Simon Crean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Simon Crean
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Official portrait, 2007
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| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 22 November 2001 – 2 December 2003 |
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| Prime Minister | John Howard |
| Deputy | Jenny Macklin |
| Preceded by | Kim Beazley |
| Succeeded by | Mark Latham |
| Leader of the Labor Party | |
| In office 22 November 2001 – 2 December 2003 |
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| Deputy | Jenny Macklin |
| Preceded by | Kim Beazley |
| Succeeded by | Mark Latham |
| Deputy Leader of the Labor Party | |
| In office 19 October 1998 – 22 November 2001 |
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| Leader | Kim Beazley |
| Preceded by | Gareth Evans |
| Succeeded by | Jenny Macklin |
| Minister for Regional Development and Local Government | |
| In office 14 September 2010 – 21 March 2013 |
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| Prime Minister | Julia Gillard |
| Preceded by | Anthony Albanese |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Albanese |
| Minister for the Arts | |
| In office 14 September 2010 – 21 March 2013 |
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| Prime Minister | Julia Gillard |
| Preceded by | Peter Garrett |
| Succeeded by | Tony Burke |
| Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations | |
| In office 28 June 2010 – 14 September 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Julia Gillard |
| Preceded by | Julia Gillard |
| Succeeded by | Peter Garrett |
| Minister for Social Inclusion | |
| In office 28 June 2010 – 14 September 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Julia Gillard |
| Preceded by | Julia Gillard |
| Succeeded by | Tanya Plibersek |
| Minister for Trade | |
| In office 3 December 2007 – 28 June 2010 |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Preceded by | Warren Truss |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Smith |
| Manager of Opposition Business | |
| In office 20 March 1996 – 20 October 1998 |
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| Leader | Kim Beazley |
| Preceded by | Peter Reith |
| Succeeded by | Bob McMullan |
| Minister for Employment, Education and Training | |
| In office 23 December 1993 – 11 March 1996 |
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| Prime Minister | Paul Keating |
| Preceded by | Kim Beazley |
| Succeeded by | Amanda Vanstone |
| Minister for Primary Industries and Energy | |
| In office 4 June 1991 – 23 December 1993 |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Preceded by | John Kerin |
| Succeeded by | Bob Collins |
| Minister for Science and Technology | |
| In office 4 April 1990 – 4 June 1991 |
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| Prime Minister | Bob Hawke |
| Preceded by | Barry Jones |
| Succeeded by | Ross Free |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Hotham |
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| In office 24 March 1990 – 5 August 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Lewis Kent |
| Succeeded by | Clare O'Neil |
| President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions | |
| In office 1 March 1985 – 25 March 1990 |
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| Preceded by | Cliff Dolan |
| Succeeded by | Martin Ferguson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Simon Findlay Crean
26 February 1949 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 25 June 2023 (aged 74) Berlin, Germany |
| Political party | Labor |
| Spouse |
Carole Crean
(m. 1973) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent |
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| Relatives |
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| Education | Melbourne High School |
| Alma mater | Monash University |
Simon Findlay Crean (26 February 1949 – 25 June 2023) was an important Australian politician. He was also a leader in the trade union movement. A trade union is a group of workers who join together to protect their rights and improve their working conditions.
Simon Crean led the Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 2001 to 2003. During this time, he was also the Leader of the Opposition. This means he was the main spokesperson for the party not in power. He was a member of the House of Representatives for the area of Hotham from 1990 to 2013. He served as a cabinet minister in several governments. These included the governments led by Prime Ministers Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, Kevin Rudd, and Julia Gillard.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Simon Crean was born in Melbourne, Australia, on 26 February 1949. His father, Frank Crean, was also a politician. Frank Crean even served as Deputy Prime Minister.
Simon went to Melbourne High School. After that, he studied law and economics at Monash University. He was interested in the trade union movement from a young age.
A Leader in Trade Unions
After finishing university, Simon Crean worked for different trade unions. In 1979, he became the General Secretary of the Storemen and Packers' Union. This was a big role for someone his age.
He then became the vice-president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) in 1981. The ACTU is the largest group of trade unions in Australia. In 1985, he became the president of the ACTU. As president, he worked closely with Prime Minister Bob Hawke to make agreements about wages and work conditions.
Political Career
Starting in Parliament
Simon Crean was elected to Parliament in 1990. He became the representative for the area of Hotham. He immediately became a minister in the government. His first role was Minister for Science and Technology.
Later, he became Minister for Primary Industries and Energy in 1991. He kept this job when Paul Keating became Prime Minister. After the 1993 election, he became Minister for Employment, Education and Training. He held this important role until 1996.
In Opposition
In 1996, the Labor Party lost the election. Simon Crean became part of the Shadow Cabinet. This is a group of opposition politicians who watch over the government's ministers. In 1998, he became the Deputy Leader of the Labor Party. He was also the Shadow Treasurer, looking at the government's money plans.
In 2001, after another election loss, Simon Crean became the leader of the Labor Party. This also made him the Leader of the Opposition. In this role, he spoke for the Labor Party against the government. In 2003, he led the Labor Party in speaking out against Australia joining the Iraq War.
During 2003, there was talk about who should lead the Labor Party. Simon Crean decided to step down as leader in November 2003. He was the first Labor leader in a long time not to lead the party into a federal election. Mark Latham then became the new leader.
Back in Government
When the Labor Party won the election in 2007, Simon Crean returned to the Cabinet. He became the Minister for Trade. In this job, he travelled to countries like Singapore and Vietnam. He worked to improve Australia's trade and economic relationships.
In 2010, Julia Gillard became Prime Minister. Simon Crean was given new roles. He became Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. After the 2010 election, he became Minister for the Arts and Minister for Regional Development and Local Government.
In 2013, there was more discussion about who should lead the Labor Party. Simon Crean changed his support to Kevin Rudd. Because of this, Julia Gillard removed him from the Cabinet. When Kevin Rudd did become Prime Minister again, Simon Crean tried to become Deputy Leader but was not successful. He then decided to retire from politics in 2013.
Simon Crean was the first person since Jack Beasley to serve as a Cabinet Minister under four different Labor Prime Ministers.
Career After Politics
After leaving politics, Simon Crean continued to work in important roles. In 2014, he became the chairman of the Australian Livestock Exporters Council. He also worked as a professor at Deakin University.
He was also involved with the European Australian Business Council. He served on the boards of companies like Linfox and Melbourne's Luna Park. In 2024, he was given a high honour, being appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia.
Personal Life
Simon Crean was married to Carole for 50 years. They had two children together. He was a big supporter of the North Melbourne Football Club.
Simon Crean passed away on 25 June 2023, in Berlin, Germany. He was 74 years old. He was visiting Germany for work at the time. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was "a giant of the Labor movement." A state funeral was held to honour him.
See also
- Fourth Hawke Ministry
- First Keating Ministry
- Second Keating Ministry
- First Rudd Ministry
- First Gillard Ministry
- Second Gillard Ministry
