Biography

Kevin Andrews was elected to the Australian Commonwealth Parliament as the member for the Victorian seat of Menzies at a by-election in 1991. He was re-elected in 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, and 2010.

Since his election, Kevin has served on numerous Parliamentary Committees, including the Joint Select Committee on Family Law Issues, the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties and the Joint Select Committee on Intelligence Services. He has also served as Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Chairman of the Federal Government’s Policy Committee on Family and Community Services and Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Economics Committee. Kevin has also served as Shadow Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training (1993-1994).

Kevin’s Ministerial appointments included: Minister for Ageing (2001-2003), Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service (2003-2007) and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2007).

Following the defeat of the Howard Government, Kevin was appointed as Chairman of the Coalition’s Federalism Taskforce. He was subsequently appointed Chairman of the Coalition Policy Review and Coalition Policy Coordination Committee in 2008 and held that position until December 2009.

Kevin is the Leader of the Opposition’s delegate to the Australian Political Exchange Council.

Kevin is currently the Shadow Minister for Families, Housing and Human Services.

Raised in country Victoria, Kevin studied law and arts at Melbourne University, where he lived at Newman College, before completing a Master of Laws at Monash. Before his election to parliament, Kevin was an Associate to Sir James Gobbo before practicing law at the Victorian Bar. He was named Australian Young Lawyer of the Year for his community work in establishing a legal scheme for disaster victims, and for publishing a book for seniors about the law.

An avid cyclist, Kevin is married with five children.