Don Farrell

Farrell was born on 6 June 1954 in Murray Bridge, South Australia.{{cite news|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=I0N|title=Senator the Hon Don Farrell|publisher=Parliament of Australia|accessdate=13 August 2022|archive-date=14 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814091117/https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=I0N|url-status=live}} He is the son of Mary Heptinstall and Edward William Farrell.{{cite news|url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/hansards/2008-09-03/0141%22|title=Maiden speech|date=3 September 2008|accessdate=13 August 2022|work=Hansard|publisher=Parliament of Australia|archive-date=26 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626234600/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/hansards/2008-09-03/0141%22|url-status=live}} His father was a member of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) and stood for federal parliament unsuccessfully on six occasions, five times for the seat of Boothby and once for the Senate.{{cite news|url=https://indaily.com.au/news/2014/01/31/rise-fall-don-farrell/|title=The rise and fall of Don Farrell|first=Kevin|last=Naughton|date=31 January 2014|accessdate=13 August 2022|publisher=InDaily|archive-date=25 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425181950/http://indaily.com.au/news/2014/01/31/rise-fall-don-farrell/|url-status=live}}

During his childhood, Farrell lived for periods in Crafers, Forestville, Panorama, and Daw Park. He began his schooling at St Therese's School and completed his secondary education at Blackfriars Priory School. He subsequently completed the degree of Bachelor of Laws at the University of Adelaide. He worked for six years in his uncle's kiosk at Cleland Wildlife Park, and also worked as a mail sorter, council worker and waiter for periods.

Farrell joined the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) as an industrial officer in 1976. He was promoted to assistant secretary in 1980 and became state secretary in 1993, serving until his election to the Senate.

Farrell joined the ALP in 1976 and was elected as a delegate to state conference and state council in the same year. He was a delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference from 1984 and was elected state president of the ALP in 1988. He became a senior figure in the Labor Right faction in South Australia.{{cite web |title=Labor's new-look shadow ministry |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/labor-s-new-look-shadow-ministry/e1629c15-7e65-4aec-aa27-3ee6a1cea0bb |website=SBS News |publisher=Special Broadcasting Service |access-date=31 October 2021 |archive-date=31 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031051029/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/labor-s-new-look-shadow-ministry/e1629c15-7e65-4aec-aa27-3ee6a1cea0bb |url-status=live }}{{cite book|last=Manning|first=Haydon|title=Yes, Premier: Labor Leadership in Australia's States and Territories|year=2005|publisher=UNSW Press|pages=215|isbn=9780868408408|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ur28OAgoL50C&q=don+farrell&pg=PA197}}

Farrell first ran for parliament at the 1988 Adelaide by-election but was unsuccessful. In June 2007, Farrell won preselection for the first position on Labor's Senate ticket in the 2007 election and he was subsequently the first elected senator for South Australia at the general election. His term began on 1 July 2008.

Following the 2010 federal election, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water.{{cite web|title=Second Gillard Ministry |url=http://www.dpmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/ministry_list_20100914.pdf |date=14 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307084522/http://www.dpmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/ministry_list_20100914.pdf |archive-date=7 March 2012 }}{{cite web|title=Administrative Arrangements Order |url=http://www.dpmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/aao_20100914.pdf |publisher=COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA |access-date=14 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926150856/http://www.dpmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/aao_20100914.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2013 |df=dmy }} On 25 March 2013, Farrell was promoted into the Outer Ministry as the Minister for Science and Research and the Minister Assisting on Tourism.{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/full-list-of-changes-to-the-gillard-ministry-20130325-2gp93.html |title=Full list of changes to the Gillard ministry |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=25 March 2013 |access-date=25 March 2013 |archive-date=28 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328035228/http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/full-list-of-changes-to-the-gillard-ministry-20130325-2gp93.html |url-status=live }} On 1 July 2013 as part of the Second Rudd Ministry, Farrell was appointed the Minister for Sport as well as remaining Minister Assisting on Tourism.{{cite news|title=Kevin Rudd's new-look ministry|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-01/kevin-rudds-frontbench/4791002|work=ABC News, 1 July 2013|date=July 2013|access-date=1 July 2013|archive-date=31 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031151618/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-01/kevin-rudds-frontbench/4791002|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dpmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/ministry_list_20130701.pdf |title=Second Rudd Ministry |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |date=1 July 2013 |access-date=5 July 2013 |work=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet }} {{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 2011 Farrell was listed as number six on the top ten political fixers as identified by The Power Index website. Where the article states that South Australian Labor's former deputy leader, Ralph Clarke commented:{{cite web |title=Political fixers, no. 6 |url=http://www.thepowerindex.com.au/political-fixers/don-farrell |publisher=The Power Index |date=13 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917055755/http://www.thepowerindex.com.au/political-fixers/don-farrell |archive-date=17 September 2012 |df=dmy }}

