Georgina Downer Explained

Birth Name:Georgina Mary Beatrice Downer[1]
Birth Date:29 September 1979
Birth Place:Brussels
Nationality:Australian
Occupation:Lawyer
Known For:Member of the Downer family, political candidate
Spouse:Will Heath
Children:2
Father:Alexander Downer
Mother:Nicky Downer

Georgina Mary Beatrice Downer (born 29 September 1979 in Brussels, Belgium)[2] is an Australian political figure and Director of the Robert Menzies Institute. She has unsuccessfully contested several elections, and is a lawyer and former diplomat.[3] [4] [5] [6]

Early life and education

Downer was born in Brussels in 1979 to Nicky and Alexander Downer. Her father, later leader of the opposition, was based in Belgium as a diplomat. Nicky had been a journalist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).[7] [8] She is a member of the Downer political family, with several family members active in political life.[9]

After graduating from Seymour College in 1997, Downer moved from Adelaide to study law at the University of Melbourne.[10] [11] In 2005, Downer won a Chevening Scholarship to study at the London School of Economics, where she graduated with a master's degree.[12] [13] [14] [15]

Working life

Downer joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a graduate trainee in 2007, later spending four years in Japan. Working at the Australian Embassy, she reached the position of second secretary.[14] [11] [16]

Politics

In 2015, Downer was linked in the media to the Senate seat vacated by Michael Ronaldson; and as a possible replacement for Kevin Andrews in the seat of Menzies. In 2016, she was mooted as a possible replacement for Bruce Billson in the seat of Dunkley.[17] [18] [19]

Downer contested the Liberal pre-selection for the seat of Goldstein in 2016, but was defeated by Tim Wilson.[20] [21] [22]

She was the endorsed Liberal candidate for the seat of Mayo in the Australian House of Representatives in the 2018 by-election and in the 2019 general election, but both times was unsuccessful.[23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] Her promotion of the funding of a sports grant while a candidate, instead of the current member for the seat, Rebekha Sharkie, was a key initiating factor in the public coverage of the sports rorts affair of 2020.[29] [30] Downer returned to Melbourne shortly after her 2019 defeat.

Personal life

Downer married Will Heath, a lawyer with King & Wood Mallesons, in 2009. The couple had met at university in 2000. They have two children.[28] [31] [32]

Electoral history

Federal

Election yearElectoratePartyVotesFP%2PP%Result
2018MayoLiberal33,21937.44% 0.3242.47% 2.56
201942,42637.65% 1.0344.86% 2.22

Notes and References

  1. Book: Downer, Alick . Alick Downer

    . The Downers of South Australia . Alick Downer . vii . 2012 . 2 May 2021 . 978-1-74305-199-3.

  2. News: Family Notices . . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 3 October 1979 . 9 April 2020 . 28 . Trove .
  3. News: Renato. Castello. Ashleigh. Pisani . 14 . 19 May 2019 . Australia Decides 2019 - Curtain falls on Downer dynasty . Sunday Mail.
  4. Web site: 2018 Mayo by-election . ABC News . July 2018 Federal By-elections . Antony . Green . Antony Green . 16 August 2018 . 2 May 2021.
  5. News: 6 November 2019 . Downer to sever ties with state . The Advertiser. 13.
  6. News: Starick . Paul . 25 May 2019 . Two failed shots at Mayo, now for Game of Thrones, family and deadlifting . The Advertiser. 31.
  7. News: Georgina Downer: Dyed in the wool Tory from the age of 6. Tom. McIlroy. 17 May 2018. Australian Financial Review. en. 8 April 2020.
  8. News: Jean . Peter . 18 July 2018 . Howard warns of Sharkie vote 'risk' . The Advertiser.
  9. News: 2021-11-21 . Why some children of famous people succeed while others 'fall from grace' . en-AU . ABC News . 2022-04-29.
  10. News: 7 January 1998 . A perfect Downer . Herald Sun. 12.
  11. News: 7 November 2016 . Adelaide to Tokyo no Downer for Georgina . The Advertiser. 21.
  12. News: 11 August 2005 . Up for Downer . Financial Times.
  13. News: Maynard . Roger . 11 August 2005 . Scholarship for minister's daughter causes uproar . The Times. 34.
  14. News: Wallace . Rick . 30 March 2015 . Downer dynasty set for another go . The Australian.
  15. News: Burke . Nicolette . 10 August 2005 . Downer defends grant . The Age. 2.
  16. News: 1 March 2007 . Leg-up for a Downer . The Sydney Morning Herald. 24.
  17. News: Hudson . Phillip . 19 December 2015 . Retiring Lib senator opens way for women . The Weekend Australian. 4.
  18. News: van Onselen . Peter . 12 March 2016 . Diminishing sparkle of the jewel in the Liberals' crown . The Weekend Australian.
  19. News: 19 February 2016 . Fight's on for seats . Herald Sun. 8.
  20. News: Coorey . Philip . 12 February 2016 . Downer scion leads race for Robb's seat . Australian Financial Review. 6.
  21. News: Aston . Joe. Glasgow. Will. 17 February 2016 . Kennett backs Downer in Goldstein seat . Australian Financial Review.
  22. News: 2016-03-19 . Tim Wilson, former Human Rights Commissioner, wins Liberal preselection in seat of Goldstein . en-AU . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Australian Associated Press. 2021-05-14.
  23. News: Smith . Matt . 30 July 2018 . Bullying claims as Mayo battle ends on a Downer . The Advertiser. 5.
  24. News: Wright . Tony . 14 July 2018 . Sharks circling for a homecoming queen . The Age. 22.
  25. News: Wright . Tony . 2018-07-28 . Downer slams 'abuse and hatred' aimed at aspiring politician daughter . en . The Sydney Morning Herald . 2021-05-14.
  26. News: 28 January 2017 . Downer's savouring Mayo . The Advertiser. 35.
  27. News: Liberal candidate Georgina Downer to return to Victoria after twice failing to win SA seat of Mayo. ABC radio, Adelaide. 6 November 2019. ABC News. en-AU. 8 April 2020.
  28. Web site: Georgina Downer gives up on Mayo, returns to Victoria . . 5 February 2021 . David . Penberthy . 6 November 2019 . subscription .
  29. News: Remeikis. Amy. From novelty cheque to full-blown scandal: a timeline of the sports rorts saga. 12 March 2020. The Guardian. 8 April 2020. Karp. Paul. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  30. News: MacLennan . Leah . 2019-05-16 . Is a high profile a help or a hindrance for candidates in an election? . en-AU . ABC News . 2021-05-14.
  31. News: Black . Elisa . 26 April 2009 . Downer daughter's delight . Sunday Mail.
  32. News: Devlin . Rebekah . 25 April 2009 . Geese in on act . The Advertiser. 28.

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