James Benjamin Kingsley Newbury (born 13 May 1978)[1] is an Australian politician. He has been a Liberal Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since November 2018, representing the seat of Brighton. Newbury is the currently the Shadow Minister for Planning, Environment and Climate Change, Equality, and the Manager of Opposition Business.[2]
James Newbury | |
|---|---|
_b.jpg) Newbury in 2019 | |
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Brighton | |
| Assumed office 24 November 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Louise Asher |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Benjamin Kingsley Newbury 13 May 1978 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal |
Early life
editNewbury grew up in Malvern East, and his grandfather, Dr Charles Renton Newbury, was President of the World Dental Federation and a recipient of a CBE.[3]
Newbury joined the Liberal Party in 1999.[2]
Career
editNewbury was a Liberal staffer in Canberra and Melbourne before his election, and holds three degrees.[4]
Newbury's university degrees include a Juris Doctor (Post Graduate Level Law Degree), a Master of Business (Law), and a Bachelor of Business (Law).[2]
In the Liberal Party Newbury worked as a Senior Adviser to the Victorian Premier Denis Napthine, a Parliamentary Adviser to the Hon Christopher Pyne, a Parliamentary Adviser to the Hon Joe Hockey; and worked for a number of other Parliamentarians including Senator Richard Alston, the Hon Tony Abbott, and Senator Mitch Fifield.[2]
Between December 2018 and September 2021, Newbury held the positions of Shadow Assistant Minister for Wastewatch and Shadow Assistant Minister for Freedom of Information.[2]
Between March 2021 and September 2021, Newbury held the position of Shadow Assistant Minister for Scrutiny of Government.[2]
Between September 2021 and February 2022, Newbury held the position of Shadow Assistant Treasurer, Shadow Minister for Economic Development, Shadow Minister for Scrutiny of Government and Shadow Minister for Government Services and Public Sector Integrity.[2]
Between September 2021 and December 2022, Newbury held the positions of Shadow Minister for Equality, Shadow Minister for Bay Protection, Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change and Shadow Special Minister of State.[2]
In the Shadow Cabinet reshuffle by incoming leader John Pesutto in December 2022, Newbury retained the portfolios of Equality and Environment and Climate Change but was also elevated to the leadership team as Manager of Opposition Business.[2]
Politics
editNewbury was a backer of Michael Kroger to be the president of the Liberal Party in Victoria. He also was a close ally of Marcus Bastiaan, who claimed to control a large portion of the administrative committee.[5][6] This group generally aimed to install conservative politicians, or have moderates toe a more conservative line.[7] Newbury is considered a moderate who has "sought to return the party to its centre."[8]
Newbury won preselection for the district of Brighton in 2016,[9] receiving support from prominent outgoing MP Louise Asher who described Newbury as "one of the most outstanding individuals with whom I have had the pleasure to work" in a reference letter.[10]
This was the cause of some disappointment in the Liberal ranks, as it would lead to a reduction in their female representation. Newbury's victory came with allegations of branch stacking.[11]
Newbury won the seat in an electoral landslide for the Labor Party but suffered an 8.7% swing against him, and was in danger of losing the previously safe Liberal seat to a relatively unheard of 19 year old who had only joined the Labor party two months prior and whose entire electoral campaign budget was $1750.[12][7]
He was criticised during the campaign for campaigning to close a homeless shelter in his electorate.[13]
2022 Victorian State Election
editNewbury defeated former Bayside Council Mayor, Felicity Frederico to retain Liberal Party preselection for the 2022 Victorian state election and then defeated Labor’s Louise Crawford and Frederico, who ran as an independent at that election.[14][15]
Newbury has expressed deep concern in the leadership of Victorian Liberal Party President Greg Mirabella, joining former Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy in condemning Mirabella’s conduct during and after the 2022 Victorian State Election.
The Age newspaper reported that Newbury had spoken at a meeting of the Liberal Party’s Administrative Committee, slamming Mirabella’s proposed one-man review of the election, saying he believed private reviews “would not be founded in truth, and feared it could be hijacked by self-serving politics and factionalism”.[16]
Political positions
editAbortion
editNewbury is a supporter of abortion rights, who criticised a Liberal Party colleague in May 2022, calling his anti-abortion views "deeply disturbing and dangerous".[17] He also stated that governments should not "legislate control over a woman's body".[18]
COVID-19 lockdowns
editNewbury was a vocal critic of the Victorian lockdowns.
Newbury received considerable backlash for sharing a photo on social media that showed a girl's self-harm. He linked the post to the COVID-19 lockdown and the strain on mental health. Due to the significant backlash, Newbury removed the post from Twitter two hours after he posted it.[19]
Crime and law enforcement
editNewbury has raised the issue of crime on numerous occasions.
