Keith Wolahan Explained

Keith Wolahan
Party:Liberal
Otherparty:Coalition
Birth Name:Keith Wolahan
Birth Date:30 September 1977
Birth Place:Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
Spouse:Sarah Weinberg
Children:2
Alma Mater:University of Melbourne
Monash University
University of Cambridge
Website:https://www.keithwolahan.com.au/
Honorific-Suffix:MP
Constituency Mp:Menzies
Parliament:Australian
Term Start:21 May 2022
Predecessor:Kevin Andrews
Allegiance: Australia
Branch:
    Serviceyears:1996–2014
    Rank:Captain
    Commands:1st Commando Regiment
    Battles:
    Mawards:Commendation for Distinguished Service

    Keith Wolahan (born 30 September 1977) is an Australian politician. He is a member of the Liberal Party and has served in the House of Representatives since the 2022 federal election, representing the seat of Menzies. Prior to entering politics he was an Australian Army officer, serving three tours of Afghanistan as a commando officer, and also practiced as a commercial barrister for twelve years.[1] [2]

    Early life

    Family background

    Wolahan was born in Dublin, Ireland, migrating to Australia with his parents and two brothers in 1988. [3] He became an Australian citizen in 1993. He was educated at local public schools, including Ringwood Secondary College where he was elected School Captain. He worked part-time at McDonald's in Eastland, Ringwood.[4]

    Education and legal career

    Wolahan studied at the University of Melbourne where he graduated with Bachelor degrees in Arts (Politics) and Commerce (Economics). [3] He continued studying at Monash University, completing a Bachelor of Law (Honours). He was awarded the Sir Charles Lowe Moot Prize.[5]

    Wolahan began his career in law with the national firm, Mallesons Stephen Jacques where he specialised in mergers and acquisitions.[6] In 2010 he became a barrister, specialising in commercial and consumer trials.[7] Some of Wolahan's clients included multinational resource company, Glencore, as well as individuals accused of war related crimes. [8]

    In 2013, Wolahan graduated from University of Cambridge with a master's degree in International Relations.

    Military service

    Wolahan joined the military to "give back" to Australia.[9] He began his service at University, eventually joining 2 Commando Company, 1st Commando Regiment.[10] Wolahan was promoted to Captain in 2004 and saw several periods of active service, including four postings overseas with 2 Commando:

    Wolahan lost two friends in the War in Afghanistan: Marcus Case and Greg Sher.[13] He joined two other Afghanistan veterans in the 47th Parliament of Australia: Andrew Hastie and Phillip Thompson.

    Political career

    Preselection

    Wolahan defeated the sitting member Kevin Andrews in a preselection contest, 181 votes to 111.[14] [15] Andrews entered the contest with written endorsements from then Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.[16] It was the first time a sitting Victorian Liberal MP had been ousted by their members in more than 20 years.[17]

    2022 election

    The 2022 federal election saw a 6% swing against the Liberals in Menzies.[18] One of the contributing factors was a large swing in suburbs with higher proportions of Chinese ancestry, including Box Hill and Doncaster.[18]

    47th Parliament

    Wolahan is a member of the House Economics and Joint Standing National Anti-Corruption Commission Committees.[19]

    Views

    Wolahan has rejected suggestions he is a member of the moderate or conservative factions of the Liberal Party.[20] He has been reported to be aligned to a Centrist group in the party room, along with the majority of Victorian Liberals.[21]

    Same-sex marriage

    Wolahan stated that he voted "yes" in the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite.[22]

    Home ownership

    Wolahan has cited plummeting home ownership rates amongst young Australians as one of his party's top political and societal challenges.[23]

    Indigenous Voice to Parliament

    In a speech given to the Samuel Griffith Society in 2017, Wolahan expressed his opposition to a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament, and called instead for "minimalist" reforms that "removes race from the Constitution".[24] He criticised Australian banks donating heavily to the Yes23 campaign in October 2023.[25]

    Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

    When asked about his views on the war in Iraq, Wolahan said that, with the benefit of hindsight, the invasion by the United States-led coalition was a "mistake". In response to allegations of war crimes by Australian special forces in Afghanistan, Wolahan has urged "truth telling over myth making."[12]

    Protests in Iran

    Wolahan has given several speeches in support of the protests that began in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, citing pride in his electorate having the largest Iranian diaspora in Australia.[26]

    Robodebt

    In a widely reported speech to parliament, Wolahan was highly critical of the scheme, noting: "As someone who's a Liberal and believes in the sanctity of the individual, due process and the presumption of innocence, it offended all of those, … it was illiberal, it reversed the onus, and it hurt people."[27]

    China

    In 2022 he said that the Liberal Party's disagreements "are with the Chinese regime, not the Chinese people" and that the Liberal Party needed to improve it's grassroots multicultural engagement. [28]

    Personal life

    Wolahan is married to his wife Sarah and has two children, Leo and Eva. He and Sarah were married at Heide Museum of Modern Art.[29]

