Warren Entsch

Entsch was born in Babinda, Queensland and served in the Royal Australian Air Force 1969–78. He was a railway porter, maintenance fitter and welder, real estate agent, farmer, grazier, crocodile catcher and company director before entering politics.{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/warren-entsch/7758904 |title=Warren Entsch's unconventional pathway to politics |website=ABC Radio |series=Conversations with Richard Fidler |format=Audio + text |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=8 December 2010 |access-date=13 August 2020 |archive-date=24 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824184640/https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/warren-entsch/7758904 |url-status=live }}

In his time outside of Parliament between 2007 and 2010, Entsch worked as an independent director on the board of CEC Group, a Cairns-based property development company,{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/the-missing-link-in-cecs-collapse-is-access-to-justice-20170731-gxm1ug.html |title=The missing link in CEC's collapse is access to justice |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |date=31 July 2017 |access-date=12 April 2019 |archive-date=11 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411231854/https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/the-missing-link-in-cecs-collapse-is-access-to-justice-20170731-gxm1ug.html |url-status=live }} and a Director of the Australian Rainforest Foundation, a Cairns-based organisation focussing on the Daintree Rainforest.{{cite web | url=http://ausrainforestfoundation.weebly.com/about-the-arf.html | title=Australian Rainforest Foundation | access-date=12 April 2019 | archive-date=11 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411231857/http://ausrainforestfoundation.weebly.com/about-the-arf.html | url-status=live }}

Entsch was first elected to the House of Representatives at the March 1996 federal election. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources 1998–2001 and was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources from 2001 to 2006. He then decided on retirement, ostensibly to spend time with his teenage son, and did not contest the November 2007 election.{{cite web |title=Get to Know Warren Entsch |url=https://pakmag.com.au/get-to-know-warren-entsch/ |publisher=PakMag |access-date=13 August 2020 |date=2 July 2017}} He remained a member of the Liberal Party of Queensland until the formation of the Liberal National Party of Queensland in 2008. At that time, he supported the leadership of Brendan Nelson, regarding the spill against him by Malcolm Turnbull as "treachery."{{Citation |last1=November 13 |title='Remind him of his own treachery': Warren Entsch on 43rd signature to oust Malcolm Turnbull |date=2023-11-13 |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/remind-him-of-his-own-treachery-warren-entsch-on-43rd-signature-to-oust-malcolm-turnbull/video/9cca08ffdda6d0d62a73e402043b386b |access-date=2023-12-18 |language=en |last2=2023 - 9:00pm}}

On 10 November 2009, Entsch announced that he would again run for pre-selection for the seat of Leichhardt{{cite web|url=http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/11/10/74895_local-news.html|title=Entsch Announcement|publisher=cairns.com.au}} and was re-elected to parliament at the August 2010 election defeating the man who had succeeded him in 2007, Labor incumbent Jim Turnour. Entsch was subsequently appointed Chief Opposition Whip by then-opposition leader Tony Abbott.{{Cite web |last=Hills |first=Ben |title=The barefoot kid from the bush |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/creative/the-barefoot-kid-from-the-bush/9iq5isfcw |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=SBS News |language=en |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413040806/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/creative/the-barefoot-kid-from-the-bush/9iq5isfcw |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2012-09-19 |title=Opposition whip moots civil partnerships |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/am/opposition-whip-moots-civil-partnerships/4271222 |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=ABC listen |language=en-AU |archive-date=18 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218065057/https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/am/opposition-whip-moots-civil-partnerships/4271222 |url-status=live }}

