Andrew Wallace

Andrew Bruce Wallace (born 23 April 1968)[1] is an Australian politician who served as the 31st Speaker of the House of Representatives from November 2021 to April 2022. He is a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland and has been a member of the House of Representatives since the 2016 federal election, representing the Division of Fisher.

For the Scottish-American mathematician, see Andrew H. Wallace.

Andrew Wallace
MP
31st Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives
In office
23 November 2021 (2021-11-23) – 26 July 2022 (2022-07-26)
DeputyLlew O'Brien
Preceded byTony Smith
Succeeded byMilton Dick
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Fisher
Assumed office
2 July 2016 (2016-07-02)
Preceded byMal Brough
Personal details
Born (1968-04-23) 23 April 1968
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Political partyLiberal National Party of Queensland
Alma materQueensland University of Technology
ProfessionBuilder
Barrister

Early life

Wallace was born in Melbourne.[1] At the age of 19, he entered a Pallottine monastery in Victoria. He was asked to leave after less than a year when it was judged that he would not be able to fulfil his monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.[2] Dismissed by the rector, he was told, "there's many ways you can serve God, you don't have to be a priest."[2]

His mother organised his apprenticeship as a carpenter, and Wallace eventually started his own building business.[3][2] Wallace qualified as a barrister in 2000 after studying law at the Queensland University of Technology, subsequently practising in construction law for 16 years prior to his election to parliament.[2]

Politics

Wallace was elected to parliament at the 2016 federal election, succeeding Mal Brough as the Liberal National Party member for the Division of Fisher.[4] He has chaired the standing committees on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities; Social Policy and Legal Affairs; and Corporations and Financial Services.[1]

Wallace was a member of the Speaker's panel since September 2019.[1] Following the resignation of Tony Smith as Speaker of the House of Representatives on 23 November 2021, Wallace was elected as the new Speaker by the House of Representatives 70 votes to 59 against Labor Party member and Second Deputy Speaker Rob Mitchell.[5][6] Like his predecessor, Wallace said he would maintain the practice of not sitting in the Liberal Party room while he holds the Speaker position. On the first sitting day of the 47th parliament, Wallace was re-nominated to the speakership. He received 56 votes and was defeated by ALP nominee Milton Dick, who received 96 votes.

Political positions

Wallace is reported to be a member of the centre-right faction of the Liberal National Party.[7]

Wallace was initially opposed to same-sex marriage on religious grounds, but later spoke in favour of the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017. He cited his daughter's coming out and his "legal background" as influential in his change of mind.[8]

In February 2021, Wallace said that Australian banks should create a voluntary code of conduct barring the use of credit cards for online gambling.[9] He has advocated for tougher regulations on big-tech companies to prevent cyber-bullying, as well as restricting children's access to online gambling and pornography platforms through compulsory third-party identification checks.[10][11][12]

Personal life

Wallace has four daughters with his wife Leonie. The couple are practising Catholics who "go to church every Sunday."[8] His youngest daughter lives with a disability, as she was born with a segment missing from her chromosome 16.[2]

References
  1. "Mr Andrew Wallace MP". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  2. Beech, Alexandra (4 May 2017). "Keeping the faith: Andrew Wallace on the priesthood, carpentry and same-sex marriage". ABC News. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  3. Alex, ABC News; Beech, ra (21 April 2017). "Backbench MP Andrew Wallace is a father, former carpenter and former barrister". ABC News. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  4. "Fisher - Australia Votes". Election 2016. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  5. "Andrew Wallace becomes new Speaker, taking on the 'difficult task' of replacing well-respected MP Tony Smith". ABC News. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  6. "Qld MP Wallace elected House Speaker". The West Australian. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  7. Massola, James. "Who's who in the Liberals' left, right and centre factions?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  8. Borys, Stephanie (5 December 2017). "Same-sex marriage: Liberal MP Andrew Wallace 'shocked' by daughter's gay relationship". ABC News. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  9. Jacques, Owen (17 February 2021). "Online gambling lobby says 'no problem' with punting on credit as MP calls for crackdown". ABC News. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  10. "Federal Government affirms support for age-verification measure". FamilyVoice Australia. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  11. "Action needed to stem 'tide of abuse and family violence driven by pornogaphy'". The Sunshine Valley Gazette. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  12. "New Speaker Andrew Wallace". Rowan Ramsey MP. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
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