Chris Kenny (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Chris Kenny is a journalist, author and former political adviser from South Australia
.
He won the National Tree Program Media Award in 1985 working for The Murray Pioneer in Renmark, before going on to work for the now defunct The News
in Adelaide. He began his television career at the ABC's 7.30 Report
before moving to Adelaide's Channel 10, in 1989 and Channel Nine in 1997. At various times a columnist for The Adelaide Review
, The Sunday Mail
and The Advertiser, he also published two books: State of Denial, about the downfall of the Bannon government, and Women's Business, on the Hindmarsh Island Bridge scandal
. Kenny became a political adviser in 2000, as Director of Strategic Communications for Liberal Premier of SA, John Olsen
. When Olsen was replaced by Premier Rob Kerin, Kenny became Chief of Staff. In 2002 he joined Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's
office as media adviser and was prominent in the handling of issues such as the Iraq War, the Bali terrorism attacks and the AWB scandal
. He eventually was appointed chief of staff to the Foreign Minister. Kenny also stood for Liberal Party
preselection for the Adelaide seat of Unley
, but was defeated by David Pisoni
, who went on to win in the 2006 state election.
After the defeat of the Howard Government, Kenny worked as a columnist for The Advertiser in Adelaide and as a television reporter for the Adelaide edition of A Current Affair and as morning talkback radio host for 5AA. In January 2009 he was employed as chief of staff for then-Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull
. When Turnbull lost the Liberal Leadership, Kenny resigned. He subsequently provided opinion pieces and analysis for The Australian
, ABC The Drum
and SkyNews. In 2010 Kenny was appointed General Manager, External Affairs, for transport giant Asciano before leaving at the end of the year to return to media work.
On Monday 11th April 2011 Chris Kenny appeared on the ABC Television show "Q and A" alongside politicians and community figures.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
He won the National Tree Program Media Award in 1985 working for The Murray Pioneer in Renmark, before going on to work for the now defunct The News
The News (Adelaide)
The News was an afternoon daily tabloid newspaper in the city of Adelaide, South Australia.The newspaper was established in 1869 as the Evening Journal. In 1933, a controlling stake was taken by The Advertiser, controlled by the Herald and Weekly Times. HWT sold off The News in 1949, and Sir Keith...
in Adelaide. He began his television career at the ABC's 7.30 Report
The 7.30 Report
The 7.30 Report is an Australian nightly television current affairs program, that was shown on ABC1 and ABC News 24 at , Mondays–Thursdays...
before moving to Adelaide's Channel 10, in 1989 and Channel Nine in 1997. At various times a columnist for The Adelaide Review
Adelaide Review
In its current form, The Adelaide Review is a free newspaper published approximately monthly in Adelaide, South Australia since mid 2009. In the period 2004-2007, it was usually published fortnightly....
, The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail (Adelaide)
The Sunday mail was founded in 1912 by Clarence Moody. Moody initially set up three newspapers - the Sporting mail, Saturday mail and the Mail. The first two titles lasted only two years and five years respectively...
and The Advertiser, he also published two books: State of Denial, about the downfall of the Bannon government, and Women's Business, on the Hindmarsh Island Bridge scandal
Hindmarsh Island bridge controversy
The Hindmarsh Island bridge controversy was a 1990s Australian legal and political controversy that involved the clash of Indigenous Australian religious beliefs and property rights...
. Kenny became a political adviser in 2000, as Director of Strategic Communications for Liberal Premier of SA, John Olsen
John Olsen
John Wayne Olsen, AO was Premier of South Australia between 28 November 1996 and 22 October 2001.-Parliament:Olsen was a member of the Liberal Party and Member of Parliament for more than 20 years...
. When Olsen was replaced by Premier Rob Kerin, Kenny became Chief of Staff. In 2002 he joined Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's
Alexander Downer
Alexander John Gosse Downer is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was Foreign Minister of Australia from March 1996 to December 2007, the longest-serving in Australian history...
office as media adviser and was prominent in the handling of issues such as the Iraq War, the Bali terrorism attacks and the AWB scandal
AWB Oil-for-Wheat Scandal
The AWB Oil-for-Wheat Scandal refers to the payment of kickbacks to the regime of Saddam Hussein in contravention of the United Nations Oil-for-Food Humanitarian Program. AWB Limited is a major grain marketing organisation based in Australia...
. He eventually was appointed chief of staff to the Foreign Minister. Kenny also stood for Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
preselection for the Adelaide seat of Unley
Electoral district of Unley
Unley is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. Named after the suburb of the same name, it is a 12.2 km² urban electorate in Adelaide's inner southern suburbs, taking in the suburbs of Eastwood, Frewville, Fullarton, Glenunga, Highgate, Hyde...
, but was defeated by David Pisoni
David Pisoni
David Gregory Pisoni is a South Australian politician. He has been a Liberal Party of Australia member of the South Australian House of Assembly since 2006, representing the electorate of Unley....
, who went on to win in the 2006 state election.
After the defeat of the Howard Government, Kenny worked as a columnist for The Advertiser in Adelaide and as a television reporter for the Adelaide edition of A Current Affair and as morning talkback radio host for 5AA. In January 2009 he was employed as chief of staff for then-Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2004, and was Leader of the Opposition and parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party from 16 September 2008 to 1 December 2009.Turnbull has represented the Division...
. When Turnbull lost the Liberal Leadership, Kenny resigned. He subsequently provided opinion pieces and analysis for The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
, ABC The Drum
The Drum (TV program)
The Drum is an Australian current affairs and news analysis program which appears on ABC News 24 weekdays at 6:05pm. The program is presented by Steve Cannane. It was formerly hosted by Chris Uhlmann and has been hosted by Annabel Crabb...
and SkyNews. In 2010 Kenny was appointed General Manager, External Affairs, for transport giant Asciano before leaving at the end of the year to return to media work.
On Monday 11th April 2011 Chris Kenny appeared on the ABC Television show "Q and A" alongside politicians and community figures.
Published works
- (1993) State of Denial - about the 1992 collapse of South Australia's State BankState Bank of South AustraliaThe State Bank of South Australia was a bank owned by the Government of South Australia. Its collapse in 1991 was a major political event in South Australia...
- (1996) Women's Business: The story behind the Hindmarsh Island affair - about the Hindmarsh Island bridge controversyHindmarsh Island bridge controversyThe Hindmarsh Island bridge controversy was a 1990s Australian legal and political controversy that involved the clash of Indigenous Australian religious beliefs and property rights...