Hon Bill Shorten MP
Thursday July 22, 2010
Topic: The Future of Disability in Australia
In 2007, Bill Shorten was elected as member for the Federal seat of Maribyrnong and appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services. In February 2009, the Prime Minister gave him the additional responsibility of Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction.

Prior to the 2007 election, Mr Shorten was National Secretary of the Australian Workers' Union, the union he joined as an organiser in 1994. He has also been President of the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party.

Mr Shorten has been a strong advocate for the rights of people with disability and for improving services and employment opportunities for them. He is involved in the development of the Federal Government's National Disability Strategy and the National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy.

Mr Shorten has a Law degree as well as a Master of Business Administration, and has sat on two superannuation boards