From Daily Escape

Revision as of 03:57, 2 December 2007

Chris Marshall
Prime Minister of Australia Member for Forde
Term of office 8 October 2007 - present
Political party	Liberty and Democracy Party of Australia
Preceded by	Malcolm Hawke
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	18 January 1959 (age 48)
Spouse	Annita Marshall (née van Iersel)
Profession	Lawyer, politician
Religion	Catholicism
Languages	English, Bahasa Indonesia, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, German
Other positions	Minister of Foreign Affairs (1990-1993) Minister of Defence (1993-1996) Treasurer (1996-2007) Deputy Prime Minister of Australia (1996-2007) Vice President of the Federal Executive Council (1995-2003) Chairman of the Liberty and Democracy Party of Australia (2005- ) Member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Forde (1984- )

Political Views

Marshall is a minarchist. He is opposed to government intervention in most areas of society. He believes that government should confine itself to the enforcement of contracts, defence, law enforcement, and the provision of a basic safety net of social welfare (mainly through the 30/30 tax system).

Marshall is a staunch monarchist, and was behind the revival of the title of Australian Knight in the Order of Australia. The Queen showed her recognition of his monarchism when she flew her Australian personal flag on Prime Minister Marshall's 2007 British Visit. Marshall was the force behind the previous government's embrace of the trappings of the Monarchy, which are now seen in most things the government does. Pictures of the Queen appear in all government buildings, envelopes containing official correspondence bear the initials OHMS (On Her Majesty's Service), new Australian citizens swear the following oath now:

I, A. B. swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Australia, Her heirs and successors according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Australia and fulfil my duties as an Australian citizen.

While Treasurer (1996-2007), Marshall introduced key reforms of the Australian economy. He ended centralised wage fixing, floated the dollar, deregulated the airlines, lowered the tariff wall, reformed taxes and welfare, opened the financial sector to foreign competition.

Marshall in 1993

Key Dates

• December 1, 1984: Marshall elected as Member for Forde
• 11 July 1987: 1987 Federal Election; Liberal Democrats become the official opposition. Marshall appointed to the Opposition Frontbench, Shadow Minister of Trade
• 1988: Marshall mounts unsuccessful leadership challenge against Robert Snedden
• 1989: Marshall backs Malcolm Hawke against Snedden, Hawke successful, and appoints Marshall Shadow Minister of Foriegn Affairs
• 24 March 1990: 1990 Federal Election; Liberal Democrats under Hawke defeat the Australian Labor Party (led by Bob Hughes). Marshall commissioned as Minister of Foreign Affairs
• 13 March 1993: 1993 Federal Election; Liberal Democrats gain control of the Senate, Marshall becomes Minister of Defence
• 2 March 1996: 1996 Federal Election; Liberal Democrat majority in House of Reps falls to a 15 seat majority, Marshall becomes Treasurer
• September 2005: Marshall elected Chairman of the Liberty and Democracy Party
• October 2007:
  • Corruption inquiry finds evidence of massive cash political donations to Prime Minister Malcolm Hawke.
  • PM's explaination fails to satisfy inquiry. Other witnesses from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
  • Marshall calls for leadershiop ballot
  • Hawke advises Governor General to dismiss Marshall, the Governor General refused.
• 8 October 2007: Marshall wins leadership ballot overwhelmingly
  • Tony Abbott informed the Prime Minister of the result. In the normal course of events, Hawke would have been required to resign as Prime Minister, and advise the Governor-General that Marshall was in position for form a government. Instead, Malcolm Hawke took a revolver from his desk drawer, and shot himself in the head. As Deputy Prime Minister, Marshall became Acting-Prime Minister. He advised the Governor General that he had the confidence of both Houses of Parliament, and could form a government. At 4:25pm, Governor General Major General Michael Jeffery commissioned Marshall as Prime Minister of Australia.