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 a famous Australian musician, environmentalist, activist, 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 popular Australian rock band Midnight Oil. The band was known for its powerful music and strong messages about the environment and Aboriginal rights.
Besides his music, Garrett was also very active in protecting the environment. He was the President of the Australian Conservation Foundation for ten years. Later, he became a politician, joining the Labor Party and serving in the Australian Parliament from 2004 to 2013.
As a politician, he held important roles like Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. In 2013, he decided to leave politics.
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
Early Life and Education
Peter 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 then Barker College. Later, he studied politics at the Australian National University (ANU). He also studied law at the University of New South Wales.
Sadly, his father died from an asthma attack when Peter was a teenager. His mother passed away in a fire at their family home when he was in his early twenties. Peter managed to escape the fire, but his mother was unable to.
Music and Activism
In 1973, Peter Garrett joined the rock band Midnight Oil as their lead singer. The band became very successful and used their music to speak out about important issues.
Midnight Oil was strongly involved in environmental causes and Aboriginal rights. They often criticized the military and foreign policies of the United States in the 1980s. The band was known for making political statements both on and off stage.
A famous example was at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Midnight Oil performed wearing black overalls with the word "sorry" written on them. This was a message about the Australian Government's refusal to apologize to Aboriginal Australians for the past policy of removing Aboriginal children from their families.
While with Midnight Oil, Garrett was President of the Australian Conservation Foundation twice (1989–1993 and 1998–2004). He also joined the international board of Greenpeace for two years in 1993. He supported many cultural and community groups, including the Surfrider Foundation.
In 2002, Garrett announced he was leaving Midnight Oil. He wanted to focus more on his environmental and social activism.
Even after leaving, Garrett performed with Midnight Oil a few times. They played at WaveAid in 2004 to raise money after the Asian tsunami. In 2009, they performed at Sound Relief to help victims of the Victorian bushfires.
In 2016, after his political career, Garrett announced that Midnight Oil would reunite for a tour in 2017. He also released his first solo album, A Version of Now, in July 2016. His second solo album, The True North, came out in March 2024.
Political Career
Early Political Attempts
Peter Garrett first tried to enter the Australian Parliament in 1984. He ran for the Nuclear Disarmament Party (NDP) in the Australian Senate. He did not win a seat, but he received a good number of votes.
Joining the Labor Party
In Opposition (2004–2007)
In 2004, Peter Garrett became a candidate for the Australian Labor Party. He was elected to the Australian House of Representatives for the seat of Kingsford Smith.
After joining parliament, Garrett became a Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts. He adjusted some of his earlier strong views to fit with the Labor Party's policies. For example, he supported the U.S.-Australia alliance.
Some people criticized him for changing his views. However, others said that he needed to be a "team player" to make a difference from inside politics.
In 2006, Kevin Rudd made Garrett the Shadow Minister for Climate Change, the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Garrett supported Rudd in becoming the leader of the Labor Party.
Environment Minister (2007–2010)
After 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 made some important decisions. He approved a plan to dredge Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay, which caused some debate among environmental groups. He also worked on Australia's policy to stop commercial and "scientific" whaling. This led to Australia taking Japan to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to stop whaling in the Southern Ocean. The ICJ later ruled that Japan must stop whaling there.
In 2008, Garrett approved an expansion of the Beverley uranium mine in South Australia. He said the mine would have strong environmental protections. This decision was praised by the uranium industry but criticized by the Australian Conservation Foundation, his former organization.
In 2009, Garrett decided not to approve a large paper mill in Tamar Valley until more studies were done on its environmental impact. He also rejected plans for the Traveston Crossing Dam on the Mary River. He believed the dam would harm endangered species like the Australian lungfish and the Mary River Turtle.
In 2010, Garrett was moved to a less senior role in the government. This was due to problems with the Home Insulation Program, which he oversaw. However, it was later revealed that Garrett had raised concerns about safety in the program multiple times. Many believed he was unfairly blamed.
Education Minister (2010–2013)
After the 2010 election, Prime Minister Julia Gillard promoted Peter Garrett to the full Cabinet. He became Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth.
In this role, Garrett announced changes to the National School Chaplaincy Program. Schools could choose to employ a "secular student well-being officer" instead of a religious chaplain. He also worked on a program to improve school attendance for Indigenous students in the Northern Territory.
In 2013, Garrett promised to increase funding for public schools. This was based on the Gonski Report, which aimed to reduce inequality in education. He was concerned about the growing number of private schools, which he felt could lead to a more divided school system.
Peter Garrett supported Julia Gillard during leadership challenges in 2013. After Kevin Rudd became Prime Minister again, Garrett resigned as Education Minister. The next day, he announced he would not run for re-election, ending his nine-year career in Parliament.
Personal Life
Peter Garrett is married and has three daughters. His niece, Maude Garrett, is a former TV presenter.
His grandfather, Tom Vernon Garrett, was a prisoner of war who died when the ship Montevideo Maru sank. This was a terrible maritime disaster for Australia. Peter mentions this event in one of Midnight Oil's songs, "In the Valley."
Artists have painted portraits of Peter Garrett for the Archibald Prize. He supports the Essendon Bombers in the Australian Football League.
In 2023, Garrett publicly supported the "Yes" campaign for the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. This vote aimed to change the Australian Constitution to create a Voice to Parliament for Indigenous Australians.
Discography
Solo Albums
- A Version of Now (2016)
- The True North (2024)
With Midnight Oil
- Midnight Oil (1978)
- Head Injuries (1979)
- Place without a Postcard (1981)
- 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (1982)
- Red Sails in the Sunset (1984)
- Diesel and Dust (1987)
- Blue Sky Mining (1990)
- Earth and Sun and Moon (1993)
- Breathe (1996)
- Redneck Wonderland (1998)
- Capricornia (2002)
- The Makarrata Project (2020)
- Resist (2022)
Awards and Nominations
Peter Garrett and Midnight Oil have received many awards for their music and contributions.
- APRA Awards:
- 1989–90: "Beds Are Burning" (with Midnight Oil) – Won Gold Award
- 2001: "Beds Are Burning" (with Midnight Oil) – Won APRA Top 10 Australian songs (No. 3)
- 2001: "Power and the Passion" (with Midnight Oil) – Won APRA Top 30 Australian songs
- 2018: Midnight Oil – Won Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music
- ARIA Music Awards:
- 1988: "Beds Are Burning" (with Midnight Oil) – Won Song of the Year
- 1991: "Blue Sky Mine" (with Midnight Oil) – Nominated for Song of the Year
- 2006: Peter Garrett (as part of Midnight Oil) – Inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame
- 2016: A Version of Now – Nominated for Best Adult Alternative Album
- Countdown Australian Music Awards:
- 1984: "Short Memory" – Nominated for Best Male Performance in a Video
Images for kids
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A Garrett poster at a polling booth in 2007
See also
In Spanish: Peter Garrett para niños
- First Rudd Ministry
- First Gillard Ministry
- Second Gillard Ministry
