Tim Pallas
{{Short description|Australian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honourable
| name = Tim Pallas
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Tim_Pallas.jpg
| caption =
| office = Treasurer of Victoria
| term_start = 4 December 2014
| premier = Daniel Andrews
| termend = 19 December 2024 {{cite web |title=Jaclyn-symes |date=18 December 2024 |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/jaclyn-symes-to-be-victoria-s-first-female-treasurer-20241218-p5kzgh.html |access-date=19 December 2024}}
| predecessor = Michael O'Brien
| successor = Jaclyn Symes
| office1 = Minister for Economic Growth
| premier1 = Jacinta Allan
| term_start1 = 2 October 2023
| term_end1 = 19 December 2024
| predecessor1 = Himself (as Minister for Economic Development)
| successor1 = Danny Pearson (as Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs)
| office2 = Minister for Trade and Investment
| premier2 = Daniel Andrews
| term_start2 = 29 November 2018
| term_end2 = 19 December 2024
| predecessor2 = Philip Dalidakis
| successor2 = Position abolished
| office3 = Minister for Industrial Relations
| premier3 = Daniel Andrews
| term_start3 = 29 November 2018
| term_end3 = 19 December 2024
| predecessor3 = Natalie Hutchins
| successor3 = Jaclyn Symes
| office4 = Minister for Economic Development
| premier4 = Daniel Andrews
| term_start4 = 29 November 2018
| term_end4 = 5 December 2022
| predecessor4 = Position established
| successor4 = Himself (as Minister for Economic Growth)
| constituency_AM5 = Werribee
| assembly5 = Victorian Legislative
| term_start5 = 29 November 2014
| term_end5 = 6 January 2025
| predecessor5 = District re-established
| successor5 = John Lister
| constituency_AM6 = Tarneit
| assembly6 = Victorian Legislative
| term_start6 = 25 November 2006
| term_end6 = 29 November 2014
| predecessor6 = Mary Gillett
| successor6 = Telmo Languiller
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1960|1|7}}
| birth_place = Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Labor
| spouse =
| children = Two
| residence =
| alma_mater = Australian National University
| occupation = Trade union official
| religion =
| signature =
| footnotes =
| website = {{URL|https://www.timpallas.com.au/}}
}}
Timothy Hugh Pallas (born 7 January 1960) is an Australian former politician. He was a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2025, representing the electorate of Tarneit until 2014 and then Werribee from 2014 to 2025. He has served as Treasurer of Victoria in all three of the Andrew Ministries from December 2014 to December 2024, and in the Allan Ministry from 2023 to 2024. Pallas previously served as Minister for Roads and Ports and Minister for Major Projects in the Brumby Ministry until 2010.
Early career
Prior to entering parliament, Pallas worked as a trade union official with the National Union of Workers, Assistant Secretary of the ACTU and as Chief of Staff to Premier of Victoria Steve Bracks.{{cite web | url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/tim-pallas-happy-pessimist-and-calculating-realist-20141212-125v68.html | title=Tim Pallas: Happy pessimist and calculating realist | date=12 December 2014 | access-date=30 November 2022 | archive-date=30 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130221524/https://amp.theage.com.au/national/victoria/tim-pallas-happy-pessimist-and-calculating-realist-20141212-125v68.html | url-status=live }}
Political career
He first contested the open preselection for the federal seat of Melbourne Ports in 1998, but was defeated by Michael Danby.
In 2005, Pallas challenged incumbent backbencher Mary Gillett for preselection in the safe seat of Tarneit, and with Bracks' backing, was successful. He was easily elected at the 2006 state election, and was immediately appointed to Cabinet, being assigned the roads and ports portfolio.
