Rex Patrick
{{Short description|Australian politician (born 1967)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Rex Patrick
| honorific_suffix =
| image = File:David McBride Sentencing Press Conference 6-59 screenshot (cropped).png
| alt =
| caption = Patrick in 2024
| office = Senator for South Australia
| term_start = 14 November 2017
| term_end = 30 June 2022
| predecessor = Nick Xenophon
| successor =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1967|5|8}}
| birth_place = Whakatāne, New Zealand
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| spouse =
| residence =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| party = Jacqui Lambie Network (since 2024)
| otherparty = {{plainlist|
- Liberal (before 2014)
- Centre Alliance (2015–2020){{efn|At the time Patrick joined the party, it was called the Nick Xenophon Team.}}
- Rex Patrick Team (2021–2022)
- Independent (2020–2021, 2022–2024)
}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Businessman|Politician}}
| known_for =
| nickname =
| allegiance = Australia
| branch = Royal Australian Navy
| serviceyears = 1983–1994
| rank =
| unit =
| commands =
| battles =
| mawards =
| signature = Rex Patrick signature 2021.svg
}}
Rex Lyall Patrick (born 8 May 1967) is an Australian politician who served as a Senator for South Australia from November 2017 until June 2022. He was appointed to the Senate to fill a casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Nick Xenophon. He joined the Senate as member of the Centre Alliance party, though in August 2020 he left the party and became an independent.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-10/sa-crossbench-senator-rex-patrick-quits-to-run-as-an-indepentent/12539822|work=ABC News|date=10 August 2020|title=Crossbench SA senator Rex Patrick quits Centre Alliance party to sit as an independent}} He created the Rex Patrick Team party in January 2021 and sat in parliament as its only member for the duration of his term. Before entering politics, Patrick served as a submariner in the Royal Australian Navy, then was a businessman and senior business executive officer.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-31/nick-xenophon-announces-senate-replacement-new-name-for-nxt/9102364 |title=Nick Xenophon readies NXT for his Canberra departure, announcing Senate replacement and new name |first=Matthew |last=Doran |work=ABC News |access-date=31 October 2017 |date=31 October 2017 }}{{cite web|last1=@AuSenate|title=The South Australian Parliament has chosen Rex Patrick to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of former Senator Xenophon|url=https://twitter.com/AuSenate/status/930229301613441024|website=Twitter|access-date=14 November 2017}}
Early life
Patrick was born in New Zealand and moved to South Australia as a child. He attended school in Whyalla then joined the Royal Australian Navy.{{cite news |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/senator-nick-xenophon-to-be-replaced-by-longtime-adviser-rex-patrick-in-senate/news-story/4eff4d2874e04a711ac342d623dd9018 |title=Senator Nick Xenophon to be replaced by longtime adviser Rex Patrick in Senate |first=Tory |last=Shepherd |work=The Advertiser |date=30 October 2017 |access-date=2 November 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/rex-patrick-set-to-fill-senate-vacancy-left-by-nick-xenophon/news-story/36d0fea22a3159a74a0fa032670ed51f|title = Nick's replacement says 'it's time'|date = 13 November 2017}}
Early career
Patrick served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1983 to 1994.{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/rex-patrick-83996423/|title=Rex Patrick|publisher=LinkedIn|access-date=2 November 2017}} He trained as an electronic technician and volunteered for submarine service. He served on several Oberon-class submarines before being selected and posted as a member of the trials crew of the first Collins-class submarine at Osborne in Adelaide.{{cite web |url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query%3DId%3A%22chamber%2Fhansards%2Fedae7f53-a8b7-4b18-ad81-3c62f6968091%2F0159%22 |title=ParlInfo - FIRST SPEECH |publisher=Parlinfo.aph.gov.au |date=1992-11-04 |accessdate=2022-08-21}}
From 1995 to 2008, Patrick worked for Sonartech Atlas as a project manager. The company was focused on the design and development of sonar systems.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-14/who-is-rex-patrick-the-new-nxt-senator/9146628|title=New SA Senator for Nick Xenophon Team outlines history, priorities|date=2017-11-14|work=ABC News|access-date=2017-11-16|language=en-AU}}
In 2008, Patrick started a company called Acoustic Force,{{Cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/collinsclass-submarine-critic-calls-in-afp-over-navy-plot/news-story/155661a06970790f2032095724f29b70|title=Collins-class submarine critic calls in AFP over navy 'plot'|last=Stewart|first=Cameron|date=2014-07-05|work=The Australian|access-date=2017-11-16}} which provided training in sonar and acoustics to domestic and international customers.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/11/14/sas-latest-senator-rex-patrick|title=SA's latest Senator Rex Patrick|work=News|access-date=2017-11-16|language=en}}
In 2009, Patrick began writing articles calling for Australia to buy cheap, off-the-shelf submarines to replace the Collins-class submarine fleet. He believes that attempts were made by naval personnel to muzzle his criticisms of the Collins-class vessels. He said of the Navy's attitude towards freedom of speech and policy debate: "I presume that, from (the navy’s) perspective, the public is better served if debates about defence are devoid of any contributions from people who know about the subject.” In 2012, he noted that American nuclear-powered submarines would be more cost effective for Australia to purchase and maintain and would offer strategic advantages.{{Cite news|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/keeping-collins-afloat-ludicrous-expert-20121209-2b3zb.html|title=Keeping Collins afloat ludicrous: expert|last=Ellery|first=David|date=2012-12-10|work=Canberra Times|access-date=2017-11-16|language=en-US}}
In 2013, Patrick took over a training contract with Quantum Ark Technologies, a company that trained members of the Royal Malaysian Navy.
