Amanda Vanstone
Amanda Vanstone | |
|---|---|
| Born | Amanda Eloise O'Brien December 7, 1952 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, Diplomat, Political journalist |
| Years active | 1984–2007 (politics), 2013–present (journalism) |
| Known for | Liberal Senator for South Australia (1984–2007); Minister for Immigration; Ambassador to Italy; ABC Radio National presenter |
Amanda Eloise Vanstone (born Amanda Eloise O'Brien on 7 December 1952) is a former Australian politician and diplomat. Representing South Australia, she was a Liberal Senator from 1984 until 2007 and held various ministerial roles within the Howard government. After stepping down from the Senate in 2007, Vanstone was appointed as Australia's Ambassador to Italy, a position she held until July 2010. Her period as Minister for Immigration was marked by considerable challenges within the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.
Early life
Born in Adelaide, South Australia, on 7 December 1952, Vanstone was the youngest among four siblings. Following the early passing of both her father and stepfather, she was raised in a household led by women and attended St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School. She pursued higher education at the University of Adelaide, obtaining degrees in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law, complemented by a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and a Marketing Studies Certificate from the South Australian Institute of Technology (presently known as the University of South Australia). In the late 1980s, she married Tony Vanstone, a commercial lawyer based in Adelaide. Prior to entering politics, her professional background included retail work, ownership of a print and picture framing business, and legal practice.
Political career
At 31 years old, Vanstone was elected in December 1984 as South Australia's youngest representative in the Australian Senate for the Liberal Party of Australia. Between 1987 and 1996, she intermittently served in the Opposition Shadow Ministry, holding positions such as Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for Justice from 1994 to 1996.
She played a key role in introducing televised coverage of parliamentary sessions in May 1990. Upon John Howard's appointment as Prime Minister in March 1996, Vanstone entered Cabinet as Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs, where she oversaw major reductions to employment initiatives established by the preceding government. In October 1997, she assumed the role of Minister for Justice, which later expanded to include Customs responsibilities.
Vanstone rejoined Cabinet in January 2001 as Minister for Family and Community Services while also serving as Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Status of Women. In this capacity, she administered Australia's social security systems including Centrelink, defending contentious welfare reforms despite criticism from advocacy groups and opposition members.
In October 2003, she was appointed Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs along with Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Reconciliation. One of her significant actions was dismantling the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), a decision that garnered widespread support though debate persisted over its successor arrangements.
Her ministerial tenure encountered controversies such as wrongful detention and deportation incidents involving Cornelia Rau and Vivian Alvarez Solon. An official inquiry censured her department’s management of these cases. Additionally, Vanstone faced examination over granting a visa to Francesco Madafferi, who Italian authorities associated with the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta crime group known in Australia as the Honoured Society. Although Madafferi’s visa approval cited health reasons, concerns arose due to political donations linked to his affiliates.
In January 2006, responsibility for Indigenous Affairs transferred to Mal Brough, resulting in Vanstone’s title changing to Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. She exited Cabinet during an election-year reshuffle in January 2007.
In July 2006, Vanstone attracted criticism for holding shares in Wasley’s Piggery amid animal welfare allegations; however, investigations concluded no enforceable violations occurred.
February 2007 saw her release lyrics to an "Ode to Australia" titled Under Southern Stars. On 26 April that year, Vanstone resigned from political office to explore new ventures; subsequently, she was appointed Ambassador to Italy.
Following her political career, Vanstone joined the board of the Port Adelaide Football Club in October 2012. She also became a guest presenter before taking on a full-time presenter role on ABC Radio National’s Counterpoint program. Between 2013 and 2014, she contributed to the Abbott government’s National Commission of Audit tasked with enhancing Australia's fiscal management.
Currently, she serves as chairperson of Vision 20/20 Australia.
Political views
Vanstone, who previously served as a Liberal Party politician, has worked as a political journalist at the ABC since 2013, where she presents the Counterpoint show. During the 2015 Liberal leadership contest, she backed Malcolm Turnbull over Tony Abbott, contributing to Turnbull's rise to Prime Minister. Vanstone describes her political stance as "liberal" rather than aligning with "conservative" ideology.
As an influential figure within the Liberal Party's moderate wing, she played a mentorship role for emerging moderates, notably including South Australian politician Christopher Pyne.
External links
- , 4 February 2007, News.com.au, AAP
- , Enough Rope with Andrew Denton (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 24 May 2004.