Succeeded by | Morris Iemma |
| NSW Minister for the Arts | |
| In office 4 April 1995 – 3 August 2005 |
|
| Premier | Himself |
| Preceded by | Peter Collins |
| Succeeded by | Bob Debus |
| NSW Minister for Ethnic Affairs | |
| In office 4 April 1995 – 3 August 2005 |
|
| Premier | Himself |
| Preceded by | Michael Photios |
| Succeeded by | Morris Iemma |
| Leader of the Opposition in New South Wales Election: 1991, 1995 |
|
| In office 11 April 1988 – 4 April 1995 |
|
| Premier | Nick Greiner John Fahey |
| Deputy | Andrew Refshauge |
| Preceded by | Nick Greiner |
| Succeeded by | Peter Collins |
| NSW Minister for Planning and Environment | |
| In office 12 December 1984 – 21 March 1988 |
|
| Premier | Neville Wran Barrie Unsworth |
| Preceded by | Terry Sheahan |
| Succeeded by | David Hay |
| NSW Minister for Consumer Affairs | |
| In office 4 July 1986 – 21 March 1988 |
|
| Premier | Barrie Unsworth |
| Preceded by | George Paciullo |
| Succeeded by | Deirdre Grusovin |
| Senator for New South Wales | |
| In office 6 March 2012 – 24 October 2013 |
|
| Preceded by | Mark Arbib |
| Succeeded by | Deborah O'Neill |
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Maroubra |
|
| In office 22 October 1983 – 3 August 2005 |
|
| Preceded by | Bill Haigh |
| Succeeded by | Michael Daley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert John Carr
28 September 1947 Matraville, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Labor Party |
| Spouse |
Helena John
(m. 1973; died 2023) |
| Education | Matraville High School |
| Alma mater | University of New South Wales |
Robert John Carr (born 28 September 1947) is a retired Australian politician and journalist. He was the 39th Premier of New South Wales (NSW) from 1995 to 2005. The Premier is the leader of the government in an Australian state. He was also the head of the Labor Party in NSW. Later, he became a Senator for NSW in the Australian Parliament. From 2012 to 2013, he served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, working with other countries. After leaving politics, he led the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
Bob Carr was born in Sydney and studied at the University of New South Wales. Before becoming a politician, he worked as a journalist. In 1983, he joined the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, which is like the state parliament. The next year, he became a cabinet minister, helping to make important government decisions. He became the Leader of the Opposition in 1988. This means he was the leader of the main party not in power. In 1995, he became Premier after winning the state election.
As Premier, Bob Carr focused on protecting nature and building new things. His government helped plan the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He was re-elected twice and served for 10 years. Only one other Premier in NSW history served for a longer time. After leaving the Premier role, he became the Foreign Minister. He retired from politics in 2013.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Bob Carr was born in Matraville, a suburb of Sydney. His parents were Edward and Phyllis Carr. He went to Matraville High School and was the top student in 1964. He was the first person in his family to finish high school. He became interested in politics when he was a teenager.
At 15, Bob Carr joined the local Australian Labor Party branch. He later became the President of the NSW branch and then the national President of Young Labor. He studied history at the University of New South Wales and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.
After university, Carr worked as a journalist for the ABC Radio. He reported on current events from 1969 to 1971. He also wrote for The Bulletin magazine from 1978 to 1983. He felt that journalism helped him prepare for his political career. He also worked for the Labor Council of New South Wales.
In 1972, Carr met Helena John, an economics student from Malaysia, in Tahiti. They got married in 1973. Helena Carr became a successful businesswoman. She usually stayed out of the public eye during her husband's political career.
NSW State Politics (1983–2005)
Bob Carr became a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in October 1983. He represented the area of Maroubra for the Labor Party. In December 1984, he became the Minister for Planning and the Environment. He served in the government led by Neville Wran.
In 1986, he also became the Minister for Consumer Affairs. As planning minister, Carr created a new plan for Sydney's growth.
Leader of the Opposition (1988–1995)
The Labor government lost the election in March 1988. People felt it was "time for a change" after 12 years of Labor rule. Bob Carr was interested in working with other countries. His goal was to become the Foreign Minister in the national government.
However, after the election, his party asked him to become the Leader of the Opposition. He agreed, even though he had other plans.
Carr did well as Opposition Leader. Before the 1991 election, many thought Labor would lose badly. But Labor won back many seats. They were only four seats short of forming government. The other party had to work with independent politicians to stay in power.