In 2015, Patrick wrote several articles for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) which were published in The Strategist.{{cite web|url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/author/rex-patrick/|title=Rex Patrick Archive {{!}} The Strategist|website=www.aspistrategist.org.au|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-16}}
Political career
=Staffer=
Before joining the Xenophon team, Patrick had been a staffer for Liberal Senator David Johnston. When Johnston was the Shadow Defence Minister, Patrick assisted him in exposing the very high annual cost of the Collins-class submarines compared with their very low availability rates, being well over $500 million per annum but, at one stage, not a single submarine was at sea. Due to the pressure they were able to put on the Defence Department, the Coles review was commissioned in 2012 and the problems associated with the Collins-class submarine were then rectified.https://rex.nxtmps.org.au/speeches/a-better-approach-to-defence-procurement/ {{Dead link|date=August 2022}}
Xenophon referred to Patrick by the nickname "Inspector Rex", owing to his investigative skills and use of Freedom of Information laws to obtain information in the public interest.
On inheriting the Quantum Ark Technologies' files in 2013, Patrick discovered a mass data breach of classified documents from the French manufacturer DCNS related to the new Indian Navy's Scorpène submarines. Patrick took the data on a disc to a senior Defence official who declined to take it and so Patrick retained the disc, even though he knew of the leak during the competition to select the international partner for the Future Submarine Project, and didn't act on it until after the contract was awarded so as not to affect France's chances in the contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/maritime-antisub/1787-podcast-from-the-scullery-to-the-senate-rex-patrick-senator-for-south-australia|title=PODCAST: From the scullery to the Senate, Rex Patrick, senator for South Australia|date=17 January 2018}} In 2016, after the contract was awarded, and the security breach became directly relevant to Australia from a national security perspective, Patrick, then an adviser to then Senator Nick Xenophon, provided some of the documents, carefully redacted, to The Australian newspaper after which Xenophon handed the disc to Defence Minister Marise Payne.{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/navigating-the-submarine-leaks-scandal-the-story-behind-a-scoop/news-story/e3e4a27912649b4200831fcb349d4188|title=Navigating sub leaks scandal|date=11 December 2016}}
Patrick was not investigated for his handling of the sensitive material,{{Cite news |last1=Hurst |first1=Daniel |last2=Davidson |first2=Helen |last3=Visontay |first3=Elias |date=2020-11-30|title=Australian MPs unite to condemn 'grossly insulting' Chinese government tweet|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/30/australian-mps-unite-to-condemn-grossly-insulting-chinese-government-tweet|access-date=2020-12-11|work=The Guardian}} and retained his security clearance as a naval contractor.{{cite news |url=http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/story/4347594/revealed-senator-nick-xenophon-the-staffer-and-the-national-security-leak/?cs=8 |title=Revealed: Senator Nick Xenophon, the staffer and the national security leak |last=Wroe |first=David |date=9 December 2016 |work=The Maitland Mercury |access-date=2 November 2017|publisher=Fairfax Regional Media}}
=Australian Senate (2017–2022)=
On 30 October 2017, Xenophon announced Patrick as his Senate replacement, and the nomination was lodged with the South Australian Parliament on 1 November. Premier Jay Weatherill revealed that an NXT Senate candidate from the 2016 election, Tim Storer, had "assert[ed] rights" to the vacancy.https://hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov.au/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-11-28080 {{Dead link|date=August 2022}} On 14 November, Patrick was confirmed as the replacement senator by a joint sitting of the SA Parliament.{{Cite Au Parliament |name=Senator Rex Patrick |mpid=144292 |access-date=15 November 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/taxpayers-tab-for-nick-xenophon-staffer-job/news-story/40667980d8b14c1b2ef65d93ecbe2234|title = Taxpayer's tab for Xenophon job|date = 16 November 2017}} He became a senator on 15 November when he was sworn in by the Senate.{{cite web|url=https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2017/11/14/new-x-team-senator-backs-citizenship-referendum/|title=New X-team senator backs citizenship referendum|date=14 November 2017}}
Within three days of his appointment, Patrick defended the appointment of Xenophon as an advisor on a part-time contract, but Xenophon subsequently announced that he would leave the role "within weeks".{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/nick-xenophon-will-leave-his-taxpayerfunded-job-with-senator-rex-patrick-within-weeks/news-story/3bf9940c3fbbe85b825608839c7199ca|title=Xenophon to leave controversial post|date=17 November 2017}}
