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Arthur Sinodinos

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The Honourable
Arthur Sinodinos
AO
Sinodinos in 2020
22ndAmbassador of Australia to
the United States
In office
7 February 2020 – 20 March 2023
Prime MinisterScott Morrison
Anthony Albanese
Preceded byJoe Hockey
Succeeded byKevin Rudd
Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
In office
24 January 2017 – 20 December 2017
Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull
Preceded byGreg Hunt
Succeeded byKaren Andrews
Cabinet Secretary
In office
21 September 2015 – 24 January 2017
Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull
Preceded byAlan Griffin
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Assistant Treasurer of Australia
In office
18 September 2013 – 19 December 2014
Prime MinisterTony Abbott
Preceded byDavid Bradbury
Succeeded byJosh Frydenberg
SenatorforNew South Wales
In office
13 October 2011 – 11 November 2019
Preceded byHelen Coonan
Succeeded byJim Molan
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister
In office
1 September 1997 – 3 December 2007
Prime MinisterJohn Howard
Preceded byGrahame Morris
Succeeded byDavid Epstein
Personal details
Born(1957-02-25)25 February 1957(age 67)
Newcastle,New South Wales
Political partyLiberal
ResidenceRose Bay
Alma materUniversity of Newcastle
ProfessionEconomist,investment bankerand politician

Arthur SinodinosAO(/ˌsɪnəˈdiːnəs/SIN-ə-DEE-nəs;[1]born 25 February 1957) is an Australian diplomat and formerLiberal Partypolitician who was theAmbassador to the United Statesbetween February 2020 and March 2023. He served asChief of Staffto Prime MinisterJohn Howardfrom 1997 to 2007 and was aSenatorforNew South Walesfrom 2011 to 2019, becoming a minister in theAbbottandTurnbull governments.

Sinodinos was born inNewcastle, New South Wales,and attended theUniversity of Newcastle.For many years he was a public servant until becoming a political adviser. In 1997 he was appointed Chief of Staff to John Howard. After Howard's defeat at the2007 election,Sinodinos spent time working for bothGoldman Sachsand theNational Australia Bank,before being appointed to fill a vacant seat in theSenatein 2011. After the Liberal victory at the2013 election,newly-elected Prime MinisterTony Abbottappointed SinodinosAssistant Treasurer.Sinodinos later stepped aside from his ministerial duties in 2014 during an investigation by theNew South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption(ICAC).[2][3][4]In September 2015, afterMalcolm Turnbull's appointment as Prime Minister, Sinodinos was appointedCabinet Secretary.He was later madeMinister for Industry, Innovation and Sciencein January 2017.[5]He resigned from the Government in December 2017, due to receiving treatment for cancer. In May 2019, Prime MinisterScott Morrisonannounced that Sinodinos would become Ambassador to the United States.

Background and early career[edit]

Sinodinos was born inNewcastle, New South Wales,to Greek immigrant parents.[6]His father was a member of the left-alignedSeaman's Unionthat, during Sinodinos' early years, was campaigning against the United States intervention inVietnam.His mother recalled stories of theGreek Civil Warof the 1940s whereCommunistinsurgents would knock on the door of their family home at night. Sinodinos has said that this helped him form his early political views.[7]

Sinodinos graduated from theUniversity of Newcastlein 1979 with aBachelor of Commercewith Honours. He then entered theAustralian Public Serviceas a graduate recruit, working within theDepartment of Finance,before working in theDepartment of the Treasurybetween 1980 and 1987 and again between 1989 and 1995.[6]

He was theChief of Staffto then Prime MinisterJohn Howardfrom 1997 to 2006, after serving with him previously from 1987 to 1989 when he was Opposition Leader and rejoining him in 1995.[8]As a close confidant of the Prime Minister, he was regarded as one of the most powerful people in the country.[9]

Corporate career[edit]

Sinodinos left his position as thePrime Minister's Chief of Staffto become a director with the investment bankGoldman SachsJBWere,[10]and a regional general manager at theNational Australia Bank;he reportedly declined an offer to becomeAustralian Ambassador to the United States.[4]In 2008, he was part of a panel that mediated public input into theDefenceWhite Paper.[11]In March 2009, he was appointed a managing director at the National Australia Bank.[12]

Sinodinos became a director of Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd (AWH) in 2008 and chairman in 2010. He resigned from these positions on becoming a senator.[13][14]

Political career[edit]