In 2010, Pallas called Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton a "dickhead" while launching a road safety initiative. Hamilton had been caught by police engaging in an act of 'hoon driving' in a $160,000 Mercedes on the previous Friday night.{{cite web| url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/new-road-safety-campaign/story-e6frf7jo-1225846731084| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110614233805/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/new-road-safety-campaign/story-e6frf7jo-1225846731084| archive-date = 2011-06-14| title = Tim Pallas brands hoon F1 driver Lewis Hamilton a 'd---head' slogan as he launched new viral road safety ad {{!}} Herald Sun |first=Stephen |last=McMahon}}
When he was Minister for Roads and Ports, he implemented a number of measures to improve traffic flow on the major Victorian freeways including the Monash CityLink West Gate Upgrade. In February 2010, he launched a $5 million study into traffic flow along Hoddle Street between CityLink and the Eastern Freeway.{{cite news | author = Unattributed | title = $5m to study Hoddle St chaos | work = Herald Sun | date = 13 February 2010 | page = 22}} The study had been previously announced in the Victorian Transport Plan in 2008.{{cite news | author = Peter Rolfe | title = Plan for Hoddle express | work = Herald Sun | date = 7 December 2008 | page = 3 | url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/plan-for-hoddle-express/story-e6frf7kx-1111118243611 | access-date = 2011-01-17}} In March 2010, he approved a ban on trucks using the right-hand lane on busy sections of three-lane freeways.{{cite news | author = Lucas, Clay | title = Trucks banned from freeway lane | work = The Age | date = 4 March 2010 | page = 3 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/trucks-banned-from-freeway-lane-20100303-pj0j.html | access-date = 2010-04-19 | archive-date = 8 March 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100308153428/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/trucks-banned-from-freeway-lane-20100303-pj0j.html | url-status = live }}{{cite news | author = Gardiner, Ashley | title = Trucks told to keep left | work = Herald Sun | date = 4 March 2010 | page = 11 | url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/trucks-to-be-banned-from-the-right-lane-on-multi-lane-freeways/story-e6frf7jo-1225836456458 | access-date = 2010-04-19 | archive-date = 14 June 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110614233721/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/trucks-to-be-banned-from-the-right-lane-on-multi-lane-freeways/story-e6frf7jo-1225836456458 | url-status = live }}{{cite news | author = Farago, Peter | title = Truckies face fines if they're caught driving in fast lane – Right now wrong | work = Geelong Advertiser | date = 4 March 2010 | page = 4 | url = http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2010/03/04/151641_news.html | access-date = 2010-04-19 | archive-date = 8 March 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100308042120/http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2010/03/04/151641_news.html | url-status = live }} The RACV had campaigned for the ban for two years, attracting support from an "overwhelming 83% of motorists [it] surveyed".
Transferring to the electorate of Werribee following a boundary redistribution, Pallas was again successful at the 2014 Victorian state election and was appointed Treasurer after the election of the Andrews Labor Government. His first budget in May 2015 provided for the biggest spend on education in Victoria's history.
