Hon Brendan O'Connor MP

Hon Brendan O'Connor MP

Member for Gorton

Party
Australian Labor Party
Chamber
House of Representatives

Seating Plan

Seating map

Electorate Office

(Principal Office)

Shop 3, 11 Commercial Road
Caroline Springs, VIC, 3023

Postal address

Shop 3, 11 Commercial Road
Caroline Springs, VIC, 3023

Telephone:
(03) 8390 6166

Parliament Office

PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Telephone:
(02) 6277 2005

Biography

Parliamentary service
  • Elected to the House of Representatives for Burke, Victoria, 2001. Elected to the House of Representatives for Gorton, Victoria, 2004, following electoral redistribution. Re-elected 2007 and 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022.
Ministerial appointments
  • Minister for Employment Participation from 3.12.2007 to 9.6.2009.
  • Minister for Home Affairs from 9.6.2009 to 14.12.2011.
  • Minister for Justice from 14.9.2010 to 14.12.2011.
  • Minister for Privacy and Freedom of Information from 14.9.2010 to 14.12.2011.
  • Minister for Human Services from 14.12.2011 to 5.3.2012.
  • Minister Assisting for School Education from 14.12.2011 to 5.3.2012.
  • Minister for Housing from 5.3.2012 to 4.2.2013.
  • Minister for Homelessness from 5.3.2012 to 4.2.2013.
  • Minister for Small Business from 5.3.2012 to 4.2.2013.
  • Cabinet Minister from 5.3.2012 to 18.9.2013.
  • Minister for Immigration and Citizenship from 4.2.2013 to 1.7.2013.
  • Minister for Employment from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.
  • Minister for Skills and Training from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.
  • Cabinet Minister from 1.6.2022 to 29.7.2024.
  • Minister for Skills and Training from 1.6.2022 to 29.7.2024.
Committee service
  • House of Representatives Standing: Employment and Workplace Relations served from 16.2.2004 to 31.8.2004; Employment, Workplace Relations and Workforce Participation served as Deputy Chair from 2.12.2004 to 7.12.2006; Employment, Workplace Relations and Workforce Participation served from 8.12.2006 to 17.10.2007; Education and Employment served from 26.3.2015 to 9.5.2016; Employment, Education and Training served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2019
  • Joint Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 27.3.2006 to 17.10.2007; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 12.8.2024 to present
  • Joint Statutory: Public Works served as Deputy Chair from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Intelligence and Security served from 12.8.2024 to present
Parliamentary party positions
  • Australian Labor Party. Served: 10.11.2001 to present
  • Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations from 10.12.2006 to 3.12.2007.
  • Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations from 18.10.2013 to 2.6.2019.
  • Shadow Cabinet Minister from 18.10.2013 to 23.5.2022.
  • Shadow Special Minister of State from 2.3.2016 to 23.7.2016.
  • Shadow Minister for Employment and Industry from 2.6.2019 to 28.1.2021.
  • Shadow Minister for Science from 2.6.2019 to 28.1.2021.
  • Shadow Minister for Small and Family Business from 2.6.2019 to 28.1.2021.
  • Shadow Minister for Defence from 28.1.2021 to 23.5.2022.
  • Chair of the Australian Labor Party Government Service Delivery Caucus Committee from 2002.
  • Member of the Australian Labor Party Social Policy Caucus Committee from 2002.
  • Member of the Australian Labor Party Economic Development and Living Standards Caucus Committee from 2002.
  • Chair of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Labor Party Industrial Relations Taskforce from 2005.
Party positions
  • Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Vic.) from 1986.
  • President of the Australian Labor Party St Kilda Branch (Vic.) from 1988 to 1989.
  • President of the Australian Labor Party Melton Branch (Vic.) from 2000 to 2001.
  • Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference from 2000.
Personal
  • Born: 2.3.1962, London, England
  • Gender: Male
Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament
  • BA (Monash University).
  • LLB (Monash University).
  • Diploma, Harvard Trade Union Program.
  • Union official from 1986 to 2001.
  • Assistant Secretary of the Australian Services Union from 1993 to 2001.
Electorate
  • Name: Gorton
  • Location: The Division of Gorton consists of: Melton City Council, and part of Brimbank City Council.
  • Area: 540 Sq km
  • Electors enrolled: 110,416 (at 12.6.2019)
  • Industries: Harness racing, horse training and breeding facilities, retail, construction, health care, transport and warehousing.

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