Peter Garrett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Garrett
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Garrett at Colours of Ostrava, 2017
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| Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth | |
| In office 14 September 2010 – 26 June 2013 |
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| Prime Minister | Julia Gillard |
| Preceded by | Simon Crean |
| Succeeded by | Bill Shorten |
| Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts |
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| In office 3 December 2007 – 14 September 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard |
| Preceded by | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Succeeded by | Tony Burke |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Kingsford Smith |
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| In office 9 October 2004 – 5 August 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Laurie Brereton |
| Succeeded by | Matt Thistlethwaite |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Peter Robert Garrett
16 April 1953 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Labor (from 2004) |
| Other political affiliations |
Nuclear Disarmament (1980s) |
| Spouse |
Doris Ricono
(m. 1986) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residences | Randwick, New South Wales, Australia |
| Alma mater | Australian National University (BA) University of New South Wales (LLB) |
| Profession |
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| Awards | Member of the Order of Australia (2003) Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France, 2009) |
Peter Robert Garrett (born 16 April 1953) is an Australian musician, environmentalist, and former politician. He is well-known for his unique bald head and energetic dance moves on stage.
In 1973, Peter Garrett became the lead singer of the famous Australian rock band Midnight Oil. He was also the President of the Australian Conservation Foundation for ten years. Later, he became a politician for the Labor Party, serving as a Member of Parliament for Kingsford Smith from 2004 to 2013.
After the Labor Party won the 2007 election, Garrett was appointed Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. In 2010, he became Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. He left politics in 2013.
Peter Garrett has received several awards for his work. In 2003, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his efforts in environmental protection and music. The French Government also honored him in 2009.
Contents
Peter Garrett's Early Life and Education
Peter Robert Garrett was born on 16 April 1953, in Wahroonga, Sydney. He was the oldest of three children. As a child, he had severe asthma.
He went to Gordon West Public School and Barker College. Later, he studied politics at the Australian National University (ANU) and law at the University of New South Wales. Sadly, his father passed away from an asthma attack when Peter was a teenager. His mother died in a house fire when he was in his early twenties.
Musical Career and Activism with Midnight Oil
In 1973, Peter Garrett joined the rock band Midnight Oil as their lead singer. The band became very successful and was known for supporting environmental and Aboriginal rights causes. They often spoke out about political issues, even performing at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney wearing "sorry" overalls. This was a message to the government about not apologizing to Aboriginal Australians for past policies like the Stolen Generation, where Aboriginal children were taken from their families.
While with Midnight Oil, Garrett was the President of the Australian Conservation Foundation twice, from 1989 to 1993 and again from 1998 to 2004. He also joined the international board of Greenpeace for two years. He supported many cultural and community groups, including the Surfrider Foundation. In 2002, Garrett left Midnight Oil to focus more on his environmental and social work.
Even after leaving the band, Garrett performed with Midnight Oil on special occasions. For example, he joined them for WaveAid in 2004 to raise money after the Asian tsunami. He also performed with them at Sound Relief in 2009 to help victims of bushfires.
In 2016, after his political career, Garrett announced that Midnight Oil would reunite for tours in 2017. He also released his first solo album, A Version of Now, that year. His second solo album, The True North, came out in March 2024.
Peter Garrett's Political Journey
Starting in Politics: Nuclear Disarmament Party
Peter Garrett first tried to enter the Australian Parliament in 1984. He ran for a seat in the Australian Senate with the Nuclear Disarmament Party (NDP). This party wanted to get rid of nuclear weapons. Although he didn't win that time, it was his first step into politics.
Joining the Australian Labor Party
As an Opposition Member (2004–2007)
In 2004, Peter Garrett became a candidate for the Australian Labor Party in the Australian House of Representatives. He was elected to represent the area of Kingsford Smith.
After joining parliament, Garrett became a spokesperson for reconciliation and the arts for the Labor Party. Some people noticed that his views had changed on certain topics, like supporting the U.S.-Australia alliance, which he had previously opposed. He explained that he would work within the Labor Party to promote environmental issues.
In 2006, Kevin Rudd made Garrett the Shadow Minister for Climate Change, the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Garrett supported Rudd when he became the leader of the Labor Party. During the 2007 election campaign, Garrett was re-elected for Kingsford Smith.
As Environment Minister (2007–2010)
When the Labor Party won the 2007 election, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed Peter Garrett as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts.
As Environment Minister, Garrett worked on important issues. He approved a plan to dredge Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay, which caused some debate among environmental groups. He also worked to stop commercial and "scientific" whaling, especially by Japan in the Southern Ocean. This led to Australia taking Japan to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which later ruled that Japan must stop whaling there.
Garrett also approved an expansion of the Beverley uranium mine in South Australia, stating it would meet high environmental standards. He also rejected plans for the Traveston Crossing Dam on the Mary River because it would harm endangered species like the Australian lungfish and Mary River Turtle.
In 2010, Garrett's role changed after some issues with the Home Insulation Program, which faced safety concerns. It was later revealed that Garrett had raised concerns about safety to Prime Minister Rudd multiple times.
As Education Minister (2010–2013)
After the 2010 election, Prime Minister Julia Gillard promoted Peter Garrett to the full Cabinet as Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth.
In this role, Garrett made changes to the National School Chaplaincy Program, allowing schools to hire secular (non-religious) student well-being officers instead of only chaplains. He also worked with Jenny Macklin to expand a program that aimed to improve school attendance for Indigenous students in the Northern Territory.
In 2013, Garrett promised to increase funding for public schools based on the Gonski Report recommendations. He also expressed concerns about the growth of private schools, which he felt could lead to a more divided school system.
Garrett supported Julia Gillard during leadership changes in 2013. After Kevin Rudd became Prime Minister again, Garrett resigned as Education Minister and announced he would leave politics at the 2013 election. He ended his political career after nine years.
Peter Garrett's Personal Life
Peter Garrett is married and has three daughters. His grandfather, Tom Vernon Garrett, was a prisoner of war who died when the ship Montevideo Maru sank. This was a major maritime disaster in Australia's history.
Garrett supports the Essendon Bombers in the Australian Football League. In September 2023, he publicly supported the "Yes" campaign for the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum, which aimed to change the Australian Constitution to include a Voice to Parliament for Indigenous Australians.
Images for kids
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Garrett at Colours of Ostrava, 2017
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A Garrett poster at a polling booth, 2007
See also
In Spanish: Peter Garrett para niños
