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{{Infobox officeholder | name = Bruce Atkinson
: ''This article is about the politician. For the poker player, see ].''
| honorific-prefix = ]
| honorific-suffix = ]
| image = Bruce Atkinson.jpg
| constituency = ]
| assembly =
| office = Member of the ] for ]
| term_start = 3 October 1992
| term_end = 26 November 2022
| predecessor =
| office1 = ]
| term_start1 = 21 December 2010
| term_end1 = 19 December 2018
| predecessor1 = ]
| successor1 = ]
| majority =
| birth_name = Bruce Norman Atkinson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|05|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = ], ], Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = ]
| spouse =
| children = 3
| residence =
| university =
| profession =
| religion =
| signature =
| footnotes =
⚫ | website =
}}


'''Bruce Norman Atkinson''' (born ], ]) is an ]n politician. He has been a ] member of the ] since October ], representing Koonung Province. He is currently the party's spokesperson for small business, sport and recreation. '''Bruce Norman Atkinson''' (born 15 May 1953) is a former Australian politician. He was a ] member of the ] since October 1992, representing ] from 1992 to 2006 and ] from 2006 to 2022. He was the ] from 2010 to 2018.


==Personal affairs==
Atkinson was born in ], and attended Mitcham High School. He undertook a cadetship with the Leader group of newspapers after graduating, and worked as a journalist for a period. However, he soon made a move into the business world, first into small business, and later into several more prominent operations, including a stint managing a shopping centre. He has also been a writer for the Foodweek and Inside Retailing publications since ], and operates his own business consultancy firm, The Atkinson Group. Atkinson was born in ], Australia, and attended ]. He undertook a cadetship with the Leader group of newspapers after graduating, and worked as a journalist for a period. However, he soon made a move into the business world, first into small business, and later into several more prominent operations, including a stint managing a shopping centre. He has also been a writer for the Foodweek and Inside Retailing publications since 1981, and operates his own business consultancy firm, The Atkinson Group.<ref name=pbio>{{cite web| title= Bruce Atkinson |publisher= ] | url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/id/57 | accessdate= 2 January 2011}}</ref>


==Political career==
However, it was through local government that Atkinson made a name for himself in the political arena. He was elected to the City of Nunawading (now part of the ]) in ], and served as a councillor for seventeen years. This also included two terms as mayor in ]-] and ]-].


=== Local Politics ===
In the leadup to the ] election, Atkinson succeeded in winning Liberal pre-selection for the moderately safe Liberal seat of Koonung Province. He was ultimately elected, and soon nominated for the Family and Community Development Committee, which he served on from ] to ]. In ], he was promoted to his first ministerial position, as Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Local Government by then-Premier ]. However, he was forced to resign from this position in ], when conflict-of-interest allegations emerged over Atkinson's continuing work as a private consultant.
He was elected to the ] city council in 1975, and served as a councillor there for 17 years. This included two terms as mayor in 1981–1982 and 1990–1991.<ref name="pbio" />


=== State Politics ===
In the aftermath of Atkinson's forced resignation, he spent four years on the backbenches, neither serving in any ministerial portfolios or any committees. However, when the party's devastating defeat at the ] election (after first losing government three years earlier) wiped out a significant portion of the shadow ministry, the party was suddenly forced to reconsider Atkinson as a ministerial prospect. When the Liberal Party regrouped after the election, Atkinson was appointed as the party's spokesperson for small business. He also began serving on the House and Economic Development Committees, and was appointed as the Deputy Chair of the latter. In January ], Atkinson also picked up the added portfolio of sport and recreation.
In the lead-up to the ], Atkinson won ] pre-selection for the moderately safe upper house seat of Koonung Province. He was elected, and served on the Family and Community Development Committee from 1992 to 1996. In 1996, he was promoted to ministry in the ], as Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Local Government.<ref name="pbio" />


Atkinson subsequently spent four years on the backbenches, during which time he did not serve on any committees. {{Citation needed|date=April 2020}} After a significant loss of the shadow ministry following the ] defeat at the ], Atkinson was appointed as the party's spokesperson for small business. {{Citation needed|date=April 2020}} He was also appointed to serve on the Housing and Economic Development Committees, and was Deputy Chair of the latter.
Atkinson caused some controversy in December ], when he publicly voiced support for legalising the sale of X-rated movies in ]. He tabled a 5000-signature petition in favour of the move that had been collected at the ] exhibition, and suggested that he would move a ] in an attempt to see this realised. While this saw loud support from groups such as the ], it received a fiery response from the ]. Atkinson's comments surprised many, due to his status as a member of the conservative Liberal Party.


In January 2004 he was appointed spokesman for sport and recreation. In December 2006 he was elected Deputy President of the Legislative Council and relinquished his shadow ministry positions. In 2009 he was appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Business Development.<ref name="pbio" /> Following the Coalition's victory in the ], Atkinson was elected President of Victoria's ].
As a result of reforms to the Legislative Council due to come into effect at the next state election, as with many members of the Legislative Council, Atkinson was forced to contest a difficult pre-selection battle for limited winnable positions in a larger electorate. This initially meant that he would have to battle for these three positions against two incumbent members (] and ]), defeated member and former ] government minister ], and several interested potential newcomers. His bid was assisted by Wilson's decision to withdraw from the race and contest a Legislative Assembly seat and an ongoing drink-driving scandal surrounding Olexander, but he also suffered from the circulation amongst party members of a vicious anonymous dirt sheet making allegations about alleged links between Atkinson and the pornography industry. Despite this, Atkinson ultimately emerged successful, taking the easily winnable second position on the ticket behind Dalla-Riva, meaning that he will most likely retain his seat in ].