Pallas was additionally appointed Minister for Trade in June 2022.{{cite press release|url=https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/statement-new-ministry|title=Statement On New Ministry|publisher=Premier of Victoria|date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627065514/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/statement-new-ministry|archive-date=27 June 2022|url-status=live}}
He was elected for a fifth time at the 2022 Victorian state election.{{cite web | url=https://wyndham.starweekly.com.au/news/tim-pallas-secures-werribee/ | title=Tim Pallas secures Werribee | date=27 November 2022 | access-date=30 November 2022 | archive-date=30 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130222334/https://wyndham.starweekly.com.au/news/tim-pallas-secures-werribee/ | url-status=live }}
Originally a member of Labor Right, Pallas defected to Labor Left along with six of his colleagues shortly after the 2022 Victorian state election; his defection meant that the positions of Premier, Deputy Premier and Treasurer were all held by members of Labor Left, and also ensured that Labor Left constituted a majority of the state Labor caucus.{{cite web |last1=Ilanbey |first1=Sumeyya |last2=Sakkal |first2=Paul |title=Andrews boosts internal grip on power, two ministers in firing line for demotion |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/andrews-boosts-internal-grip-on-power-two-ministers-in-firing-line-for-demotion-20221201-p5c305.html |website=The Age |date=December 2022 |access-date=3 December 2022 |archive-date=2 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202235852/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/andrews-boosts-internal-grip-on-power-two-ministers-in-firing-line-for-demotion-20221201-p5c305.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=McCubbing |first1=Gus |title=Andrews scores factional win as Strictly Ballroom star becomes MP |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/andrews-scores-factional-win-as-strictly-ballroom-star-becomes-mp-20221202-p5c3a4 |website=Australian Financial Review |date=2 December 2022 |access-date=3 December 2022 |archive-date=2 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202214444/https://www.afr.com/politics/andrews-scores-factional-win-as-strictly-ballroom-star-becomes-mp-20221202-p5c3a4 |url-status=live }}
Pallas resigned as Treasurer and member for Werribee in December 2024.{{cite news |work=ABC News |url-status=live |archive-date=17 December 2024 |access-date=17 December 2024 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-16/tim-pallas-resigns-as-treasurer-victorian-government/104729516 |title=Tim Pallas to resign as Victorian treasurer and Werribee MP |date=16 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217103816/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-16/tim-pallas-resigns-as-treasurer-victorian-government/104729516 }}
Personal life
Pallas resides in Williamstown, in Melbourne’s west.
Pallas is married with two children, and is a supporter of the Werribee Tigers, the Western Bulldogs,{{cite web | url=https://www.3aw.com.au/treasurer-tim-pallas-sings-the-western-bulldogs-club-song-on-3aw-20160920-grk5y6/ | title=Treasurer Tim Pallas sings the Western Bulldogs club song on 3AW | date=19 September 2016 | access-date=2 January 2023 | archive-date=2 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102100909/https://www.3aw.com.au/treasurer-tim-pallas-sings-the-western-bulldogs-club-song-on-3aw-20160920-grk5y6/ | url-status=live }} the Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Victory and the Melbourne Vixens.{{Cite web | url=https://www.ttf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Biography-Victorian-Treasurer-Tim-Pallas-May-2018.pdf | title=Biography - Treasurer and Minister for Resources – Tim Pallas MP | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102100910/https://www.ttf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Biography-Victorian-Treasurer-Tim-Pallas-May-2018.pdf | archive-date=2 January 2023 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.timpallas.com.au/}}
- [http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/re-member/bioregfull.cfm?mid=1673 Tim Pallas at re-member]
- [http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/handbook/searchresult.cfm?menuid=1&memberId=1673 Parliament of Victoria profile page]
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|au-vic-la}}
{{s-bef|before=Mary Gillett}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for Tarneit | years=2006–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=Telmo Languiller}}
{{s-new|seat}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for Werribee | years=2014–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=John Lister}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Wade Noonan}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Resources|years=2017–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=Jaclyn Symes|rows=2}}
{{s-bef|before=Michael O'Brien}}
{{s-ttl|title=Treasurer of Victoria|years=2014–2024}}
{{s-new}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Economic Development|years=2018–2024}}
{{s-aft|after=Danny Pearson|rows=2|as=Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs}}
{{s-bef|before=Natalie Hutchins}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Industrial Relations|years=2018–present}}
{{s-bef|before=Martin Pakula}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Trade|years=2022–2024}}
{{s-non|reason=Ministry abolished}}
{{s-end}}
{{Treasurers of Victoria}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pallas, Tim}}
Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Victoria
Category:Labor Left politicians
Category:Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Category:Treasurers of Victoria
Category:Australian trade unionists
Category:Australian National University alumni
Category:21st-century Australian politicians
Category:Politicians from Newcastle, New South Wales
Category:Ministers for roads and road safety (Victoria)
Category:Ministers for industrial relations (Victoria)