Alexander Downer

The Honourable Alexander John Gosse Downer, MP (born September 9, 1951), Australian politician, became Foreign Minister of Australia in March 1996.

Related Topics:
September 9 - 1951 - Australia - Foreign Minister of Australia - 1996

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Downer was born in Adelaide, South Australia, into one of the state's oldest families (irreverently known as Old Adelaide Families or OAFs). His father, Sir Alexander "Alec" Downer, was a member of the Australian Parliament 1949-1964 and later High Commissioner in London. His grandfather, Sir John Downer, was a Senator in the first federal Parliament in 1901. His mother, Lady Downer (née Mary Gosse), is descended from early immigrants to South Australia.

Related Topics:
Adelaide - South Australia - Sir Alexander "Alec" Downer - 1949 - 1964 - High Commissioner - London - John Downer - 1901

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Downer was educated at Geelong Grammar School, Radley College and at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in Britain. His absence from Australia precluded him from the possibility of military conscription to which other Australians of his age group were subject. He entered the Australian Diplomatic Service, where he served until 1982. He then worked as an advisor to the Liberal Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser. In 1984 he was elected to the federal Parliament as Liberal member for Mayo, in the suburbs of Adelaide.

Related Topics:
Geelong Grammar School - Radley College - University of Newcastle upon Tyne - Britain - 1982 - Liberal - Malcolm Fraser - 1984 - Mayo

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The Liberals were in opposition fron 1983 to 1996, and Downer held a number of positions on the Opposition front bench from 1987 onwards.

Related Topics:
1983 - 1996 - 1987

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Downer's family background and his Cultivated Australian English accent — rare in public life by the 1990s and regarded as sounding "snobby", "patronising" and/or "aloof" — have always made him vulnerable to political attacks which exploit anti-elitist sentiment. For example, Labor MP Mick Young, also a South Australian, once said: "Downer's gamekeeper's house is bigger than The Lodge" (the latter being the Prime Minister's residence).

Related Topics:
Cultivated Australian English - Mick Young - Gamekeeper - The Lodge

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However, he was an effective debater, and in 1993 he became Shadow Treasurer (Opposition finance spokesperson). When the Liberals unexpectedly lost the 1993 elections to Paul Keating, Downer began to be talked of as a possible leader, and in May 1994 he was elected Leader of the Opposition after the resignation of Dr John Hewson.

Related Topics:
1993 - Paul Keating - 1994 - Dr John Hewson

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As Liberal leader, Downer struggled against Labor's parliamentary and media tactics. He never shook off Keating's jibe that he was "the idiot son of the aristocracy". Downer also made a series of tactical errors which Labor ruthlessly exploited. The worst of these was his joke in a speech at a formal dinner, in which he was promoting the Liberal party slogan The Things That Matter. Downer referred to wife-bashing husbands as "the things that batter". Opinion polls began to show that the Liberals were going backwards under his leadership. In January 1995 he resigned as Leader, and John Howard was elected to replace him. With a tenure of just over eight months, Downer is to date the shortest-serving leader of the federal Liberal Party.

Related Topics:
1995 - John Howard

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When Howard won the March 1996 elections, he made Downer Minister for Foreign Affairs. After a shaky start, Downer performed effectively in the role. He was greatly helped by the changed international situation after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, which caused a majority of Australians to support the Howard Government's policy of close alliance with the US. Downer's major recent challenge has been handling relations with Australia's most important neighbour, Indonesia. On 20 December, 2004, Downer became the longest serving Foreign Minister of Australia.

Related Topics:
1996 - September 11 terrorist attacks - United States - Indonesia - 20 December - 2004

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