"He controls the pre-selection directly or indirectly of every MP in South Australia. If you want to get on, you get on with Don."

In 2012, he was again selected as the first candidate on Labor's Senate ticket in the 2013 federal election, causing some controversy as he defeated Penny Wong for the leading Senate position. At the time, Wong was a senior minister in the Second Gillard Ministry and a member of the Australian Cabinet. Anthony Albanese accused union powerbrokers of not listening to the electorate and instead focusing on its own ructions. He labelled the move as:{{cite news|last=Wright|first=Jessica|title=Wong senate snub risks factional flare-up|url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/wong-senate-snub-risks-factional-flareup-20121027-28c4d.html#ixzz2AUcZ64sd|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=27 October 2012|access-date=27 October 2012|archive-date=29 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029092847/http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/wong-senate-snub-risks-factional-flareup-20121027-28c4d.html#ixzz2AUcZ64sd|url-status=live}}

"...gross self-indulgent rubbish.... [taken by] ....those who should care more about the party and less about themselves."

"I was concerned that the issue was damaging the Labor Party. ..... I was prepared to do a swap with Penny. This is a case whereby modern Labor can't be seen to be concentrating on our internals at the expense of what is going on out there in the electorate and what is expected."

Farrell was defeated at the 2013 federal election and his term in the Senate ended on 30 June 2014.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-02/labor-godfather-hints-at-political-return/4992810 Labor "Godfather" hints at political return] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031152428/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-02/labor-godfather-hints-at-political-return/4992810 |date=31 October 2016 }}. ABC News Online, 2 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013

In January 2014, it was announced that Michael O'Brien offered Farrell his state seat of Napier, so that Farrell could contest the 2014 South Australian election, representing Labor. Premier Jay Weatherill threatened to resign if Farrell was successfully preselected.{{cite news |url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2014/01/premier-weatherill-tells-891-breakfast-he-will-reconsider-leadership-if-farrell-accepts-preselection.html |title=Premier Weatherill tells 891 Breakfast he will reconsider leadership if Farrell accepts preselection |work=891 ABC Adelaide radio |date=31 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202122511/http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2014/01/premier-weatherill-tells-891-breakfast-he-will-reconsider-leadership-if-farrell-accepts-preselection.html |archive-date=2 February 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-31/farrell-to-run-for-sa-parliament/5229582 |title=Labor in pre-election crisis as Premier Jay Weatherill threatens to resign if Labor Senator Don Farrell is endorsed for state seat |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=31 January 2014 |access-date=30 January 2014 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201010226/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-31/farrell-to-run-for-sa-parliament/5229582 |url-status=live }} A few hours later, Farrell withdrew his nomination.{{cite news |title=Labor Senator Don Farrell withdraws bid to enter SA Parliament |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-31/farrell-withdraws-seat-bid/5230300?section=sa |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=31 January 2014 |access-date=31 January 2014 |archive-date=31 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131130119/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-31/farrell-withdraws-seat-bid/5230300?section=sa |url-status=live }}

