Greg Combet | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Minister for Industry and Innovation | |
| In office 14 December 2011 – 26 June 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | Julia Gillard |
| Preceded by | Kim Carr |
| Succeeded by | Kim Carr |
| Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency | |
| In office 14 September 2010 – 26 June 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | Julia Gillard |
| Preceded by | Penny Wong |
| Succeeded by | Mark Butler |
| Minister for Defence Materiel and Science | |
| In office 9 June 2009 – 14 September 2010 | |
| Prime Minister | Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard |
| Preceded by | Warren Snowdon |
| Succeeded by | Jason Clare |
| Member of theAustralian Parliament forCharlton | |
| In office 24 November 2007 – 5 August 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Kelly Hoare |
| Succeeded by | Pat Conroy |
| 7thSecretary of the ACTU | |
| In office October 1999 – June 2007 | |
| President | Jennie George Sharan Burrow |
| Preceded by | Bill Kelty |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Lawrence |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gregory Ivan Combet (1958-04-28)28 April 1958 (age 67) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Party | Australian Labor Party |
| Children | 1 daughter, 2 stepdaughters, 2 stepsons |
| Alma mater | University of New South Wales University of Sydney |
| Profession | Trade unionist, politician, company director |
Gregory Ivan CombetAO (/ˈkɒmbeɪ/; born 28 April 1958) is the chairman of Australia's sovereign wealth fund, the Future Fund. Prior to this he served as chair of the Australian Government Net Zero Economy Agency, establishing a government authority to oversee the economic transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy and net zero emissions.
Combet was for many years an Australian labour movement leader. He is a former Labor politician and Cabinet Minister, former leader of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, former leader of profit-to-member superannuation funds and chair of investment manager IFM Investors.
Combet holds degrees in Mining Engineering and Economics, has a graduate diploma in Labour Relations and the Law, and has been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of South Australia, the University of Newcastle, and an honorary doctorate of engineering from the University of New South Wales.
He was elected member for the New South Wales Federal seat ofCharlton for theAustralian Labor Party at the2007 election and was immediately appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement in theFirst Rudd Ministry on 3 December 2007.
Over the ensuing six years Combet was appointed to numerous Ministerial roles. These included responsibilities in the Climate Change, Defence and Industry portfolios. Combet was the Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation in the Gillard Government and in this role successfully negotiated and legislated a carbon pricing scheme that reduced Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.[1]
Combet announced his resignation from the ministry on 26 June 2013[2][3] followingJulia Gillard's defeat in aleadership ballot.
He retired from politics at the 2013 election.[4]
Following his retirement from Parliament Combet worked as a company director and consultant. In 2020, Combet was appointed to theNational COVID-19 Coordination Commission to "provide strategic and policy advice" for the Morrison Coalition government.[5]
Greg Combet was born in Sydney and attended Eastern Creek Primary school, thenRooty Hill High School from years 7 to 10.[6] He completed his secondary education atBaulkham Hills High School.[6] He was later educated at theUniversity of New South Wales where he studied mining engineering,[7] and then graduated from theUniversity of Sydney with aBachelor of Economics, and a Graduate Diploma in Labour Relations and the Law. He was a project officer for theNew South Wales Tenants' Union, before working for theLidcombe Workers' Health Centre. In 1987, he was employed by the Waterside Workers' Federation, now part of theMaritime Union of Australia.
 | This section of abiography of a living persondoes notinclude anyreferences or sources. Please help by addingreliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourcedmust be removed immediately, especially if potentiallylibelous or harmful.(February 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Combet's association with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) began in 1993 when he became a Senior Industrial Officer. In 1996 he was elected Assistant Secretary and in 1999 following the retirement ofBill Kelty, he became Secretary. Over his time at the ACTU, Combet has co-ordinated many union campaigns, and rose to prominence during the1998 Australian waterfront dispute. Combet led successful campaigns to secure entitlements and compensation for the staff of the collapsed airlineAnsett Australia, and in 2004 led the fight forasbestos victims of theJames Hardie company. The asbestos compensation fund established at that time has paid out in excess $2 billion to victims over the ensuing 20 years. Combet cites the asbestos compensation fund in his autobiography as an especially proud achievement. In his capacity as Secretary of the ACTU, Combet led the Rights at Work campaign against theHoward government'sWorkChoicesindustrial relations law changes.