At the 2016 federal election Entsch was re-elected with 39.4% of first-preference votes{{cite news|url=https://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/HouseDivisionPage-20499-168.htm|title=Leichhardt, QLD|work=Australian Electoral Commission|access-date=20 November 2024|archive-date=20 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120092833/https://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/HouseDivisionPage-20499-168.htm|url-status=live|quote=Warren Entsch 53.95% vs. Sharryn Howes 46.05%}} marking his seventh election victory in 20 years.{{cite news|url=http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/the-far-north-votes/news-story/0c97664cfe13687ba446453cc648fd5a|title=Veteran MP Warren Entsch claims outright victory in Leichhardt|date=3 July 2016|work=The Cairns Post|access-date=19 July 2016|archive-date=5 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705062325/http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/the-far-north-votes/news-story/0c97664cfe13687ba446453cc648fd5a?|url-status=live}} Entsch played a part in deposing of Malcolm Turnbull in the 2018 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spills.{{Citation |last1=November 13 |title='Remind him of his own treachery': Warren Entsch on 43rd signature to oust Malcolm Turnbull |date=2023-11-13 |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/remind-him-of-his-own-treachery-warren-entsch-on-43rd-signature-to-oust-malcolm-turnbull/video/9cca08ffdda6d0d62a73e402043b386b |access-date=2023-12-18 |language=en |last2=2023 - 9:00pm |archive-date=23 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223043959/https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/remind-him-of-his-own-treachery-warren-entsch-on-43rd-signature-to-oust-malcolm-turnbull/video/9cca08ffdda6d0d62a73e402043b386b |url-status=live }} He was again re-elected at the 2019 Australian federal election{{cite web |title=Leichhardt 2019 Federal Election Result |url=https://results.aec.gov.au/24310/Website/HouseDivisionPage-24310-168.htm |website=Australian Electoral Commission |access-date=13 August 2020 |date=10 June 2019 |archive-date=4 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804001533/https://results.aec.gov.au/24310/Website/HouseDivisionPage-24310-168.htm |url-status=live }} with 37.6% of first-preference votes.{{Cite web|url = https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2019/guide/leic|title = Leichhardt (Key Seat) - Federal Electorate, Candidates, Results|website = Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date = 30 May 2019|archive-date = 6 June 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190606152812/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2019/guide/leic/|url-status = live}} He was shortly afterwards appointed to the position of "special envoy to the Great Barrier Reef" by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.{{Cite web|url = https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6182558/only-one-envoy-and-its-not-barnaby-joyce/?cs=14231|title = Only one envoy and it's not Barnaby Joyce|date = 26 May 2019|access-date = 30 May 2019|archive-date = 29 May 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190529141952/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6182558/only-one-envoy-and-its-not-barnaby-joyce/?cs=14231|url-status = live}}

In May 2019, in his re-election victory speech, claimed his own success in the legalisation of same-sex marriage: "I've been very successful in campaigning for national change. Medical cannabis was one that I was able to successfully implement, the other was same-sex marriage, which I'm very proud of."Cairns Post, 20 May 2019, page 2{{better source needed|date=November 2024|reason=URL preferred.}}

In his role as Chair of the Parliament's Northern Australia Committee and the Juukan Gorge Inquiry, Entsch tabled the interim report of the "Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000-year-old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia" in December 2020.{{cite press release | title=Never Again | website= Parliament of Australia | date=9 December 2020 | url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/About_the_House_News/Media_Releases/Never_Again |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120102022/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/About_the_House_News/Media_Releases/Never_Again |archive-date=20 November 2024 |url-status=live | access-date=23 June 2021}}{{cite book| url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/reportjnt/024579/toc_pdf/NeverAgain.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf| title=Never again: Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000 year old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia - Interim Report|date=December 2020|location=Canberra|author=Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia| isbn=978-1-76092-196-5 | publisher= Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia |archive-date=20 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120102536/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/reportjnt/024579/toc_pdf/NeverAgain.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf |url-status=live}}

Entsch was able to retain his seat at the 2022 election.{{Cite web |title=Returned Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch reveals his plans for the next three years |url=https://www.tropicnow.com.au/2022/may/23/returned-leichhardt-mp-warren-entsch-reveals-his-plans-for-the-next-three-years |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=www.tropicnow.com.au |archive-date=23 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523040104/https://www.tropicnow.com.au/2022/may/23/returned-leichhardt-mp-warren-entsch-reveals-his-plans-for-the-next-three-years |url-status=live }} He argued for the "No" case in the 2023 referendum on the Voice to Parliament.{{Cite AV media |date=2023-04-06 |people=McKillop, Charlie (presenter) |format=Radio program |title='I won't support the Voice to parliament': Warren Entsch explains why he's voting 'no' |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/farnorth-breakfast/warren-entsch-explains-why-he-wont-support-voice-to-parliament/102236348 |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=ABC listen |archive-date=20 November 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120093620/https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/farnorth-breakfast/warren-entsch-explains-why-he-wont-support-voice-to-parliament/102236348 |language=en-AU}} In local matters, Entsch has proposed the sale of housing commission properties to tenants, the same mechanism by which his own parents had become home owners.{{Cite web |title=Subscribe to the Cairns Post |url=https://dsf.newscorpaustralia.com/cairnspost/subscription/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |language=en-AU |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204084402/https://dsf.newscorpaustralia.com/cairnspost/subscription/ |url-status=live }} Enstch has become a supporter of a spaceport on the Cape York Peninsula proposed by Space Centre Australia, where “I started as a sceptic and I’m now an absolute disciple."{{Cite web |last=Nicholls |first=Matt |title=Race is on to build Cape York spaceport |url=https://capeyorkweekly.com.au/race-is-on-to-build-cape-york-spaceport/2647/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=Cape York Weekly |language=en}}