In 2016 Farrell was endorsed as a Labor candidate for the Senate in South Australia in the 2016 federal election,{{cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/federal-election-2016/federal-election-2016-don-farrell-wins-no-2-spot-on-senate-list/news-story/5bfc249c86a7b9aaa4a44a327518b8b8 |title=Federal election 2016: Don Farrell wins No 2 spot on Senate list |newspaper=The Australian |date=12 May 2016 |author=Rebecca Puddy |access-date=12 May 2016}} and was subsequently re-elected.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/aug/02/family-firsts-bob-day-edges-labor-out-for-final-south-australian-senate-seat |last=Karp |first=Paul |title=Family First's Bob Day edges Labor out for final South Australian Senate seat |work=Guardian Australia |location=Australia |date=2 August 2016 |access-date=19 August 2016 |archive-date=16 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816032336/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/aug/02/family-firsts-bob-day-edges-labor-out-for-final-south-australian-senate-seat |url-status=live }} He was elected and returned to the Labor frontbench in October 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-godfather-returns-rightwing-powerbroker-don-farrell-back-on-labor-frontbench-20161010-grz8o7.html|title=The Godfather returns: right-wing powerbroker Don Farrell back on Labor frontbench|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=11 October 2016|access-date=1 April 2022|archive-date=1 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401043656/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-godfather-returns-rightwing-powerbroker-don-farrell-back-on-labor-frontbench-20161010-grz8o7.html|url-status=live}}

Farrell opposed same-sex marriage and supported the view of "traditional marriage as being between a man and a woman". He said he would only vote for marriage equality after the 2019 election.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/marriage-equality-alp-bigwig-don-farrell-will-vote-for-change-after-next-election/news-story/7a1e54b50f6fb174904d0a9afb5f6358 |title=Marriage equality: ALP bigwig Don Farrell will vote for change after next election |first=Samantha |last=Maiden |newspaper=The Sunday Telegraph |date=15 October 2016 |access-date=20 October 2016|url-access=subscription}} He had publicly stated that he would vote against marriage equality in the parliament regardless of the results of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-14/same-sex-marriage-if-the-survey-says-yes-how-will-your-mp-vote/9104112|title=How your MP will vote if Australia says Yes to same-sex marriage|date=2017-11-14|work=ABC News|access-date=2017-11-14|language=en-AU|first=Louise|last=Yaxley|archive-date=14 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114053300/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-14/same-sex-marriage-if-the-survey-says-yes-how-will-your-mp-vote/9104112|url-status=live}} When the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 bill was voted in the senate, Farrell abstained from voting.{{Cite Hansard|jurisdiction=Australia|title=SENATE - Hansard|hansard=Record of Proceedings (Hansard)|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansards/fb17f5c8-dd5b-4a18-b1e4-21c1ef048575/toc_pdf/Senate_2017_11_29_5762_Official.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf|house=Australian Senate|date=29 November 2017|page=9181-9193}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205164548/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansards/fb17f5c8-dd5b-4a18-b1e4-21c1ef048575/toc_pdf/Senate_2017_11_29_5762_Official.pdf;fileType=application/pdf |date=5 February 2021 }}

File:Australia & Papua New Guinea Ministerial group photo.jpg

After the ALP's victory at the 2022 federal election, Farrell became the deputy leader of the government in the Senate. He was appointed to cabinet in the Albanese ministry, becoming Special Minister of State and Minister for Trade and Tourism. In the role, Farrell has kept pressure on his China counterparts to lift their trade sanctions against Australian exports, saying, "Things aren’t going to get back to normal until they lift those bans."{{Cite news |last=Karvelas |first=Patricia |date=14 November 2022 |title=ABC Radio National with Patricia Karvelas |url=https://www.trademinister.gov.au/minister/don-farrell/transcript/abc-radio-national-patricia-karvelas |access-date=21 November 2022 |archive-date=21 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121084346/https://www.trademinister.gov.au/minister/don-farrell/transcript/abc-radio-national-patricia-karvelas |url-status=live }}