In 1992, the Premier, Nick Greiner, resigned. John Fahey became the new Premier. For the 1995 election, Carr focused on winning a few key areas. Labor won three more seats, and Carr became Premier with a small majority.
Premier of New South Wales (1995–2005)
Bob Carr's government was known for managing money carefully. They also focused on being "tough on crime." His government was also very supportive of the environment. They worked to improve school education, especially in history and reading. Carr's government, led by his Treasurers, had ten years of budget surpluses. This means the government spent less money than it collected.
Protecting Nature
Protecting nature was very important to Bob Carr. He banned certain types of building near rivers to protect them. His government also stopped logging in some forests. They created the South East Forests National Park to protect old-growth forests.
Between 1995 and 2005, his government created 120,000 hectares of new national parks. This was more than they had promised. Carr said that rural towns did not suffer because of these changes. He believed they now had strong economies and nature tourism. His government also worked to reduce greenhouse gases. In 2003, they started the world's first system to trade greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2003, Carr launched a program called BASIX. This program made new homes use less energy and water. Carr was proud of his achievements in environment and education.
Police Reforms
When he was Leader of the Opposition, Carr supported an investigation into corruption in the NSW Police. As Premier, he continued this work. In 1996, a report suggested giving the Police Commissioner more power to hire and fire staff. This caused some disagreement, but Carr insisted on the changes. He believed these changes were needed to remove corrupt officers. The new laws were passed.
Building Projects
The Carr Government used a new way to pay for big building projects. This was called private-public partnerships (PPPs). Private companies helped fund these projects. This model was later used in other states. They built a system of ring roads in Sydney. This included the M5 Extension, the Eastern Distributor, and the Cross City Tunnel. These projects cost a lot of money, but most of it came from private companies.
Some people criticized the focus on roads instead of public transport. However, many of these projects were recognized as successful partnerships.
Other Important Matters
Carr's government was in power during the planning and hosting of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Carr often said that the Olympics were paid for without any debt.
Resignation
By 2004, public support for Bob Carr began to drop. People felt the government had not spent enough on city infrastructure and public transport. After 10 years as Premier, Carr announced he would resign on 27 July 2005. He officially left office on 3 August. Morris Iemma became the new Premier.
Legacy
Former Premier Neville Wran said Bob Carr was a great Labor Premier. He was good at speaking and focused on education and the environment. Wran said Carr's approach became a guide for other Labor leaders.
After Carr, the number of national parks in NSW greatly increased. In 1994, there were 328 national parks. By 2006, there were 770 national parks. Wilderness protection also expanded.
His government also improved Sydney Harbour. They built a tunnel to stop sewage from reaching the harbour. This helped whales and dolphins return. They also built traps to catch litter before it reached Sydney beaches. Waste recycling also increased significantly during his time.
Carr is remembered for increasing national parks and for major infrastructure projects. However, there were some criticisms about rail transport during his time.
After State Politics (2006–2012)
After leaving state parliament, Bob Carr continued to be involved in public discussions. He supported research that could help people with diseases like diabetes. He also continued to advocate for nature conservation. For example, he called for more national parks to protect River Red Gums.
Carr also spoke about other topics. He argued against a charter of rights in Australia. He also wanted to make books cheaper by allowing more imports. He discussed Australia's population growth and argued for lower immigration numbers. He also spoke about public health issues like obesity.
In 2005, Carr became a consultant for Macquarie Bank. He advised them on policy and climate change. He also continued his interest in literature, interviewing authors and lecturing at the Sydney Writers' Festival. He appeared on the ABC show Foreign Correspondent.
He joined the board of the United States Studies Centre in 2009. He also became a patron of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Foundation.
Federal Politics (2012–2013)
On 2 March 2012, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that Bob Carr would become a Senator. He would fill a vacant spot in the Australian Senate. Gillard also announced that Carr would become the new Minister for Foreign Affairs. This meant he would represent Australia to other countries. Carr was sworn in as a Senator and Foreign Minister on 13 March.
As Foreign Minister, Carr focused on several key areas. These included Australia's bid for a spot on the United Nations Security Council. He also worked on a global Arms Trade Treaty and relations in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
United Nations Security Council
Carr's time as Foreign Minister included the final push for Australia to get a seat on the UN Security Council. This campaign started in 2009. Australia was competing against Luxembourg and Finland. Carr supported changes to the Security Council, like having permanent members from Japan, Brazil, India, and Africa. In October 2012, Australia was elected to the Security Council. This was the first time Australia had a seat since 1985–86.
