Warren Mundine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Warren Mundine
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Mundine on The Long Walk in 2014
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| National President of the Labor Party | |
| In office 26 January 2006 – 10 January 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Barry Jones |
| Succeeded by | John Faulkner |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Nyunggai Warren Stephen Mundine
11 August 1956 Grafton, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal (since 2019) |
| Other political affiliations |
Labor (1995–2012) |
| Spouses |
Jenny Ross
(m. 1975; div. 1983)Elizabeth Henderson
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 10 |
Nyunggai Warren Stephen Mundine is an important Australian leader born on August 11, 1956. He is known for his work as a businessman, political thinker, and a strong supporter of Indigenous Australians. He has also been involved in politics.
Warren Mundine made history in 1995 when he became the first Indigenous person to join the City Council of Dubbo in New South Wales. Later, he was the national president of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 2006 to 2007. He left the Labor Party in 2012.
In 2013, he was chosen by then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott to lead the Indigenous Advisory Council for the government. In 2019, he ran for a seat in parliament for the Liberal Party but was not elected. In 2023, he was a main leader for the "No" campaign in the vote about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. He also works with different Indigenous groups and received a special award, the Officer of the Order of Australia, in 2016.
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Early Life and Education
Warren Mundine was born in Grafton, New South Wales, on August 11, 1956. He is a member of the Bundjalung people, who are the traditional owners of land in northern New South Wales. He was the ninth of eleven children in his family. Through his mother, he also has family connections to the Yuin people and Irish heritage.
His family moved to Auburn in western Sydney in 1963. Warren went to a Catholic school called Benedict Marist Brothers College. After school, he worked as a fitter and turner, which means he built or repaired machines. He also worked as a barman and an office trolley boy while studying at night to get his Higher School Certificate.
After working at the Australian Taxation Office, Mundine moved to Adelaide. There, he earned a diploma in community development from the South Australian Institute of Technology. He also started studying law but did not finish the course.
Warren Mundine's Political Journey
Warren Mundine started his political career in 1995. He ran as an independent candidate for the City of Dubbo council in New South Wales. He became the first Aboriginal person to serve on this council and later became the deputy mayor of Dubbo.
Working with the Australian Labor Party
In 1999, Mundine ran as a candidate for the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in the state election for the area of Dubbo. In 2001, he was also a candidate for the Labor Party in the federal election. In 2004, he tried to become the Labor candidate for a seat in the Australian House of Representatives but was not chosen.
Warren Mundine became the President of the ALP on January 28, 2006. He was the first Indigenous Australian to lead a major Australian political party. During his time as president, he worked to get more Aboriginal people chosen as candidates for elections. He served one term as national president, finishing in 2007. In 2012, he left the Labor Party. He said that the party had changed and was no longer the same as when he joined.
Joining the Liberal Party
After the Liberal-National government was elected in 2013, Prime Minister Tony Abbott chose Warren Mundine to lead the Australian government's Indigenous Advisory Council. This council gave advice to the government on Indigenous issues. In 2017, this council was closed down.
In 2019, Warren Mundine joined the Liberal Party of Australia. He was chosen to run as a candidate for the seat of Division of Gilmore in the federal election that year. Even though he had only just joined the party, the Liberal Party leadership wanted him to run. However, he was not elected, and the Labor Party won the seat.
Warren Mundine's Views and Campaigns
Warren Mundine has clear views on several important topics in Australia.
Australia Day and Treaties
Mundine believes that the date of Australia Day should be changed. He also supports the idea of Indigenous treaties in Australia, which are formal agreements between Indigenous peoples and the government.
Nuclear Power
Warren Mundine supports using nuclear power in Australia. He thinks it could be a way to help with climate change. He has said that if Australia manages the entire process of uranium, from mining to storage, it can play a responsible role globally.
The 2023 Indigenous Voice Referendum
Warren Mundine was a main leader for the "No" campaign in the 2023 Australian referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. This vote was about changing the Australian Constitution to create a body called the Indigenous Voice.
He helped start a campaign called "Recognise a Better Way." This group later joined with another campaign called "Australians for Unity," which Mundine co-founded with Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. These campaigns argued against changing the Constitution to create the Voice.
Other Important Roles
Warren Mundine has also been involved in many other important roles, especially in supporting Indigenous communities and businesses.
He works with Andrew Forrest's charity, Generation One, which helps Indigenous people. He also co-hosted a TV show called Mundine Means Business on Sky News Live. This show focused on successful Indigenous Australians in business.
Some of his other roles include:
- Chair of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.
- Co-founder and chair of the Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce.
- Chairman of the board for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Australia, which is a group that supports conservative political ideas.
Awards and Recognition
Warren Mundine has received several awards for his work:
- 2005: The Bennelong Medal for his service to the Aboriginal community.
- 2009: An honorary doctorate from Southern Cross University for his contributions to the community.
- 2016: He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia, which is a high honor in Australia.
Personal Life
Warren Mundine has been married three times and has ten children. In 1975, he married his first wife, Jenny Rose. They had two children.
In 1984, he married his second wife, Lynette Riley. They raised seven children together, including his two children from his first marriage, four of their own, and a foster child. They renewed their vows in 2003. Warren Mundine is a devout Catholic and has spoken about his faith.
In October 2013, Warren Mundine married his third wife, Elizabeth Henderson, who is a corporate lawyer.
Images for kids
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Mundine on The Long Walk in 2014