    Honours and awards

    Awarded in 2011 Australia Day Honours for service in Afghanistan.
    With clasp for East Timor
    Operation SLIPPER
    With clasp for CT/SR (Counter Terrorism / Special Recovery)
    With clasp ISAF
    Awarded to Task Force 66 in the 2015 Australia Day Honours
    (East Timor)

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Harris . Benjamin Preiss, Rob . 2020-03-14 . Battle for Liberal hearts and minds in Menzies . 2022-10-12 . The Age . en.
    2. Web site: Tongol . Robyn . 2022-04-08 . Meet the barrister standing for the Liberals in Menzies . 2022-10-12 . www.lawyersweekly.com.au . en-gb.
    3. Web site: Meet Keith . 2022-03-16 . www.keithwolahan.com.au.
    4. Web site: Keith Wolahan MP, Federal Member for Menzies . Keithwolahan.com.au . 2022-06-09 . 2022-08-05.
    5. Web site: 2002 Prize Winners . 2022-10-13 . Faculty of Law . en.
    6. Web site: Menzies - Federal Electorate, Candidates, Results . 2022-10-12 . abc.net.au . en-AU.
    7. Web site: 2021-07-18 . Keith Wolahan . 2022-03-16 . Liberal Party of Australia . en-au.
    8. Web site: Fredenburgh . Cat . 2022-01-28 . Court finds Viterra engaged in deceit during $420M Joe White sale . 2022-10-13 . Lawyerly . en-US.
    9. Web site: Life on the Line: #109 Keith Wolahan on Apple Podcasts . 2022-10-12 . Apple Podcasts . en-AU.
    10. Web site: Napier-Raman . Noel Towell, Kishor . 2022-09-12 . Queen's man Abbott in a league on his own . 2022-10-12 . The Age . en.
    11. Web site: 2021-02-05 . Liberals' new star was shaped by an endless war . 2022-10-12 . Australian Financial Review . en.
    12. Web site: Bannister . Maeve . 2022-09-05 . Liberal MP urges truth on Afghanistan war . 2022-10-12 . The Canberra Times . en-AU.
    13. Web site: Crowe . David . 2022-09-05 . The dress that spoke louder than words . 2022-10-13 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
    14. Web site: Ilanbey . Paul Sakkal, Sumeyya . 2021-01-31 . Kevin Andrews toppled in preselection battle for Menzies . 2022-10-12 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
    15. Web site: Sakkal . Paul . 2021-02-05 . How an ex-special forces captain beat 'the hacks' to win the battle for Menzies . 2022-10-12 . The Age . en.
    16. Web site: Ferguson . Richard . 1 February 2021 . Liberal stalwart Kevin Andrews loses Menzies preselection to Keith Wolahan . 13 October 2022 . The Australian.
    17. News: 2021-02-01 . Keith Wolahan, the ex-commando who unseated Liberal Party stalwart Kevin Andrews, insists he's 'not a moderate' . en-AU . ABC News . 2022-03-16.
    18. Web site: AEC Tallyroom . 2022-05-28 . Australian Electoral Commission . en-AU.
    19. News: Mr Keith Wolahan MP . Parliament of Australia . Canberra . Parliament of Australia . 2023-03-24 . 2023-03-24 .
    20. Web site: Harris . Rob . 2021-02-01 . Kevin Andrews' replacement to prioritise economics, not social issues . 2022-05-28 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
    21. News: Massola . James . How Morrison's shattering defeat gave Dutton a seismic shift in factional power . The Sydney Morning Herald . Nine Entertainment Co. Volant Media UK Ltd . 2023-04-09 . 2023-04-10 .
    22. News: Harris . Rob . Kevin Andrews' replacement to prioritise economics, not social issues . The Sydney Morning Herald . The Sydney Morning Herald . 2021-02-01 . 2023-04-10 .
    23. News: Booker . Tarric . House price vs. income exposes a brutal reality for Millennials . News.com.au . news.com.au . 2022-12-04 . 2023-03-26 .
    24. Web site: Keith Wolahan at the 29th Conference of the Samuel Griffith Society . YouTube . Samuel Griffith Society . 30 June 2022.
    25. Web site: Evans . Jack . October 19, 2023 . 'Not a conspiracy': Federal MP shares personal bank nightmare as he warns of a digital identity transition . 8 May 2024 . News.com.au.
    26. News: Australian MP Expresses Solidarity With Iranian Protesters . Iran International . Washington D.C . Volant Media UK Ltd . 2022-03-11 . 2023-04-10 .
    27. Web site: Liberal backbencher owns what others in his party don't: A spine . 13 August 2023 .
    28. Web site: Galloway . Anthony . 2022-08-13 . Inside the Liberal Party's debate on how to win back Chinese-Australians and teal voters . 2024-05-08 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
    29. Governor-General's Speech - Address-in-Reply. Parliament of Australia. House of Representatives. 2022-09-05. Wolahan, Keith. Member for Menzies. Parliamentary Debates.