Entsch is a member of the Moderate faction of the Liberal Party.{{cite web |last1=Massola |first1=James |date=21 March 2021 |title=Who's who in the Liberals' left, right and centre factions? |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/who-s-who-in-the-liberals-left-right-and-centre-factions-20210303-p577gv.html |archive-date=11 May 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230511131918/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/who-s-who-in-the-liberals-left-right-and-centre-factions-20210303-p577gv.html |url-status=live |access-date=1 February 2022 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}{{cite web |last1=Massola |first1=James |title=How Morrison's shattering defeat gave Dutton a seismic shift in factional power |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-morrison-s-shattering-defeat-gave-dutton-a-seismic-shift-in-factional-power-20230330-p5cwoq.html |archive-date=8 May 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230408/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-morrison-s-shattering-defeat-gave-dutton-a-seismic-shift-in-factional-power-20230330-p5cwoq.html |access-date=4 December 2023 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=8 April 2023 }} He is known for supporting progressive causes.

{{Further|Cannabis in Australia}}

Access to medical cannabis was a long campaign for Entsch. In February of 2016 he was one of the politicians who succeeded in passing a reform bill approved for conditions ranging from chronic pain to anxiety and depression.{{Cite web |title=It's been seven years since medicinal cannabis was legalised. Is access now 'too easy'? |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/its-been-seven-years-since-medicinal-cannabis-was-legalised-is-access-now-too-easy/1yv9twfb4 |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=SBS News |language=en}}

While Entsch did not campaign for or against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, in the eventually-unsuccessful referendum on the matter in 2023, Entsch voted No. His reasoning was that he believed it would not have provided adequate support for Indigenous people and their communities. He does, however, support the constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians. He also criticised prominent Yes campaigner Noel Pearson, who he called a "crony" and rejected his large influence in local politics on the Cape York Peninsula.{{cite web | url=https://capeyorkweekly.com.au/why-i-wont-be-supporting-the-voice-entsch/6078/ | title=Why I won't be supporting the Voice: Entsch | access-date=21 February 2024 | archive-date=21 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221075209/https://capeyorkweekly.com.au/why-i-wont-be-supporting-the-voice-entsch/6078/ | url-status=live }} 65.55% of voters in Entsch's seat of Leichhardt voted No in the referendum.{{cite web | url=https://results.aec.gov.au/29581/Website/ReferendumDivisionResults-29581-168.htm | title=Referendum division results | access-date=21 February 2024 | archive-date=21 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221075211/https://results.aec.gov.au/29581/Website/ReferendumDivisionResults-29581-168.htm | url-status=live }}

Entsch has strongly prosecuted the issue of plastic pollution on the reef, asserting that climate change was not a threat to the existence of the Great Barrier Reef.{{Cite web |title=New reef envoy Warren Entsch takes aim at 'coaching' of kids over climate change |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/new-reef-envoy-warren-entsch-takes-aim-at-coaching-of-kids-over-climate-change |website=SBS News}} By the end of 2019 Entsch acknowledged climate change and its impact as a serious threat to the Great Barrier Reef. In his December 2019 report to environment minister Sussan Ley he stated "Global climate change looms as the most serious existential threat to the long-term health and viability of the Reef."{{cite report |url=https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/9493b41b-8484-47e1-8338-dbae75c6f92e/files/report-minister-ley-special-envoy.pdf |title=Report to the Minister for the Environment the Hon. Sussan Ley MP June – December 2019 |author=The Hon. Warren Entsch MP Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef |website=dcceew.gov.au |archive-date=4 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304233829/https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/9493b41b-8484-47e1-8338-dbae75c6f92e/files/report-minister-ley-special-envoy.pdf |url-status=live |date=19 December 2019}}

{{further|Same-sex marriage in Australia}}

During the lead-up to Australia legalising same-sex marriage in 2017, Entsch was for a long time a strong advocate for marriage equality in the Coalition.{{cite web | url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-samesex-marriage-warrior-warren-entsch-has-been-left-to-shoulder-the-blame-20161011-grzm5l.html |archive-date=20 November 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120094816/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-samesex-marriage-warrior-warren-entsch-has-been-left-to-shoulder-the-blame-20161011-grzm5l.html |first=Amy |last=Remeikis | title=How same-sex marriage warrior Warren Entsch has been left to shoulder the blame | date=11 October 2016 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-33874616.amp |archive-date=20 November 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120095043/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-33874616.amp |location=Melbourne, Victoria |first=Marie |last=McInerney| title='Crocodile Dundee' MP leads Australia gay marriage push | date=12 August 2015 }}

