Bill Shorten is the current leader of the Australian opposition party – the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He has assumed leadership of the party since 2013 and still functions in this capacity. Prior to serving in Parliament, Bill served as National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union from 2001 to 2007. The popular politician also went on to become chairman of the Victoria Labor Party state. His first election to the House of Representatives was in 2007, when he came for Maribyrnong Division in Victoria. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed parliamentary secretary.
Following the 2010 federal election, he entered Cabinet where he held the position of Assistant Treasurer. Much later he served as Minister of Financial Services and Superannuation. Bill Shorten was also part of the Gillard government, where he was appointed Minister of Labor Relations. In 2013, he served as Minister for Education before the Rudd government was removed from office later that year.
The defeat did not dampen his spirit in any way, he still challenged Anthony Albanese in the following leadership election, which was the first to allow members of parliament, as well as party members, to vote. On October 13, he emerged victorious and led Labor to a total of 14 seats in the 2016 federal election.
Bill Shorten’s Biography
Bill was born on May 12, 1967 in Melbourne, Australia. His father, William Robert Shorten, of British nationality, earned his living by working on the waterfront and running a trade union. Ann Rosemary Shorten – her mother, worked as a lawyer and Irish-born university scholar. Although he was born in Australia, he acquired British citizenship by descent as both of his parents were born in Britain. Bill grew up alongside a twin brother named Richard.
His early education was at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School located in Malvern East, he was admitted to Xavier College and then to Monash University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1989. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in law a few years later, in 1992. Bill was at the Melbourne Business School at the University of Melbourne, where he obtained a master’s degree in business administration in 2001. He held the rank of private in the Australian Army Reserve, a position that lasted from 1985 to 1986.
Who is his wife?
Bill Shorten’s married life can be summed up in a couple of marriages, his first marriage was in March 2000, when he tied the nuptials to Debbie Beale, Debbie’s father is a well-known businessman and former Liberal MP Julian Beale. The couple’s marriage lasted nearly eight years, but fell apart in 2008.
Barely a year after his first marriage passed away, Bill Shorten had a second with Chloe Bryce in 2009. Chloe’s mother, Quentin Bryce, made these records as Australia’s first female governor. Their marriage has been going on for almost a decade and still counts. The Shorten family resides in Moonee Ponds Victoria with their daughter, Clementine. Chloe’s other children, Rupert and Georgette, from her previous marriage to Roger Parkin, also live with the family.
There was an unspecified smear campaign on Bill’s marriage to Chloe that led him to issue a public appeal asking for this campaign to cease. According to the politician’s claims cited by the Australian, ‘personal life and families should be banned’
Net value
There are many variations of net worth for the Leader of the Labor Party. Many sources suggest that his current net worth is under review, but you would still find some speculation that he is between $2.4 million and $61 million. Whatever the case, Bill Shorten is currently a member of the richest celebrities and politicians.
Other interesting facts about Bill Shorten
- Body Stats
BillShorten’s full body measurements have never been released by a reliable source, but according to available information, he stands at a height of 5 feet 10 inches, which is around 1.8m or 70 inches.
- His religious inclinations
Bill is a practicing Christian who was born and raised Catholic, he converted to Anglicanism before the start of his second marriage. His reason was not just because it was his wife’s church, Bill had several disagreements over many issues with the Catholic Church.
- Trivia
The 2017 dual citizenship scandal made BillShort to give up his British citizenship so he could run for parliament. Previously, he had dual citizenship, Australian (by birth) and British (by descent).