See also:Abbott governmentandTurnbull government

Sinodinos was appointed to fill the vacant New South Wales Senate seat opened by the resignation ofHelen Coonanon 13 October 2011.[15]He served as honorary Finance Director (2009 to 2011) and President (2011–2012) for the NSW branch of the Liberal Party. Initially touted as a candidate for thelower houseseat ofBradfield,[16]Sinodinos was appointed to the Australian Senate representing New South Wales, replacing the resigned Liberal SenatorHelen Coonanfor the remainder of her term, which was due to expire on 30 June 2014.[6][17]At the2013 electionhe was elected to a further six-year term from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2020. Howard was present in Parliament when Sinodinos delivered hismaiden speech.[18]

Sinodinos is a member of the board ofGlobal Panel Foundation– Australasia, a non-governmental organisation.[19]

During 2012 Sinodinos was a regular columnist, writing inThe Australian.[20]

On 19 March 2014, Sinodinos stood aside from his role as Assistant Treasurer prior to giving evidence as a witness beforeNew South Wales'sIndependent Commission Against Corruption(ICAC). During the enquiry Sinodinos advised he was unaware of a $74,000 donation made to the Liberal Party by Australian Water Holdings, despite being Deputy chairman on a $200,000 salary. At the time of the payment Sinodinos was also Treasurer of the Liberal Party.[21]He formally resigned on 19 December 2014 as Assistant Treasurer and was succeeded as Assistant Treasurer byJosh Frydenberg.[22][23]ICAC eventually made no adverse findings against Sinodinos.[24]

In January 2017,Sussan Leytemporarily stood aside as the Minister for Health and Aged Care and Minister for Sport and then subsequently resigned from the ministry. Sinodinos briefly acted in her portfolios until asubsequent rearrangement of the Turnbull ministrywhere Sinodinos was appointed as the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science.[5]In October 2017, Sinodinos took leave from parliament and the ministry to aid his recovery from an unnamed type of cancer. He "believes the prognosis is very positive and that the cancer is eminently treatable".[25]This was later revealed to be a stage fournon-Hodgkin lymphoma,for which Sinodinos required a bone marrow transplant.[26][27]He was voluntarily removed from cabinet in theDecember 2017 rearrangement.[28]

On 1 May 2023,The Asia Groupannounced that Sinodinos will chair the organization's new Australia practice.[29]

Ambassador to the United States[edit]

In May 2019, it was announced that Sinodinos would be appointed the nextAustralian Ambassador to the United States.[30]He resigned as a member of theSenateon 11 November 2019.[31]He replacedJoe Hockeyas ambassador on 7 February 2020.[32]

Honours[edit]

Sinodinos was appointed an Officer of theOrder of Australiain 2008 for service to politics through the executive function of government, to the development of economic policy and reform, and to the Greek community.[33][34]

Personal[edit]

Sinodinos lives in New South Wales with his wife, whom he met at aGreek Orthodox Church,and their three children.[7]He has been a director of theMary MacKillopFoundation.[35]

References[edit]

