Australia-China Relations: A Long Term View

26 October 2009

The Hon Stephen Smith MP

In this speech to the ANU China Institute The Hon Stephen Smith MP,  Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, spoke on the Australia-China Relationship and discussed China's importance to Australia and put in context recent events in the bilateral relationship.

Broad Topics: Asia and the Pacific

Sub-topics: Policy & Political Science

Areas: ANU College of Asia and the Pacific

Stephen Smith was sworn in as Minister for Foreign Affairs on 3 December 2007.

Mr Smith is a Barrister and Solicitor by profession. He completed his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Western Australia. Mr Smith practised as a Barrister and Solicitor in Perth, then completed a Master of Laws at London University, and subsequently lectured and tutored in Law in London. From 1987 to 1990 he was the State Secretary of the Western Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party and from 1983 to 1987 he was Principal Private Secretary to the Attorney-General of Western Australia. During 1991 and 1992, Mr Smith was Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Australia and Senior Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer of Australia, Paul Keating.

Mr Smith has been the Federal Member for Perth since March 1993. In his first Parliamentary term he was Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Corporations and Securities and a member of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Banking, Finance and Public Administration. During 1996 and 1997, Mr Smith also served as a member of the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

Prior to his appointment as Foreign Minister, Mr Smith held a range of Shadow Ministerial positions including Shadow Minister for Trade, Shadow Minister for Resources and Energy, Shadow Minister for Communications,Shadow Minister for Health, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations.

From December 2006 until the federal election in November 2007, Mr Smith was the Shadow Minister for Education and Training.