Mitch Fifield
Encyclopedia
Mitchell Peter "Mitch" Fifield (born 16 January 1967), Australian politician, is member of the Australian Senate
since March 2004, representing the state of Victoria for the Liberal Party
.
Psychology Corps. He has a daughter and is divorced. At Sydney University, Fifield was a member of the Sydney University Liberal Club
, affiliated to the Australian Liberal Students Federation.
Between 1988 to 1992, Fifield was a Senior Research Officer to the NSW Minister for Transport and Sydney's Olympic Bid, Bruce Baird
; a Policy Advisor to the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations, National's MP
John Anderson
during 1992; a Senior Policy Adviser to the Victorian Minister for Transport, Alan Brown
from 1992 to 1996; and Senior Political Adviser to the Federal Treasurer
, Peter Costello
, from 1996 to 2003.
Since 1996, Fifield held a number of Liberal Party positions, including:
under section 15 of the Australian Constitution to fill the casual vacancy
in the Australian Senate caused by the resignation in February 2004 of Richard Alston
. Fifield was re-elected at the 2007 federal election.
After the 2010 election, Fifield was appointed the Shadow Minister for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector and manager of Opposition business in the Senate.
Throughout his political career, Fifield has been an advocate of voluntary student unionism
, as well as allowing women to serve on the frontlines of the Australian Defence Force
. He is also the co-Publisher of The Party Room alongside Andrew Robb
, a journal designed to promote new policy discussion within the Federal Coalition. Fifield has opposed federal money being spent on cycling infrastructure, and objected to part of the Rudd Government
's $42 billion stimulus package being used for new cycleways and home insulation: "I don't think Bradford batts and bike paths is serious economic infrastructure. Call me crazy, but I don't think it is."
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
since March 2004, representing the state of Victoria for the 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...
.
Early years
Fifield was born in Sydney, the son of two bank employees, and was educated at Sydney University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. At university he also participated in the Christian para-church meetings organised by the campus group known as Student Life. Between 1985 and 1987, Fifield served for three years in the Australian Army ReserveAustralian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
Psychology Corps. He has a daughter and is divorced. At Sydney University, Fifield was a member of the Sydney University Liberal Club
Sydney University Liberal Club
The Sydney University Liberal Club is student association, operating under the auspices of the University of Sydney Union . The club hosts a range of policy debates, social events, campaign workshops, student election campaigns, and guest speaker events with Member of Parliament . It is an...
, affiliated to the Australian Liberal Students Federation.
Between 1988 to 1992, Fifield was a Senior Research Officer to the NSW Minister for Transport and Sydney's Olympic Bid, Bruce Baird
Bruce Baird
Bruce George Baird, AM , is a former Australian politician.-Early life:Baird was born in Sydney, and was educated at the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne, holding a master's degree in business administration from the latter...
; a Policy Advisor to the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations, National's MP
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
John Anderson
John Anderson (Australian politician)
John Duncan Anderson AO is a former Australian politician. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Leader of the rural-based National Party of Australia from July 1999 to July 2005.-Early years:...
during 1992; a Senior Policy Adviser to the Victorian Minister for Transport, Alan Brown
Alan Brown (Australian politician)
Alan John Brown , Australian politician, was a Liberal member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly and Leader of the Opposition from 1989 to 1991....
from 1992 to 1996; and Senior Political Adviser to the Federal Treasurer
Treasurer of Australia
The Treasurer of Australia is the minister in the Government of Australia responsible for government expenditure and revenue raising. He is the head of the Department of the Treasury. The Treasurer plays a key role in the economic policy of the government...
, Peter Costello
Peter Costello
Peter Howard Costello AC is an Australian politician and lawyer who served as the Treasurer in the Australian government from 1996 to 2007. He is the longest-serving Treasurer in Australian history. Costello was a Member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1990 to 2009, representing...
, from 1996 to 2003.
Since 1996, Fifield held a number of Liberal Party positions, including:
- Delegate to the Liberal Party Victorian State Council (1996–present)
- Delegate to the Liberal Party Policy Assembly (1996) and (2004–present)
- Delegate to the Liberal Party GoldsteinDivision of GoldsteinThe Division of Goldstein is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1984, when the former Division of Balaclava was abolished. It is named for Vida Goldstein, an early feminist parliamentary candidate. It is located in the bayside suburbs of Melbourne, including...
Electorate Council (1995–2003)
Parliamentary career
On 31 March 2004, Fifield was appointed by the Parliament of VictoriaParliament of Victoria
The Parliament of Victoria is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Victoria. It follows a Westminster-derived parliamentary system and consists of The Queen, represented by the Governor of Victoria; the Legislative Council ; and the Legislative Assembly...
under section 15 of the Australian Constitution to fill the casual vacancy
Casual vacancy
In the Parliament of Australia, a casual vacancy is caused when a member of either house :* dies* resigns mid-term * is expelled from Parliament and their seat is declared vacant, or...
in the Australian Senate caused by the resignation in February 2004 of Richard Alston
Richard Alston (politician)
Richard Kenneth Robert Alston was a Liberal member of the Australian Senate from 1986 to 2004, representing the state of Victoria....
. Fifield was re-elected at the 2007 federal election.
After the 2010 election, Fifield was appointed the Shadow Minister for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector and manager of Opposition business in the Senate.
Throughout his political career, Fifield has been an advocate of voluntary student unionism
Voluntary student unionism
Voluntary student unionism is a policy, notable in Australia, under which membership of – and payment of membership fees to – university student organisations is voluntary....
, as well as allowing women to serve on the frontlines of the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
. He is also the co-Publisher of The Party Room alongside Andrew Robb
Andrew Robb
Andrew John Robb AO , Australian politician and former federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia, was elected to the House of Representatives as member for the Division of Goldstein, Victoria for the Liberal Party of Australia at the 2004 federal election.Robb, one of nine children, was...
, a journal designed to promote new policy discussion within the Federal Coalition. Fifield has opposed federal money being spent on cycling infrastructure, and objected to part of the Rudd Government
Rudd Government
The Rudd Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia of the Australian Labor Party from 2007 to 2010, led by Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister. The Rudd Government commenced on 3 December 2007, when Rudd was sworn in along with his ministry...
's $42 billion stimulus package being used for new cycleways and home insulation: "I don't think Bradford batts and bike paths is serious economic infrastructure. Call me crazy, but I don't think it is."