In December 2005, Entsch pledged support for a civil union scheme after Britain began granting civil partnerships. In September 2010 Entsch indicated that he did not consider same-sex marriage an important issue{{cite web|url=http://www.cairnsblog.net/2010/09/disappointed-not-surprised-warren.html|title='Disappointed, not surprised' – Warren Entsch and Leichhardt go against bellwether trend [in embedded video from 2:00]|website=cairnsblog.net|access-date=10 September 2010|archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721132612/http://www.cairnsblog.net/2010/09/disappointed-not-surprised-warren.html|url-status=live}} and voted against the Australian Greens' 2010 motion for members of the house to poll their constituents on the issue of same-sex marriage.{{Cite web |title=18th Nov 2010, 10:27 AM – Representatives Motions - Same-Sex Marriage - Agree to motion |url=https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/divisions/representatives/2010-11-18/5 |archive-date=20 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120095638/https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/divisions/representatives/2010-11-18/5 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=They Vote For You |language=en}} Two years later, following opposition leader Tony Abbott's refusal to grant a conscience vote to Liberal MPs, he voted against a bill sponsored by Labor MP Stephen Jones that would have legalised same-sex marriage.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-19/same-sex-marriage-bill-voted-down/4270016#votestable |archive-date=20 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120095813/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-19/same-sex-marriage-bill-voted-down/4270016#votestable |url-status=live |title=Lower House votes down same-sex marriage bill |last=Cullen |first=Simon |date=19 September 2012 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=19 September 2012}} On 17 August 2015, against Abbott's wishes, Entsch introduced a private member's bill to legalise same-sex marriage, arguing it would prevent Australia from being "a divided nation."{{cite news|last1=Henderson|first1=Anna|title=Warren Entsch introduces same-sex marriage bill with warning over 'divided nation'|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-17/warren-entsch-introduces-same-sex-marriage-bill/6701878|archive-date=20 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120100108/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-17/warren-entsch-introduces-same-sex-marriage-bill/6701878|url-status=live|access-date=17 August 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=17 August 2015}} On 7 December 2017, Entsch spoke in favour of and voted for, the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill that enabled same-sex marriage in Australia.{{Cite Hansard|url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansardr/716f5e71-dee3-40a3-9385-653e048de81b/toc_pdf/House%20of%20Representatives_2017_12_07_5783_Official.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf|archive-date=20 November 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120100732/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansardr/716f5e71-dee3-40a3-9385-653e048de81b/toc_pdf/House%20of%20Representatives_2017_12_07_5783_Official.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf|page=12997|speaker=Warren Entsch|jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia|house=House of Representatives|title=Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017: Second Reading|date=7 December 2017|access-date=10 January 2018}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120100732/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansardr/716f5e71-dee3-40a3-9385-653e048de81b/toc_pdf/House%20of%20Representatives_2017_12_07_5783_Official.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf |date=20 November 2024 }}

Entsch is married to Yolonde.{{cite news |last=McKay |first=Jack |date=26 March 2023 |title=LNP leader David Crisafulli reveals candidates for Redlands, Cairns and Thuringowa |work=The Sunday Mail |location= |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/qld-politics/lnp-leader-david-crisafulli-reveals-candidates-for-redlands-cairns-and-thuringowa/news-story/0135ff2da878fc3a43e5a052d17aa90a |access-date=26 March 2023 |quote=Ms Entsch, whose husband is federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch...}}In March 2023, she was named by Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli to be the LNP's candidate for the electoral district of Cairns in the 2024 Queensland state election.

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|https://www.warrenentsch.com.au}}

• [http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/11/10/74895_local-news.html Entsch Returns to Politics]
• [http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/08/21/123501_election.html Warren Entsch wins Leichhardt for LNP]

{{S-start}}

{{S-par|au}}

{{Succession box| title=Member for Leichhardt | before=Peter Dodd | after=Jim Turnour | years=1996–2007}}

{{s-bef|before=Jim Turnour}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member for Leichhardt|years=2010–present}}

{{s-inc}}

{{S-end}}

{{Current Queensland Representatives}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Entsch, Warren}}

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