Abbott, Tony

Abbott, Tony

(Anthony John Abbott), 1957–, Australian political leader, b. London, England. His family moved to Australia in 1960. Educated at the Univ. of Sydney and, as a Rhodes scholar, at Queens College, Oxford, Abbott worked as a journalist for the Bulletin news magazine and the Australian newspaper before heading (1993–94) Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, which opposed Australia's becoming a republic. A member of the Liberal party, he was first elected to the Australian House of Representatives in 1994. He served as secretary to the minister for employment (1996–98), then as minister for employment (1998–2003) and minister for health and aging (2003–7). Abbott became leader of the Liberal party in 2009 and, after the Liberal-National coalition won the 2013 elections, succeeded Labor's Kevin RuddRudd, Kevin Michael,
1957–, Australian political leader, b. Nambour, Queensland, grad. Australian National Univ. 1981. After working (1981–88) in the ministry of foreign affairs and trade, including stints in the Australian embassies in Sweden and China, he entered
..... Click the link for more information.
 as prime minister. Abbott's increasing unpopularity, due to blunders and several policy decisions, led Malcolm TurnbullTurnbull, Malcolm Bligh,
1954–, Australian political leader, b. Sidney. Educated at the Univ. of Sidney and, as a Rhodes scholar, at Oxford, he practised law and was a journalist and a successful businessman before turning to politics.
..... Click the link for more information.
 to successfully challenge him for the Liberal leadership and prime ministership in 2015.