Patrick used his first speech in the Senate to call for more parliamentary oversight of the Australian Intelligence Community.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-04/spies-need-scrutiny-new-nxt-senator-warns/9224530|title=Spies need scrutiny, new NXT senator warns|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=4 December 2017}}
In December 2017, Patrick informed the Turnbull Government that NXT would suspend negotiations on welfare reform because a minister had failed to answer "reasonable questions". Patrick said that was part of "a broader problem with regard to the government’s preparedness to be appropriately open and accountable".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/dec/21/nxt-suspends-negotiations-with-coalition-on-senate-legislation|title=NXT suspends negotiations with Coalition on Senate legislation|website=TheGuardian.com|date=21 December 2017}}
Notably Patrick supported the blocked a vote in the Senate that would've seen an inquiry into the Liberal and National Party government "Grass-gate" scandal. Labor was pursuing the Energy Minister Angus Taylor over his interest in a family company linked to an investigation into alleged illegal land clearing.{{Cite web |date=2019-07-28 |title=Minister may still face grassland inquiry - 9News |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/minister-may-still-face-grassland-inquiry/806966b3-508e-4abc-8390-c7974f901806 |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=www.9news.com.au}}
Patrick was critical of the Future Submarine programme, suggesting that the Rear Admiral overseeing the project, Gregory Sammut, has no professional experience in project management.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-17/submarine-delays-could-lead-to-cost-blowout-senator-says/9334240 |title=Future Submarine program facing multi-billion-dollar blowout, Senator Rex Patrick says |first=Andrew |last=Greene |date=17 January 2018 |access-date=10 June 2019 |work=ABC News}} The project was revealed by Xenophon to have a requirement that 50% of the submarine's manufacture be Australian, down from the publicity stated figure of 60%. Patrick called it "treachery" by the Turnbull Government.{{cite news |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sa-bests-nick-xenophon-discovers-50-per-cent-minimum-australian-build-on-future-frigates/news-story/175717860b0720dbdb30f427535c421b |title=Secret documents show minimum 50 per cent Australian build on Future Frigates defence project |first=Tory |last=Shepherd |work=The Advertiser |date=29 January 2018 |access-date=10 June 2019}}{{Failed verification|date=June 2019}}
Patrick used Parliamentary Privilege to call ExxonMobil Australia's boss, Richard James Owen, a "shameless corporate tax dodger" due to his payment of little tax in Australia. Patrick asserted that "he should be called out for what he is. Behind a veneer of professional respectability, he's a hypocrite and a corporate scumbag".{{Cite news |last1=Livingston |first1=Angus |last2=Duke |first2=Jennifer|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/corporate-scumbag-senator-slams-exxonmobil-for-not-paying-tax-20200211-p53zu7.html |title='Corporate scumbag': Senator slams ExxonMobil for not paying tax |date=2020-02-12|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2020-02-29}}
Patrick pulled a stunt in the federal Senate Chamber to push his view that submarine jobs would be lost to Western Australia. That incurred the wrath of the Senate President, Scott Ryan, who told Senator Patrick: "Remove yourself from the chamber. You're embarrassing yourself."{{cite web|date=2020-06-17|title=Senator's weird sub stunt|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/politics/federal-politics/south-australian-senator-rex-patricks-bizarre-senate-submarine-stunt-ng-b881581260z|access-date=2020-06-18|website=PerthNow|language=en}}
In August 2020, Patrick split from the Centre Alliance, arguing that standing as an independent would improve his chances for re-election at the next federal election.{{Cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Matt |title=Rex Patrick becomes an independent |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=AAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adelaidenow.com.au%2Fnews%2Fsouth-australia%2Fsa-senator-rex-patrick-will-quit-centre-alliance-and-run-as-an-independent%2Fnews-story%2F87671d5633898ea9a7f46ce8b4367828&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=0cbbaf29d58dabc8a84ecf105d3ee477-1597038578 |date=2020-08-09 |access-date=2020-08-10 |work=The Advertiser |url-access=subscription}} His Centre Alliance Senate colleague Stirling Griff regarded the move as akin to removing "a powerful voting bloc that has achieved a remarkable amount for South Australia".