Pat Conroy (politician)


Patrick Martin Conroy is an Australian politician. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party and has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2013. He represented the Division of Charlton until its abolition in 2016, and since then has represented the Division of Shortland. He has been a member of the shadow ministry since 2016.

Early life

Conroy was born in Sydney. His parents were "union delegates throughout their lives and long-time Labor activists". He was born a British citizen by descent through his father, who was born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England. He renounced his dual citizenship before standing at the 2013 election in accordance with section 44 of the constitution.
Conroy holds the degree of Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney. He joined the ALP in 1994 and served as a state and federal vice-president of Australian Young Labor from 2003 to 2004. Prior to entering parliament, he worked as an electorate officer for Anthony Albanese, an industrial/policy officer with the CFMEU's forestry division, a policy adviser to George Campbell, national economist to the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, and as principal policy adviser and deputy chief of staff to Greg Combet.

Parliament

Conroy was elected to parliament at the 2013 federal election, retaining the Division of Charlton for the Labor Party following Greg Combet's retirement. He transferred to the Division of Shortland at the 2016 election, following Charlton's abolition. After the election he was appointed to Bill Shorten's shadow ministry as an assistant minister for the portfolios of infrastructure and climate change and energy. He retained his place in Anthony Albanese's shadow ministry after the 2019 election, and was promoted to Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific as well as minister assisting in the portfolios of climate change and defence.
Conroy is aligned with the ALP's Socialist Left faction, and serves as one of the two federal parliamentary convenors of the Labor Left faction, along with Andrew Giles.