2 - 3 September 2010

Sheraton Perth Hotel, WA

Hon Stephen Smith MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Australian Government

Stephen was born in Narrogin in Western Australia and moved to Perth in 1966 where he completed his education, obtaining a law degree from the University of Western Australia in 1977. He practised as a solicitor in Perth before completing a Masters in Law at the University of London in 1982. In 1983, he became principal private secretary to the Attorney General of Western Australia. From 1987 to 1990, he was WA State Secretary of the ALP.
Stephen was special adviser to Prime Minister Paul Keating and was elected as the Member for Perth in 1993. During his first term he was chair of the Caucus Industry Committee and the Parliamentary Committee on Corporation and Securities. He has been a member of the shadow ministerial team since the 1996 election as Shadow Minister for Trade, Shadow Minister for Resources and Energy and Shadow Minister for Communications.

Stephen was Shadow Health Minister until 18 June 2003. Stephen was reinstated to the Shadow Ministry as the Shadow Minister for Immigration on 8 December 2003.

With the election of the Rudd Labor Government, Stephen was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.