About the Minister
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy was appointed Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Productivity in September 2010. He is also Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Stephen has a broad range of portfolio responsibilities, not least the National Broadband Network, the largest nation-building infrastructure project in Australian history, and the enabling foundation for our digital economy. Other responsibilities include Australia’s digital television switchover, our national broadcasters the ABC and SBS, media policy, community broadcasting, e-security and cyber-safety, radiofrequency spectrum and Australia Post, among other things. Digital Productivity is an exciting new addition to his portfolio responsibilities.
Passionate about media and communications and about engaging with industry to foster innovation and growth, Stephen has had active involvement in the communications portfolio for ten years - first as Senate representative for shadow communications spokesman Lindsay Tanner and then as shadow communications minister until the November 2007 federal election. Stephen was reappointed Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy after the August 2010 federal election.
Stephen was appointed as a Senator for Victoria for the Australian Labor Party in 1996. Previously he was an industrial officer and superannuation officer for the Transport Workers Union Victorian Branch from 1992 to 1996, a ministerial adviser to Victoria’s Minister for Industry from 1990 to 1992 and an assistant adviser to the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1988 to 1990.
From 1986 to 1987, Stephen was an electorate officer for the Federal Member for Canberra, consultant to the Minister for Science and Minister assisting the Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce and electorate officer for the Minister for Home Affairs. He worked for the Metal Trades Industry Association from 1984 to 1986.