These efforts appear to have paid off in April 2024, when China lifted its punitive tariffs on Australian wine.{{Cite news |last=Butler |first=Josh |date=2024-03-28 |title=China scraps tariffs on Australian wine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/28/china-scraps-tariffs-on-australian-wine |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} However, Farrell maintained his goal of diversifying trade risk away from China, beginning new free trade agreements with the UK and India.{{Cite web |last=Clun |first=Rachel |date=2022-11-14 |title=UK, India trade deals weeks away while negotiations continue for 'game changer' EU deal |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/uk-india-trade-deals-weeks-away-while-negotiations-continue-for-game-changer-eu-deal-20221114-p5by2o.html |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=21 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121085840/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/uk-india-trade-deals-weeks-away-while-negotiations-continue-for-game-changer-eu-deal-20221114-p5by2o.html |url-status=live }} On New Year's Day 2022, Farrell's free trade agreement with India became active, with tariffs being removed on 85% of Australia's exports to India.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-29 |title=Positive sign for China trade relationship |url=https://www.aap.com.au/uncategorised/positive-sign-for-china-trade-relationship/ |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=Australian Associated Press |language=en}} His goal of securing a free trade agreement with the European Union had eluded him, with the Minister leaving a meeting with his EU counterpart in 2023.{{Cite web |author1=Bruno Mascitelli |author2=Bruce Wilson |date=2024-05-02 |title=Why a European Union FTA with Australia matters |url=https://www.themandarin.com.au/245087-why-a-european-union-fta-with-australia-matters/ |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=The Mandarin |language=en-US}}

In 2014, following the end of his first Senate term, Farrell established Farrell Wines, a vineyard in the Clare Valley.

In December 2021, Farrell caught COVID-19 after attending a wedding in Melbourne.{{cite web|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/coronavirus/senior-labor-figure-latest-to-be-diagnosed-with-covid/news-story/0c49f8eccb4e0c344cc0ff2450e13b04|title=Another senior Labor figure catches Covid|work=adelaidenow |publisher=Adelaide Now|date=December 2021|access-date=13 December 2021|archive-date=25 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425064906/https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/coronavirus/senior-labor-figure-latest-to-be-diagnosed-with-covid/news-story/0c49f8eccb4e0c344cc0ff2450e13b04|url-status=live}}

Farrell is married to Nimfa and has 3 grown daughters.{{cite web|url=https://www.alp.org.au/our-people/our-people/don-farrell/ | title=

Don Farrell - Senator for South Australia | work=Australian Labor Party | access-date=2025-04-28}}{{cite web | url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle/sa-weekend/don-farrell-inside-the-godfathers-remarkable-resurrection/news-story/4cb103023279263f7e845bf6db2d57a9&ved=2ahUKEwiilePCkPqMAxVOia8BHflfDaI4ChAWegQIFxAB&usg=AOvVaw23ZV-VthvzGU1Eeh3OVRgs | title=Humiliation is not too strong a word for what happened: Don Farrell | work=The Advertiser (Adelaide) | date=2022-12-07 | access-date=2025-04-28}}

{{reflist|2}}

• "Burying the hatchet", The Advertiser (Adelaide). 25 March 2006
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060826203045/http://www.sda.org.au/branches.php3 Branches, Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association.] Accessed 25 August 2006
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060827100107/http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/1987/1988-adelaide-by.txt Division of Adelaide 1988 by-election results, Psephos]. Accessed 25 August 2006
• "The Don", Sunday Mail (Adelaide). 20 August 2006
• "Don Farrell", The Advertiser (Adelaide). 6 July 2002
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060903053508/http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/firstspeech.asp?id=DZU First Speech to Parliament, Kate Ellis MP.] Accessed 25 August 2006
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070705184557/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1945770.htm "Labor powerbroker endorsed for top spot on SA Senate ticket"], ABC News Online. 9 June 2007. Accessed 12 June 2007.
• [http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=I0N Senator Don Farrell profile: APH]
• [http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/senators/farrell.htm Senator Don Farrell profile: ABC Q&A]

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Category:1954 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia

Category:Labor Right politicians

Category:Members of the Australian Senate for South Australia

Category:Members of the Australian Senate

Category:Australian people of Irish descent

Category:Politicians from Adelaide

Category:Adelaide Law School alumni

Category:21st-century Australian politicians

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