Stephen Smith (Australian politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Professor The Honourable Stephen Smith
Official portrait, 2023
High Commissioner of Australia to the United Kingdom
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 January 2023
Preceded by	Lynette Wood (Acting) George Brandis
Minister for Defence
In office 14 September 2010 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister	Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd
Preceded by	John Faulkner
Succeeded by	David Johnston
Minister for Trade
In office 28 June 2010 – 14 September 2010
Prime Minister	Julia Gillard
Preceded by	Simon Crean
Succeeded by	Craig Emerson
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office 3 December 2007 – 14 September 2010
Prime Minister	Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard
Preceded by	Alexander Downer
Succeeded by	Kevin Rudd
Member of the Australian Parliament for Perth
In office 13 March 1993 – 5 August 2013
Preceded by	Ric Charlesworth
Succeeded by	Alannah MacTiernan
Personal details
Born	Stephen Francis Smith (1955-12-12) 12 December 1955 (age 69) Narrogin, Western Australia, Australia
Political party	Labor
Spouse	Jane Seymour
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Western Australia University of London

Stephen Francis Smith (born 12 December 1955) is an Australian politician and diplomat. He is currently the High Commissioner of Australia to the United Kingdom, a role he started in 2023. This means he represents Australia in the United Kingdom.

Stephen Smith was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He was a federal Member of Parliament (MP) for the area of Perth from 1993 to 2013. During this time, he held important jobs in the Australian government. He was the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2007 to 2010. This role involves dealing with other countries. He was also the Minister for Trade in 2010, which means he helped manage Australia's business with other nations. From 2010 to 2013, he was the Minister for Defence, looking after Australia's military and security.

Stephen Smith's Early Life and Education

Stephen Smith was born in Narrogin, Western Australia. He went to school at CBC Highgate. Later, he studied at the University of Western Australia and the University of London. At the University of London, he earned a master's degree in law.

Before he became a politician, Stephen Smith worked as a lawyer (called a solicitor in Australia). He also taught at universities. He was a special assistant to the Western Australian Attorney-General, Joe Berinson, from 1983 to 1987. The Attorney-General is the main legal advisor to the government. From 1987 to 1990, he was the State Secretary for the Labor Party in Western Australia.

From 1990 to 1993, he advised Paul Keating. Keating was first the Treasurer (who manages the country's money) and then the Prime Minister. Stephen Smith played a key role in helping Keating become the leader of the Labor Party and then Prime Minister.

Stephen Smith's Political Career

Stephen Smith was part of the Opposition's "Shadow Ministry" from 1996 until the Labor Party won the elections in 2007. The Shadow Ministry is a group of politicians from the main opposition party. They watch over what the government is doing and suggest different ideas.

He held many different roles in the Shadow Ministry:

• Shadow Minister for Trade (1996–1997)
• Shadow Minister for Resources and Energy (1997–1998)
• Shadow Minister for Communications (1998–2001)
• Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing (2001–2003)
• Shadow Minister for Immigration (2003–2004)
• Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations (2004–2006)
• Shadow Minister for Education and Training (2006–2007)

In 2003, there was a time when the Labor Party was deciding who its leader should be. Stephen Smith strongly supported Kim Beazley, who was also from Western Australia. People even thought Stephen Smith might become a leader himself one day. He supported Beazley again in 2005 when Beazley became the leader of the party once more.

After the Labor Party won the 2007 election, Stephen Smith became the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Kevin Rudd's government. When Julia Gillard became Prime Minister in 2010, she also made him the Minister for Trade. After the 2010 federal election, Stephen Smith became the Minister for Defence. Kevin Rudd then became the Foreign Affairs Minister, and Craig Emerson became the Trade Minister.

In 2013, Kevin Rudd became the leader of the Labor Party and Prime Minister again. On June 27, 2013, Stephen Smith announced that he would not run for election in the 2013 federal election. This meant he was leaving politics.

Stephen Smith's Life After Parliament

After leaving parliament, Stephen Smith continued to work in important roles.

• In 2014, he was appointed a "Winthrop Professor of International Law" at the University of Western Australia. This is a special teaching position.
• In 2016, he tried to enter state politics in Western Australia. He wanted to become a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the area of Baldivis. However, he was not chosen for this role.
• From 2018 to 2020, he was the Chairman of archTIS. This is a company that works on cyber security, which means keeping computer systems safe.
• In August 2022, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asked Stephen Smith to help lead a review of the Australian Defence Force. This review looked at how Australia's military could be made stronger.
• On September 30, 2022, Stephen Smith was named the next High Commissioner of Australia to the United Kingdom. He started this important job on January 26, 2023, after finishing the Defence Strategic Review.

Images for kids

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  Stephen Smith in early 2005

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  Stephen Smith in early 2008

• 

  Robert Gates meets face-to-face with Stephen Smith

• 

  US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (2nd from left, Debra Cagan to his left) hosts a Pentagon meeting with Stephen Smith (right) in the Pentagon on 28 January 2008

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  Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (centre) and Stephen Smith (right) with students from Wesley College during a visit to Kings Park State War Memorial in Perth

• 

  Stephen Smith (right) meets Hillary Clinton (centre) and Katsuya Okada (left) at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on 21 September 2009

See also

In Spanish: Stephen Smith para niños

• First Rudd Ministry
• First Gillard Ministry
• Second Gillard Ministry
• Second Rudd Ministry