  1. ^Shapiro, Ari(host) (14 December 2023)."The tough economics of getting hard-to-find minerals for electric vehicle batteries".All Things Considered.NPR.Retrieved24 March2024.
  2. ^"Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry".The Sydney Morning Herald.AAP. 16 September 2013.Retrieved16 September2013.
  3. ^"Arthur Sinodinos quits frontbench, but ICAC scrutiny set to continue".The Sydney Morning Herald.20 March 2014.Retrieved20 March2014.
  4. ^abWright, Tony (19 December 2014)."Arthur Sinodinos resigns as Assistant Treasurer: tragedy wrapped in mystery".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved19 December2014.
  5. ^ab"New federal ministers officially sworn in".Sky News.Australia.AAP.24 January 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 2 February 2017.Retrieved24 January2017.
  6. ^abc"Biography for SINODINOS, Arthur".Parliament of Australia. 2011.
  7. ^abSinodinos, Arthur (28 November 2011)."Senator Arthur Sinodinos interview".Sunday Profile(transcript and streaming audio). Interviewed byJulia Baird.Australia:ABC Local Radio.Archived fromthe originalon 12 January 2015.Retrieved7 June2012.
  8. ^"PM'S chief of staff resigns".news.au.8 December 2006.
  9. ^Kirk, Alexandra (2 October 2003)."Backroom politics with the PM's Chief of Staff".PM (ABC Radio).Australia.
  10. ^Meterell, Mark (8 December 2006)."PM's top gun quits for bank".The Sydney Morning Herald.
  11. ^"Top Howard aide signs with Labor".The Sydney Morning Herald.18 March 2008.
  12. ^"Profile of Arthur Sinodinos".Celebrity Speakers. Archived fromthe originalon 29 July 2011.
  13. ^"Australian Water Holdings: what you need to know".The Sydney Morning Herald.Archived fromthe originalon 24 March 2014.Retrieved20 March2014.
  14. ^McClymont, Kate; Swan, Jonathan; Whitbourn, Michaela (22 March 2014)."Arthur Sinodinos: The man least likely".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved19 December2014.
  15. ^"Arthur Sinodinos profile".Parliament of Australia.
  16. ^Priestley, Andrew (16 June 2009)."Bradfield-ing the question: will Arthur Sinodinos be the next MP for Bradfield?".North Shore times.Retrieved13 March2012.
  17. ^"Howard adviser to claim Coonan's seat in Senate".The Age.Australia. 26 August 2011.Retrieved11 September2011.
  18. ^"Howard flinches during Sinodinos maiden speech".ABC News.Australia. 23 November 2011.Retrieved13 March2012.
  19. ^"Board of Directors—Global Panel".Archived fromthe originalon 20 September 2012.Retrieved18 June2016.
  20. ^"Opinion: Arthur Sinodinos".The Australian.2012.Retrieved7 June2012.
  21. ^Jabour, Bridie (3 April 2014)."Arthur Sinodinos denies knowledge of $74,000 AWH donation to NSW Libs".The Guardian.Retrieved20 September2015.
  22. ^"Tony Abbott's revamped Ministry sworn in at Government House".news.au.News Corp Australia.23 December 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 14 September 2015.Retrieved23 December2014.
  23. ^Coch, Lukas (23 December 2014)."Sussan Ley sworn in".ABC News.Australia.Retrieved23 December2014.
  24. ^"Sinodinos cleared in corruption report".SBS.Retrieved4 March2021.
  25. ^"Cabinet minister Arthur Sinodinos reveals private fight with cancer".The Sydney Morning Herald.5 October 2017.
  26. ^"Liberal senator back after cancer battle".SBS News.Retrieved7 November2020.
  27. ^"Senator Arthur Sinodinos is back after battle with cancer".Neos Kosmos. 11 February 2019.Retrieved24 March2019.
  28. ^Turnbull, Malcolm(19 December 2017)."Ministerial Arrangements"(Press release).Government of Australia.Archived fromthe originalon 13 March 2018.Retrieved3 February2018.Senator Arthur Sinodinos wrote to me this week to tell me his medical treatment is taking longer than anticipated and he is unlikely to be able to return from leave until the middle of next year. In those circumstances, he has asked that he not be included in this new ministry. Senator Sinodinos is one of this generation's most accomplished and experienced public servants and his contributions to the Cabinet have been sorely missed since his illness was first diagnosed. Naturally, we wish him well in his recovery and I look forward to him regaining full health and returning to a senior Ministerial or other government role in the future.
  29. ^Oprysko, Caitlin (1 May 2023)."Grassley chief, Schumer aide head downtown".Politico.Retrieved4 May2023.
  30. ^Knott, Bevan Shields, Matthew (26 May 2019)."Arthur Sinodinos to be appointed US ambassador".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved29 May2019.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  31. ^"I have just received a letter of resignation from Arthur Sinodinos @A_Sinodinos as a senator for NSW. The resignation takes effect immediately".Scott Ryan (President of the Senate).Twitter. 11 November 2019.
  32. ^"Greg Norman, Tony Abbott fly to US for Joe Hockey's farewell".9News. 18 January 2020.Retrieved21 January2020.
  33. ^"Search Australian Honours: SINODINOS, Arthur".It's an honour.Commonwealth of Australia. 9 June 2008.Retrieved7 June2012.
  34. ^Coorey, Phillip (10 June 2008)."High honours for Howard and his right-hand man".The Sydney Morning Herald.
  35. ^"Board of Directors: Arthur Sinodinos AO".Mary MacKillop Foundation. 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 20 March 2012.Retrieved13 March2012.

External links[edit]

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Senator for New South Wales
2011–2019 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Assistant Treasurer of Australia
2013–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Cabinet Secretary
2015–2017 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
2017 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Australian Ambassador to the United States
2020–2023 		Succeeded by
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