In May 2021, Newbury stated that a local park had faced issues of “rape, sexual assault and violent attacks”. He later raised the issue with the then Deputy Premier James Merlino[20]
Newbury gained more attention for his allegations that Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews had engaged in "victim blaming" in his response to concerns raised by celebrity Bec Judd. Newbury went on to describe the response from Premier Andrews as "a deeply disturbing way for a Premier to respond to a woman’s concern about her safety.”[21]
Newbury has backed the idea that police should be able to racially profile people that they question, and to store that information for future reference.[22]
Duck hunting
editNewbury has been an outspoken critic of duck hunting, and called for the practice to be stopped in his maiden speech.[23][24]
In his maiden speech Newbury said "though hunters are required to carry out ducks killed, hundreds of birds, including endangered species supposedly protected from being shot, are found dead during the season."[23]
Environment and climate change
editIn July 2022, Newbury announced a plan to halve emissions by 2030 and legislate the reduction target. He said the plan proved the "Victorian Liberals and Nationals are serious about climate change and have a sensible plan to achieve net-zero based on real solutions, not ideology".[25]
Newbury has also been a leading opposition voice against culls to Victoria's feral brumby population, pledging to stop the eradication, if elected.[26]
Health
editIn his role on the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC), Newbury accused the then health minister Martin Foley of having blood on his hands, following 21 deaths linked to long ambulance waiting times.[27]
Housing
editIn 2024, Newbury opposed a proposal to overhaul planning rules for Melbourne to allow taller buildings and increased housing density near train and tram stations in Melbourne.[28] Newbury held a sign that said, "Bayside don’t want 20 storey apartments Jacinta" when Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan announced the planning change.[28]
LGBTQ affairs
editNewbury is a prominent advocate for the LGBTQ community within the Victorian Liberal Party, in his capacity as Shadow Minister for Equality.[29] He has backed positions including, maintaining Victoria's strict anti-conversion therapy laws,[30] funding LGBTQ community radio[31] and providing a "dedicated professional legal support service" to LGBTQ Victorians.[29]
Newbury drew media attention when he gave an "iron clad guarantee" that the Victorian Liberals would not amend new laws banning gay conversion therapy.[30][32] Newbury's views angered more conservative elements, including "hard-right Liberal backbencher" Bernie Finn[33] now a member of Family First.[34] and Nationals leader Peter Walsh, who was recorded using foul language about Newbury in a Coalition partyroom meeting in which Walsh stated that the Nationals did not support Newbury's stance on the conversion therapy ban.[35]
References
edit- ^ Who's Who in Australia. ConnectWeb. 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Member Profile - Mr James Newbury". parliament.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "James Newbury, Member for Brighton | Liberal Victoria". vic.liberal.org.au. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony (2018). "Brighton". Victorian State Election 2018. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ Baker, Richard Willingham, Nick McKenzie, Richard (17 February 2017). "Victorian Liberals: factional fight exposes deep divisions". The Age. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Will Michael Kroger sink or save the Victorian Liberal Party?". Australian Financial Review. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Kroger's high-profile Liberal presidency ends in collapse". Crikey. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ "Lost in suburbia: Victorian Liberals search for a base". The Guardian. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ Langdon, Mathew (3 December 2016). "Former Napthine government staffer James Newbury wins preselection in Brighton". Herald Sun.
- ^ Tomazin, Farrah (15 October 2016). "Gloves off in the Liberal Party as preselection battle for Brighton erupts". The Age. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ Tomazin, Farrah (3 December 2016). "Matthew Guy's bid for more Liberal women dealt a blow in Brighton preselection". The Age. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ "'Dearie me': The 19-year-old who almost had to ditch his gap year to be an MP". 25 November 2018.
- ^ Wahlquist, Calla (4 July 2018). "Almost 400 people sleeping rough in Melbourne each night, survey finds | Homelessness | The Guardian". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ "Former Liberal hopeful Felicity Frederico to run as independent in marginal Victorian seat". The Guardian. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "Brighton (Key Seat) - VIC Electorate, Candidates, Results". abc.net.au. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ Ilanbey, Sumeyya (17 February 2023). "Matthew Guy launches blistering attack on 'embarrassing' state election post-mortem". The Age. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ Clarke, Mitch (6 May 2022). "Liberal MP 'praying' Victoria moves towards banning abortion rights". Herald Sun.
- ^ Godde, Callum (6 May 2022). "Vic MP draws Libs ire over abortion post". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Liberal MP slammed for sharing graphic images of self-harm on social media". The Feed. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
- ^ "'Horrific crimes': Melbourne residents' plea after string of violent attacks at local parks". 7NEWS. 28 March 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ Hales, Holly (30 May 2022). "'Problem with women': Shock claim in Dan and Bec Judd clash". News.com.au.
- ^ "Lib candidate promotes racial profiling, which does have one upside". Crikey. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ a b "'A modern Liberal Party must speak out': New MP takes aim at duck hunting". www.abc.net.au. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ "Hunting opposition". Shepparton News. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ Eddie, Rachel (16 July 2022). "Emissions reduction target for opposition 'serious about climate change'". The Age. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ Hunt, Peter (8 June 2022). "Victoria's Coalition pledges to rehome brumbies if elected". The Weekly Times.
- ^ Cosoleto, Callum Godde and Tara (20 May 2022). "Ambulance waits led to 21 Victoria deaths". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Protests break out as Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan unveils plan to fast-track high rises amid local outrage". news.com.au. 2024.
- ^ a b Gordon, Josh (5 February 2022). "State Liberals woo rainbow vote". The Age. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ a b Ilanbey, Sumeyya (30 September 2021). "'You can't pray away the gay': Libs give 'iron-clad guarantee' not to amend laws banning gay conversion therapy". The Age. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ Tom (2 July 2022). "James Newbury Shadow minister for equality commits to JOY94.9 funding". Saturday Magazine. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Victorian Liberals promise to uphold conversion practices legislation". OUTInPerth | LGBTQIA+ News and Culture. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ Sakkal, Sumeyya Ilanbey, Paul (20 October 2021). "Coalition's Zoom chat turns nasty as gay conversion stoush explodes". The Age. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Juanola, Marta Pascual (2 June 2022). "Bernie Finn to lead DLP into the Victorian state election". The Age. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh says he would not support Liberal MP James Newbury's new position on the gay conversion therapy law". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 12 May 2023.