On 4 May 2007 Combet announced his intention to run for the safe Labor seat of Charlton inNewcastle, New South Wales.[8]
On 14 June 2007Jeff Lawrence, National Secretary of theLiquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) was elected unopposed as the next Secretary of the ACTU to succeed Combet.[9]
Combet was elected as the new member for Charlton on 24 November 2007 as part of the ALP's victory in the2007 Australian federal election, achieving a two party preferred swing of 4.47 per cent, winning 62.87 per cent of the two party vote.[10] Following the election, Prime MinisterKevin Rudd appointed Combet as Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement in theFirst Rudd Ministry. He was sworn in on 3 December 2007.[11] In February 2009, Combet was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change, with a focus on emissions trading, to assist Climate Change Minister SenatorPenny Wong.
6 June 2009 Combet became Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science and Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change. Combet's portfolio was amended into April 2010 to Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and Minister for Defence Materiel and Science[12] and to help him focus on the Government'senergy efficiency programs, he axed part of this scheme—Home Insulation Program (HIP) in late April due to the safety risks and the blow-out in funding.[13][14]
Combet was re-elected to Charlton at the2010 federal election, suffering a post-redistribution two party swing of 0.24 per cent, winning 62.67 per cent of the two party vote.[15] After Labor was returned to government in this election, Combet entered Cabinet, succeeding Wong as Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Following the passage of the government's Clean Energy Bill, the portfolio of Industry and Innovation was added to Combet's responsibilities.
Combet had decided to step down over health concerns prior to Prime Minister Gillard's defeat in aleadership spill on 26 June 2013, but brought this decision forward and announced he would step down as minister and not contest his seat in the upcoming election.[2][3][16] The seat of Charlton was subsequently won for the ALP by Combet's former advisor and chief-of-staffPat Conroy.[17]
Since leaving parliament, Combet has worked as a consultant to unions, governments and business and as a company director. Combet worked primarily with industry superannuation funds from 2013 to 2024 and in December 2018 became chair ofIndustry Super Australia and Chair ofIFM Investors, a global asset management business owned by the industry superannuation funds.
In 2020, in response to theCOVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Combet was appointed to "provide strategic and policy advice" for the Liberal Morrison government.[18] In this role he helped create the JobKeeper program that sustained millions of people during the pandemic.
Combet, writing inThe Guardian in late‑2021, describes Australia's failed climate policies and argues that a sensibleenergy transition is indeed possible. In 2023 he was appointed by Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, to chair the Net Zero Economy Agency to oversee the transformation of the economy to net zero emissions.[19]
Combet was appointedchairman of theFuture Fund in February 2024.[20] The Future Fund is the largest financial asset of the Australian Government.
On 12 June 2006, Combet was appointed a Member of theOrder of Australia for service to industrial relations and through advocacy for the improved health and safety of workers, including people affected by asbestos-related diseases, and to the community.[21] He was promoted to Officer of the Order of Australia in the2024 King's Birthday Honours.[22]
Combet is separated from his second wife and in 2012 began a relationship withABC-TV newsreaderJuanita Phillips, who he lives with on theNorthern Beaches.[23][24]
Combet is the son of a winemaker and grew up on the Penfolds Minchinbury Estate in western Sydney. He is well known for breedingGouldian finches.
In 2014, Combet published his autobiographyThe Fights of My Life.[25]
In the 2007 ABC-TV seriesBastard Boys, dramatising the1998 Australian waterfront dispute, in which Combet was heavily involved, the role of Combet was played byDaniel Frederiksen.
| Parliament of Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forCharlton 2007–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister for Defence Materiel and Science 2009–2010 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Energy and Climate Change 2010–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Industry and Innovation 2011–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Trade union offices | ||
| Preceded by | Secretary of theAustralian Council of Trade Unions 1999–2007 | Succeeded by |