Carr also supported a global Arms Trade Treaty at the UN. This treaty would help track and reduce weapons going to dangerous groups. Carr traveled to New York twice to campaign for the treaty. The UN passed the treaty with a large majority.
Middle East Peace Process
Carr helped Australia decide to not vote against a motion at the UN General Assembly. This motion would give the Palestinian Authority "observer state status." This was a change from Australia's previous stance. Carr believed it would help Australia connect with moderate Palestinians who want peace. The UN motion passed with many votes in favor.
In January 2013, Carr and UK Foreign Secretary William Hague asked the US to help restart peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. They also noted that both countries saw Israeli settlements on the West Bank as against international law.
Asia-Pacific Relations
Carr worked to build stronger relationships with countries in Southeast Asia (ASEAN). He visited all ten member states. He said that a strong ASEAN was important for Australia's safety and success.
Carr also worked to improve relations with Myanmar. This happened after the Myanmar government released opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Australia lifted its sanctions on Myanmar in 2012, but kept an arms embargo. Carr encouraged other countries to do the same. He announced that Australia would double its foreign aid to Myanmar.
Carr visited Indonesia four times as Foreign Minister. He discussed issues like aid, education, and trade. He oversaw an increase in aid to Indonesia, focusing on health and education.
China Relations
Working with China was a big focus for Carr. He said that China's growth was a return to its past strength. In May 2012, Carr visited China. He discussed Australia's decision to block a Chinese company from supplying equipment for the National Broadband Network. He explained that Australia needed to ensure its infrastructure was secure. He also pointed out that Australia welcomed Chinese investment.
Carr returned to China with Prime Minister Gillard in April 2013. They worked to strengthen relations between the two countries. China agreed to allow direct exchange of Australian currency into Chinese yuan. This was only the third such agreement for China.
Carr's third visit to China was in July 2013. He opened Australia's fourth diplomatic office in China. He emphasized trade and how the new office would help Australian businesses in western China.
G20 Summit
Carr also represented Australia at the 2013 G-20 Saint Petersburg summit. He discussed various topics, including a "medical pact" for Syria. This pact aimed to protect hospitals and health workers during the conflict.
Syria
Carr's "medical plan" for Syria was a key issue he pursued. The plan aimed to get all sides in the Syrian civil war to agree not to attack hospitals or medical staff. It also aimed to ensure medical aid could reach people safely. Australia increased its aid for the Syrian crisis to over $100 million. This aid focused on shelter, medical support, and child protection for refugees.
Carr's plan received international support from leaders like US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Resignation
On 23 October 2013, Bob Carr announced he was resigning from the Senate. His resignation took effect the next day.
Post-Political Career
After leaving politics, Bob Carr became the Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology, Sydney. He also became a professor at the University of Sydney. As of 2019, he is no longer with the Australia-China Relations Institute.
Currently (2022), Bob Carr is an Industry Professor at UTS, focusing on business and climate change. He also teaches at the University of New South Wales.
Carr has long argued for lower immigration numbers in Australia. He has continued to speak about this issue since leaving politics. He is also a supporter of Julian Assange.
In May 2024, Carr said he would sue New Zealand's foreign affairs minister, Winston Peters, for comments Peters made about him.
Literature
Bob Carr has written several books. These include Thoughtlines (2002), My Reading Life (2008), and Diary of a Foreign Minister (2014).
Two biographies have been written about him: Bob Carr: the reluctant leader (2003) by Marilyn Dodkin, and Bob Carr: A Self-Made Man (2003) by Andrew West and Rachel Morris.
Carr has also participated in literary events, such as a conversation with Sir Tom Stoppard at the 2004 Sydney Festival. He has been a board member of the book retailer Dymocks since 2007.
Awards
For his work in improving relations between Australia and the US, he received a Fulbright Distinguished Fellow Award Scholarship. He used the prize money to create scholarships for NSW teachers to study abroad. For his efforts in conservation, he received the World Conservation Union International Parks Merit Award. He was also made a life member of The Wilderness Society.
In 2008, he received an award from Italy, the Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana. This award recognized his contributions to Italian culture.
See also
In Spanish: Bob Carr para niños
- Second Gillard Ministry
- Second Rudd Ministry
