Tim Gartrell
Encyclopedia
Tim Gartrell is the former National Secretary of the Australian Labor Party
.
Born and raised in Orange
in Central Western NSW, he worked as an advocate and researcher for the Australian Services Union
and the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union while studying politics part-time at the University of NSW.
Gartrell worked for two Keating
government ministers, Jeannette McHugh
(Consumer Affairs) and Frank Walker (Admin Services and Special Minister of State), and later for Labor MP Anthony Albanese
. He joined the staff of the ALP National Secretariat in 1998 after a year as the Media and Community Liaison Manager with South Sydney Council
. Serving as Assistant National Secretary of the ALP from April 2000, he was elected unopposed as National Secretary on 2 September 2003.
Gartrell announced his resignation from the position on 30 September 2008 and that he would join the private sector market research firm Auspoll, which is part of the larger Photon group of media companies. He left the post on 24 October 2008.
Gartrell is recognised as one of the driving forces behind Labor’s successful 2007 election campaign, which saw the Party return to power after more than 11 years in Opposition. Through a creative use of new campaign techniques and advertising, Labor’s campaign was seen to be superior to the Liberal Party campaign and won a series of media awards. Gartrell worked closely with the new Labor leader Kevin Rudd from his ascension to the leadership through to his election as Prime Minister, as a key member of Labor’s Political Strategy Group.
Gartrell’s career followed the fortunes of the ALP, with his term as National Secretary beginning on the eve of the 2004 election campaign which saw the Party beaten under then leader Mark Latham
. Gartrell then pursued reform of the campaigning structures of the Party, enabling Labor to effectively campaign under the “New Leadership” slogan with Kevin Rudd
. Gartrell recognised this in his resignation media release stating:
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described Gartrell’s leadership skills as “superb” and stated “[h]is ability, hard work, judgment and campaign leadership skills are first class”.
During the 2009 ALP National Conference, Gartrell hosted a "Unions versus Media" dinner debate for media, unions and party members. The topic debated was "It's All Your Fault" and the debate was overwhelming won by the media side, which featured Annabel Crabb
and Charles Firth
.
Gartrell holds a Masters Degree in Communications Studies. He is a director of the Chifley Research Centre, a member of the Australian Political Exchange Council and a member of the Consultative Committee of the Centre for Democratic Institutions at the ANU
. He has shown interest in progressing policies to address environmental problems including climate change and biodiversity loss.
He is now the CEO of Generation One.
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
.
Born and raised in Orange
Orange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
in Central Western NSW, he worked as an advocate and researcher for the Australian Services Union
Australian Services Union
The Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union, which operates under the trading name of the Australian Services Union or ASU, is a trade union that represents members in a variety of industries.-Union history:...
and the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union while studying politics part-time at the University of NSW.
Gartrell worked for two Keating
Paul Keating
Paul John Keating was the 24th Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 1991 to 1996. Keating was elected as the federal Labor member for Blaxland in 1969 and came to prominence as the reformist treasurer of the Hawke Labor government, which came to power at the 1983 election...
government ministers, Jeannette McHugh
Jeannette McHugh
Jeannette McHugh , Australian politician, is a former Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Divisions of Phillip and Grayndler in New South Wales....
(Consumer Affairs) and Frank Walker (Admin Services and Special Minister of State), and later for Labor MP Anthony Albanese
Anthony Albanese
Anthony Norman Albanese , Australian politician, who serves as Leader of the House of Representatives and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport in the Gillard Ministry...
. He joined the staff of the ALP National Secretariat in 1998 after a year as the Media and Community Liaison Manager with South Sydney Council
City of Sydney
The City of Sydney is the Local Government Area covering the Sydney central business district and surrounding inner city suburbs of the greater metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia...
. Serving as Assistant National Secretary of the ALP from April 2000, he was elected unopposed as National Secretary on 2 September 2003.
Gartrell announced his resignation from the position on 30 September 2008 and that he would join the private sector market research firm Auspoll, which is part of the larger Photon group of media companies. He left the post on 24 October 2008.
Gartrell is recognised as one of the driving forces behind Labor’s successful 2007 election campaign, which saw the Party return to power after more than 11 years in Opposition. Through a creative use of new campaign techniques and advertising, Labor’s campaign was seen to be superior to the Liberal Party campaign and won a series of media awards. Gartrell worked closely with the new Labor leader Kevin Rudd from his ascension to the leadership through to his election as Prime Minister, as a key member of Labor’s Political Strategy Group.
Gartrell’s career followed the fortunes of the ALP, with his term as National Secretary beginning on the eve of the 2004 election campaign which saw the Party beaten under then leader Mark Latham
Mark Latham
Mark William Latham , an author and former Australian politician, was leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from December 2003 to January 2005....
. Gartrell then pursued reform of the campaigning structures of the Party, enabling Labor to effectively campaign under the “New Leadership” slogan with Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
. Gartrell recognised this in his resignation media release stating:
“I’m particularly grateful for the support I received from the National Executive after the 2004 federal election defeat and the privilege of being the ALP Campaign Director for the 2007 Federal Election.”
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described Gartrell’s leadership skills as “superb” and stated “[h]is ability, hard work, judgment and campaign leadership skills are first class”.
During the 2009 ALP National Conference, Gartrell hosted a "Unions versus Media" dinner debate for media, unions and party members. The topic debated was "It's All Your Fault" and the debate was overwhelming won by the media side, which featured Annabel Crabb
Annabel Crabb
Annabel Crabb is an Australian political journalist and commentator who is currently the ABC's chief online political writer. Previously she has worked for Adelaide's The Advertiser, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, the Sunday Age and The Sun-Herald, and won a Walkley Award in 2009 for her...
and Charles Firth
Charles Firth
Charles Henry Burgmann Firth is an Australian comedian, best known as a member of The Chaser productions CNNNN and The Chaser's War on Everything...
.
Gartrell holds a Masters Degree in Communications Studies. He is a director of the Chifley Research Centre, a member of the Australian Political Exchange Council and a member of the Consultative Committee of the Centre for Democratic Institutions at the ANU
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
. He has shown interest in progressing policies to address environmental problems including climate change and biodiversity loss.
He is now the CEO of Generation One.