{{Cite news|last= Doran |first=Matt |date=2020-08-09 |title=Crossbench SA senator Rex Patrick quits Centre Alliance party to sit as an independent|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-10/sa-crossbench-senator-rex-patrick-quits-to-run-as-an-indepentent/12539822|work=ABC News| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission |access-date=2020-08-10}} During the Parliamentary year, Patrick was noted for criticising the Murray-Darling Basin Authority for its delays in appointing an Indigenous representative and for putting a sunset clause on the cashless debit card in Indigenous communities.{{cite web|last=Foley|first=Mike|date=2020-11-22|title='Disgrace': Calls for Indigenous voice in water management|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/disgrace-calls-for-indigenous-voice-in-water-management-20201122-p56gs3.html|access-date=2020-12-11|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}{{cite web|last=Curtis|first=Katina|date=2020-12-09|title=Welfare recipients to spend another two years on cashless debit cards|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/key-senator-personally-trialed-cashless-debit-card-ahead-of-parliament-vote-20201209-p56lyi.html|access-date=2020-12-11|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}} Following a tweet about alleged Australian war crimes in Afghanistan made by Zhao Lijian that was deemed offensive by some Australian politicians, Patrick called on the Commonwealth Government to expel two-thirds of China's 143 diplomats and consular staff.
In January 2021, the Australian Electoral Commission approved Patrick's application to form a political party called the Rex Patrick Team{{cite web|url=https://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/Party_Registration/Registration_Decisions/2021/rex-patrick-team-registration-approval.pdf|title=Registration of a political party Rex Patrick Team|work=Australian Electoral Commission|date=7 January 2021}}
In November 2021, Patrick was opposed to the Liberal Morrison government plans for a Voter ID Law, calling it "a solution looking for a problem"{{cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/proposed-voter-id-laws-a-solution-looking-for-a-problem-senator-rex-patrick-says/b7387e4d-1e0e-4c1a-8459-25b05bb0813a|title = Proposed voter ID laws a 'solution looking for a problem', Senator Rex Patrick says|website = sbs.com.au|date = 1 November 2021}}
Rex Patrick Team
{{Infobox political party
| name = Rex Patrick Team
| logo =
| logo_size = 100px
| colorcode = #26B7CB
| abbreviation = REX, RPT
| leader = Rex Patrick
| foundation = 26 October 2020
| registered = 7 January 2021
| dissolved = 24 October 2022
| split = Centre Alliance
| seats1 = {{composition bar|1|76|hex=#20B4ED}}{{small|(2020–2022)}}
| seats1_title = Senate
}}
The Rex Patrick Team was formed by Patrick in October 2020, after he left Centre Alliance.{{cite web |title=Senator Rex Patrick forms own party Rex Patrick Team, following split from Centre Alliance |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/senator-rex-patrick-forms-own-party-rex-patrick-team-following-split-from-centre-alliance/news-story/f127652cb4a30dca528aed5a69e67162 |publisher=The Advertiser}}
The party was registered with the AEC in January 2021.
At the 2022 federal election, the party received 2.08% of the vote in the Senate in South Australia. Apart from Patrick, the only other candidate for the party was Leonie McMahon.
The party voluntarily deregistered in October 2022 after Patrick failed to be re-elected.
After politics
Patrick ran for Lord Mayor of Adelaide in the 2022 South Australian local elections.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-07 |title=Rex Patrick confirms Lord Mayor tilt, calls for new 20-year city plan |url=https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2022/08/08/rex-patrick-confirms-lord-mayor-tilt-calls-for-new-20-year-city-plan/ |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=InDaily |language=en}} He lost to Jane Lomax-Smith by 52 votes, prompting Patrick to appeal the result due to the small margin and potential voter fraud.{{Cite news |date=2022-11-16 |title=Losing Adelaide lord mayoral candidate to appeal against election result |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-16/adelaide-lord-mayoral-candidate-to-appeal-election-result/101662550 |access-date=2023-01-23}} Patrick subsequently dropped his appeal in March 2023. {{Cite news |date=2023-03-29 |title=Vanquished Adelaide mayoral candidate drops legal challenge contesting result |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-29/rex-patrick-drops-legal-challenge-to-adelaide-mayor-election/102161840 |access-date=2023-05-30}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Patrick, Rex}}
Category:Members of the Australian Senate
Category:Members of the Australian Senate for South Australia
Category:Nick Xenophon Team members of the Parliament of Australia
Category:Independent members of the Parliament of Australia
Category:New Zealand emigrants to Australia
Category:Royal Australian Navy sailors