Simon Kennedy facts for kids

Simon Peter Kennedy (born 4 June 1982) is an Australian politician. He is a member of the House of Representatives. He won his seat in the 2024 Cook by-election, representing the Liberal Party. He also won the seat again in the 2025 Australian federal election. Before becoming a politician, he worked as a lawyer and a management consultant.

Simon Kennedy's Early Life

Simon Kennedy was born in West Ryde, a suburb of Sydney. His mother was a teacher and worked full-time. Because of this, his grandfather helped raise him a lot. His grandfather was a veteran who served in World War II. His grandmother also served during the war as an Army Nurse.

School Days and Leadership

Simon went to Epping Boys High School. Both his mother and stepfather taught at this school. Simon was chosen as the school captain. He also became the President of the students' representative council. He was part of the Ryde City Youth council too.

In 2006, he finished his studies at the University of New South Wales. He earned degrees in both law and commerce.

Simon Kennedy's Career

Simon Kennedy's work life has mostly focused on helping the public. After university, he joined a law firm called Clayton Utz. There, he advised the government on energy changes.

However, he soon moved to McKinsey & Company. This is a company that helps businesses and governments improve. He worked there for 14 years as an analyst. He started in Sydney, then worked in New York and Washington, D.C.. He worked on projects for governments in North America, Asia, and Haiti.

In 2016, he returned to Sydney. He helped start the company's public sector team in Australia. He became a partner at the firm.

Helping During the Pandemic

While at McKinsey, Simon advised the government on its response to the Covid pandemic. He also worked with the Committee for Sydney. They made plans for new innovation areas in the Greater Sydney region. After leaving McKinsey in 2022, he started a tech investment company called Banksia. He co-founded it with Damian Kassabgi, a former executive from Uber.

Simon Kennedy's Political Journey

Simon Kennedy has mentioned that his family taught him the importance of serving others. He first tried to enter parliament in 2022 but did not win. However, he successfully won a federal seat in 2024.

First Election Attempt in 2022

In 2022, Simon Kennedy ran for parliament in the Division of Bennelong. He wanted to take over from the retiring member, John Alexander. This area was usually a safe seat for the Liberal Party. But, the Labor Party candidate, Jerome Laxale, won the election. Jerome Laxale received 50.98% of the votes, while Simon Kennedy received 49.02%.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Simon Kennedy shared some views about personal freedom. He spoke at an event called A Stand in the Park. He expressed worries about vaccine rules that limited travel and businesses. Later, in a radio interview, he explained his views more clearly. He said he was "pro-vaccine" and "pro-science." He mentioned that his family was fully vaccinated. His wife is an infectious disease doctor who worked on the front lines during the pandemic. He also said he believes in listening to people with different opinions.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In early 2024, the seat for the Division of Cook became available. A special election, called a by-election, was planned for Saturday, April 13. Simon Kennedy and his family moved to Woolooware in the community before the vote. They started campaigning by visiting shops and beaches.

About 300 local members of the Liberal Party considered six candidates. Other people who wanted to run included Carmelo Pesce, the mayor of Sutherland Shire. Benjamin Britton and Gwen Cherne were also candidates.

On March 4, Simon Kennedy won the Liberal Party's selection process. This meant he would be the candidate for the seat. He had support from important party leaders. These included former NSW Premiers Nick Greiner and Dominic Perrottet. The current state Liberal leader, Mark Speakman, also supported him. Federal politicians Angus Taylor and Senator Dave Sharma were also on his side.

The Labor Party decided not to run a candidate for this seat. This made the Greens candidate, Martin Moore, Simon Kennedy's main opponent. Simon Kennedy's campaign focused on helping Australians improve their lives.

On April 13, 2024, Simon Kennedy won the 2024 Cook by-election. The Liberal Party received more votes than before. Simon Kennedy received 71% of the votes. He officially became a Member of Parliament in Canberra on May 14, 2024.

Simon Kennedy's Work in Parliament

In his first speech to Parliament, Simon Kennedy talked about helping the middle class. He said that the country is often run for special interest groups. He believes it should be run for the "silent majority" and small businesses. He also said that it is becoming harder for the next generation to be better off than their parents. He worried about what this could mean for Australia.

He also suggested making fewer rules for small businesses. He wanted states and councils to compete for funding. This money would go to those who can quickly provide services like housing, healthcare, and infrastructure. Simon Kennedy has also spoken about managing immigration better. He wants to make sure there is enough housing for people buying their first homes.

Simon Kennedy's Personal Life

Simon Kennedy is married to Nila Dharan. She is an infectious disease doctor from America. They met when he was working overseas. They have two children. Simon enjoys running. In 2024, he won the title of "fittest politician." He took the title from Andrew Leigh, who had held it before.