Atkinson was reappointed to the role of Legislative Council President in December 2014, defeating ] nominee ].<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224031208/http://www.skynews.com.au/news/politics/national/2014/12/23/new-vic-parliament-sits-first-day.html |date=24 December 2014 }}</ref> In 2019, media reported that Atkinson was an honorary member of a foreign influence organization known as the World Trade United Foundation, which has ties to the ] of the ]. In response, Atkinson claimed that he derived no financial benefit from the organization and that his title was solely honorific in nature.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Oakes |first1=Dan |last2=Hui |first2=Echo |last3=Curnow |first3=Sarah |title=Liberal MP Gladys Liu's ties to Chinese Government influence network revealed |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-14/liberal-gladys-liu-linked-to-secretive-chinese-influence-network/11288210 |accessdate=14 August 2019 |work=ABC News |date=14 August 2019 |language=en-AU}}</ref> In May 2019, Atkinson became vice chairman of a water technology company that is linked to World Trade United Foundation.<ref name=":0" />
⚫ ==External link==
⚫ *


On 9 June 2022, Atkinson announced that he would not be contesting the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=I have advised Matthew Guy, Robert Clark, Peter Clarke and my Parliamentary colleagues that I will not be nominating for preselection for the 2022 state election. |url=https://www.facebook.com/bruceatkinsonvic/posts/pfbid02vVjZa4VnxUpRcTbxL4WRmCnaTDfmyrAF4Z9x2MBBesDRGZGtor7jes8zVCvepfJtl?__cft__=AZXkBoFqJDQ4BY_DMT8_pjLhUrajvo0ZKpIvcGv16RCaTvKaMHHmiml60ggXG-UpVK5xWqtyGG2XouTe2-MeSRetVaYh__CBJTPvveSHvVVgm765NPQhceODttDmpY6cAvYRfPyB5tCeeXHUEQHB7s7Dw9Bts7fLpKKHkr1t2JHWgRqvZCm2dlkXa66Pt63cpLs&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R |website=Facebook |publisher=Bruce Atkinson MP |access-date=21 June 2022}}</ref>
⚫ ]

⚫ ]
==References==
⚫ ]
{{Reflist}}
⚫ ]

⚫ ==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.bruceatkinson.com.au/}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkinson, Bruce}}
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Latest revision as of 12:44, 22 December 2024

Australian politician (born 1953)

The HonourableBruce AtkinsonMLC
Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Eastern Metropolitan Region
In office
3 October 1992 – 26 November 2022
ConstituencyEastern Metropolitan Region
President of the Victorian Legislative Council
In office
21 December 2010 – 19 December 2018
Preceded byBob Smith
Succeeded byShaun Leane
Personal details
BornBruce Norman Atkinson
(1953-05-15) 15 May 1953 (age 71)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Political partyLiberal Party
Children3
Websitebruceatkinson.com.au

Bruce Norman Atkinson (born 15 May 1953) is a former Australian politician. He was a Liberal member of the Victorian Legislative Council since October 1992, representing Koonung Province from 1992 to 2006 and Eastern Metropolitan Region from 2006 to 2022. He was the President of the Legislative Council from 2010 to 2018.

Personal affairs

Atkinson was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and attended Mitcham High School. He undertook a cadetship with the Leader group of newspapers after graduating, and worked as a journalist for a period. However, he soon made a move into the business world, first into small business, and later into several more prominent operations, including a stint managing a shopping centre. He has also been a writer for the Foodweek and Inside Retailing publications since 1981, and operates his own business consultancy firm, The Atkinson Group.

Political career

Local Politics

He was elected to the Nunawading city council in 1975, and served as a councillor there for 17 years. This included two terms as mayor in 1981–1982 and 1990–1991.

State Politics

In the lead-up to the 1992 state election, Atkinson won Liberal Party pre-selection for the moderately safe upper house seat of Koonung Province. He was elected, and served on the Family and Community Development Committee from 1992 to 1996. In 1996, he was promoted to ministry in the Kennett Government, as Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Local Government.

Atkinson subsequently spent four years on the backbenches, during which time he did not serve on any committees. After a significant loss of the shadow ministry following the Liberal Party's defeat at the 2002 state election, Atkinson was appointed as the party's spokesperson for small business. He was also appointed to serve on the Housing and Economic Development Committees, and was Deputy Chair of the latter.

In January 2004 he was appointed spokesman for sport and recreation. In December 2006 he was elected Deputy President of the Legislative Council and relinquished his shadow ministry positions. In 2009 he was appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Business Development. Following the Coalition's victory in the 2010 state elections, Atkinson was elected President of Victoria's Legislative Council.

Atkinson was reappointed to the role of Legislative Council President in December 2014, defeating Labor nominee Gayle Tierney. In 2019, media reported that Atkinson was an honorary member of a foreign influence organization known as the World Trade United Foundation, which has ties to the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party. In response, Atkinson claimed that he derived no financial benefit from the organization and that his title was solely honorific in nature. In May 2019, Atkinson became vice chairman of a water technology company that is linked to World Trade United Foundation.

On 9 June 2022, Atkinson announced that he would not be contesting the 2022 Victorian state election.

References

  1. ^ "Bruce Atkinson". Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  2. New Vic. Parliament sits first day Archived 24 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Oakes, Dan; Hui, Echo; Curnow, Sarah (14 August 2019). "Liberal MP Gladys Liu's ties to Chinese Government influence network revealed". ABC News. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  4. "I have advised Matthew Guy, Robert Clark, Peter Clarke and my Parliamentary colleagues that I will not be nominating for preselection for the 2022 state election". Facebook. Bruce Atkinson MP. Retrieved 21 June 2022.

External links

Victorian Legislative Council
Preceded byBob Smith President of the Victorian Legislative Council
2010–2018 		Succeeded byShaun Leane
Categories: