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{{Short description|Australian politician}}{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

factoids

| birth_place = Coburg, Victoria, Australia| death_date = | death_place = Liberal Party of Australia>Liberal (after 1994)Australian Labor Party>Labor (until 1994)

• {{marriage|Deanna Nelson|1981|1982|end=divorced{edih}
• {{marriage|Kate Nelson|1983|1999|end=divorced}}
• {{marriage|Gillian Adamson|1999}}NEWS,weblink The evolution of Brendan Nelson, The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 December 2005, 16 February 2009,

}}| relations = | children = 3| residence = Saint Ignatius' College, Adelaide>Saint Ignatius' College| alma_mater = University of AdelaideFlinders UniversityMedical practitioner(Self-employment>Self-employed)| profession = General practitionerPolitician| signature = | website = | footnotes = }}Brendan John Nelson {{postnominals|country=AUS|size=100|AO}} (born 19 August 1958) is an Australian business leader and former politician. He served as the federal Leader of the Opposition from 2007 to 2008, going on to serve as Australia's senior diplomat to the European Union and NATO. He now has a global leadership role with Boeing, an aerospace company.A medical doctor by profession, he came to public prominence as the Federal President of the Australian Medical Association (1993–95), and served as a Minister in the third and fourth terms of the Howard government, serving as Minister for Education, Science and Training (2001–06) and Minister for Defence (2006–2007).Nelson was a member of the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2009, as the Liberal member for the Division of Bradfield in northern Sydney.Following the 2007 federal election, at which the Howard government was defeated, Nelson was elected leader of the Liberal Party in a contest against former Minister for Environment and Water Resources Malcolm Turnbull, and became the Leader of the Opposition on 3 December 2007.NEWS, Nelson wins Liberal leadership,weblink The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 November 2007, 29 November 2007, On 16 September 2008, in a second contest following a spill motion, Nelson lost the leadership of the Opposition and the Liberal Party to Turnbull.NEWS,weblink Get behind Turnbull: Nelson tells Libs, Hudson, Phillip, 16 September 2008, The Sydney Morning Herald, 16 February 2009, Nelson retired from politics in 2009,NEWS,weblink Nelson to quit politics and force byelection, Grattan, Michelle, The Age, 25 August 2009, 25 August 2009, Melbourne, and was Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and NATO from 2009 to 2012.NEWS, Stephanos, Maria,weblink Kim Beazley, Brendan Nelson new US, EU ambassadors: The Australian 17/9/2009, Theaustralian.news.com.au, 13 June 2010, {{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was then Director of the Australian War Memorial from 2012 to 2019, subsequently serving as its chair until the end of 2022.WEB, 2022-10-20, Barnaby Joyce's warning to Kim Beazley on War Memorial position,weblink 2022-10-22, Lismore City News, en-AU, In February 2020, Nelson was made the President of Boeing Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific.NEWS, Ironside, Robyn, 20 January 2020, Brendan Nelson appointed by Boeing to be Oceania president, The Australian,weblink In September 2022, it was announced he would move to London to become President of Boeing International.WEB, 2022-09-26, Brendan Nelson to head Boeing International in London,weblink 2022-10-22, Australian Financial Review, en,

Early life

Nelson was born in Coburg, a suburb of Melbourne, as the eldest of three children of Des Nelson, a marine chief steward active in the Seamen's Union, and his wife, Patricia. In his infancy, his family moved to his mother's home town of Launceston, Tasmania.In his early teenage years, the Nelson family relocated again to Adelaide, South Australia, where he matriculated at Saint Ignatius' College before going on to study economics at the University of Adelaide.WEB,weblink Citation for the award of the Degree of Doctor of the University (DUniv) Hon Dr Brendan John Nelson BMBS Flinders, FRACP (Hon), FAMA, 31 January 2017, However, he dropped out in his first year, working in various casual jobs in retail and hospitality before returning to university to study medicine.{{when|date=December 2016}} He switched to Flinders University to complete his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS).{{when|date=December 2016}}WEB, 2019-08-15, Dr Brendan Nelson's career highs so far,weblink 2022-10-23, Illawarra Mercury, en-AU,

Medical career

General practice career

{{BLP unreferenced section|date=August 2023}}Nelson then relocated to Hobart, Tasmania, taking up practice as a medical practitioner from 1985 until 1995. In 1986, he married for a second time, and became a father to twins. In 1987, he and David Crean, brother of Labor politician Simon Crean and later a Tasmanian state Labor minister, established an after-hours locum service which he worked in until 1991.

President of the Australian Medical Association

In 1988, Nelson joined the Australian Medical Association, and in 1990 became the Tasmanian State president of the organisation, taking a reformist approach to the role, and assisted the State branch in growing its membership. In 1991, he replaced Michael Jones, a former AMA president from Western Australia, as federal AMA vice-president.NEWS, Doctor in Charge Shakes Up AMA, Birnbauer, Bill, 27 September 1993, The Age, 4, He took a strong public stand against sponsorship of sports events by cigarette companies, lobbying politicians directly for legislative change, and also encouraged airlines to increase the number of non-smoking seats.NEWS, Cricket body challenged on tobacco funds, Mostyn, Suzanne, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 July 1991, 6, * NEWS, Smoking campaign, The Age, 22 October 1991, 15, * NEWS, Stapleton, John, It's a funny way to give up smoking, 1 June 1992, The Sydney Morning Herald, 4, On 30 May 1993, Nelson was elected unopposed as federal president of the Australian Medical Association, at 34 being the youngest ever holder of the office. He came to the office after significant hostility between the AMA and the federal Labor government, which peaked at the 1993 election under former AMA president Bruce Shepherd and former Health Minister Brian Howe. Nelson attempted to establish better relations with the government and its new Health Minister, Graham Richardson. He pledged to make Aboriginal health and the effects of unemployment on health a high priority during his term as federal president, and would appoint a full-time worker based in Canberra to look after these issues.NEWS, Richardson and new AMA chief in truce, Johnston, Nicholas, 31 May 1993, The Age, 2, NEWS, AMA shepherds in a new era, Cooke, Jennifer, The Sydney Morning Herald, 5, 29 May 1993, In an address to the National Press Club on 30 September 1993, acknowledging the AMA's reputation for conservatism, he said he would not "lead the AMA safely", but believed doctors should "lead the way in showing that national progress can be made by placing the welfare and consideration of other human beings ahead of their own," asserting their obligation to speak out on issues for the public good. In the address, he advocated gay law reform, greater concern for the environment, more attention to Aboriginal and unemployed health, and greater co-operation between the medical profession and politicians of all sides to build a better health system.NEWS, New prescription for the AMA, The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 October 1993, 16, NEWS, Personalities not principles, Dempster, Quentin, 24 October 1993, The Sun-Herald, 35, In November, he told a national Aboriginal conference in Sydney that he was ashamed of the medical profession's track record on Aboriginal health, arguing that "doctors need to ask themselves how a person can be well when they've been denied their land, their hunting grounds, their citizenship and freedom and even their own children. Of course Aboriginal people's health has suffered when you look at this litany of misery".NEWS, AMA Chief Vows To Aid Aborigines, Davies, Julie-Anne, Sunday Age, 28 November 1993, 10, As president, while personally opposing euthanasia, he supported the right of doctors to withdraw treatment from consenting critically ill patients, and supported euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke's case against the Royal Darwin Hospital.NEWS, Letting People Die Is A Duty â€“ Doctor, Magazanik, Michael, The Age, 9 July 1993, 3, The role of private health in the health care mix, Aboriginal health, the AMA's ongoing campaign against cigarette sponsorship of sports events, and the size of the Medicare levy were other significant issues which occupied a lot of Nelson's time and attention as federal president, as they did the various Ministers for Health in the final years of the Keating government. Nelson took ministers and shadow ministers around Central Australia to view Aboriginal communities. In October 1994, the World Conference on Tobacco and Health in Paris unanimously adopted an AMA resolution calling for a formal United Nations strategy on tobacco control.NEWS, Australian Anti-smoke Move Gets World Nod, Daley, Paul, 16 October 1994, Sunday Age, 8,

Political career

Early involvement with the Australian Labor Party

Nelson's father's strong involvement in the union movement and the Australian Labor Party influenced his early political development, and he joined Labor at the age of 13. However, he resigned from the Labor Party in 1991 before accepting a role on the AMA executive, on account of his perception of it as an apolitical position.At a rowdy pre-election rally during the 1993 election campaign in Toorak, as vice-president of the AMA, he declared via a megaphone that "I have never voted Liberal in my life!"NEWS,weblink Nelson support for gay couples, 3 December 2007, Herald Sun, 16 February 2009, Gerard, McManus, On 25 November 1993, he told journalist and medical writer Steve Dow that Labor governments generally were better for Australia but not always in their handling of health care.NEWS, Nelson's high hopes, Henderson, Gerard, Gerard Henderson, 23 August 1994, The Sydney Morning Herald, 15, NEWS, Nelson chooses his seat, Dow, Steve, 1 March 1995, The Age, 11, "Again, it's probably consistent with my perhaps lifelong philosophy of, you know, saying, well maybe Labor governments are generally better for the country that's a personal view, by the way, it's not an AMA view...",

Early political career

In January 1994, Nelson joined the Tasmanian branch of the Liberal Party of Australia. After initially being tipped for the South Australian seat of Boothby, being vacated by outgoing Liberal MP Steele Hall,NEWS, Robert Hill falls foul of the Steele Hall factor, Wright, Tony, 8 November 1994, The Sydney Morning Herald, 19, he sold his Tasmanian home, and moved to Lindfield in the affluent North Shore region of Sydney, establishing a surgery at The Rocks and switching his membership to the Pymble branch. On 30 January 1995, he announced his nomination for the preselection contest for Bradfield, a safe Liberal seat in which Pymble was located and held since 1974 by shadow minister David Connolly. The seat had been in Liberal hands for its entire existence, and the Liberals held it with a 27-percent majority, making it the safest Coalition seat in Sydney and one of the safest Coalition seats in metropolitan Australia.NEWS, No Half Nelson, The Doctor Is in the Liberal Party To Win, Huxley, John, The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 January 1995, 4, He was supported in his bid by former AMA president Bruce Shepherd, who served as his campaign treasurer. On 1 March 1995, at a Liberal gathering, he renounced his view that Labor governments had been better for Australia, and stated that he believed Medicare was unsustainable and that voluntary work programs for the unemployed would build self-esteem, and advocated a consumption tax. He also declared that he intended to be a high-profile member of Parliament, saying "if all I wanted to do was be a parliamentarian, a seat-warmer, I would have gone for a marginal seat."NEWS, Brendan struggles to get a half-Nelson on politics, Seccombe, Mike, The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 May 1995, 33, A bitter preselection campaign ensued; and, on 13 May 1995, he gained the party's endorsement on a 96-to-93 vote, even though Connolly had the support of Liberal leader John Howard and deputy leader Peter Costello. Nelson claimed his win was "a victory for liberalism".NEWS, Nelson accuses his opponents of spreading rumours, Grattan, Michelle, 8 May 1995, The Age, 3, * NEWS, Nelson wins safe Lib seat, Daley, Paul, 14 May 1995, Sunday Age, 5, * NEWS, Editorial: An earthquake in Bradfield, The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 May 1995, 16, After the preselection, Nelson worked on an Aboriginal health program for the Cape York Peninsula; and, in June, following his retirement as president of the AMA, went to the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, on behalf of World Vision to hear about that country's struggles with AIDS, three months after losing his younger brother to the disease.NEWS, Wounded Nelson counts the very visible cost of his battles, Lamont, Leonie, The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 July 1995, 6, On 14 July 1995, as master of ceremonies for a fundraising dinner supporting Howard, he was criticised for his risque humour concerning then-current entertainment and political events, not having realised that Lady Fairfax, Lady McMahon, and conservative business leaders were in the audience. The incident attracted considerable publicity and there were calls from inside the Liberal Party to reverse his preselection, but he was supported by key decision-makers including the president of the NSW Liberal Party.NEWS, Dr Nelson apologises to Libs for dirty jokes, Byrne, Andrew, 15 July 1995, 1, The Sydney Morning Herald, * NEWS, Nelson will keep seat â€“ party chief, Grattan, Michelle, The Age, 24 July 1995, 6,

Member for Bradfield (1996–2009)

(File:Brendan John Nelson.jpg|thumb|left|Nelson shortly after his election to Parliament.)Nelson was elected to Parliament as expected at the federal election on 2 March 1996,AU PARLIAMENT, Hon Brendan Nelson MP, RW5, 2021-11-11, at which the Keating government was defeated and John Howard became Prime Minister. Although he suffered a tiny swing against him, he still took 64.7 percent of the primary vote and 75.8 percent after preferences were distributed. Nelson spent his first two terms as a government backbencher, while establishing himself as a leading member of the moderate, or "small-l liberal," wing of the Liberal Party.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}Nelson was a vocal opponent of the views of Independent MP Pauline Hanson following her maiden speech on 10 September 1996, challenging her to visit Palm Island and other Aboriginal communities with him.NEWS, Hanson goes even further out on a limb, Corbett, Bryce, 19 September 1996, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), The Daily Telegraph, 13, On 6 October, he proposed a bipartisan condemnation of her statements along lines already suggested by Labor Opposition leader Kim Beazley, saying that politicians had an obligation to show leadership on the issue.NEWS, Howard rejects racism claim as McCarthyism, Chan, Gabrielle, The Australian, 7 October 1996, 4, * NEWS, PM challenged to take stand on racism, Chan, Gabrielle, The Australian, 15 October 1996, 2, He questioned the Prime Minister, who offered to cooperate and negotiate, but indicated he would not support the Opposition's motion in full.NEWS, PM offers to negotiate bipartisan race motion, Chan, Gabrielle, The Australian, 16 October 1996, 3, On 19 October, Nelson said he believed the Government needed to more clearly repudiate Hanson's claims, and that she was "appealing to a primeval instinct" in her statements on Aboriginals and Asian migrants.NEWS, Hanson 'awakens base instincts', Rees, Peter, The Sunday Telegraph, 20 October 1996, 15, On 30 October 1996, a bipartisan motion on tolerance, nondiscriminatory immigration and Aboriginal reconciliation was moved and passed.JOURNAL, Ward, Ian, August 1997, Australian Political Chronicle: July–December 1996, Australian Journal of Politics and History, 43, 2, 216, 10.1111/j.1467-8497.1997.tb01389.x, 0004-9522, In December 1996, Liberal MP Kevin Andrews raised a private members' bill to overturn the Northern Territory's euthanasia legislation, which had been championed by Dr Philip Nitschke. Nelson, along with former New South Wales premier John Fahey, were accused of convincing the son of the first man to die under the law, who had previously been a euthanasia advocate, to change his mind. The man, a branch secretary of a rural Liberal branch, ended up in hospital after suffering a nervous breakdown following the publicity surrounding the matter.NEWS, Euthanasia about-turn by Liberal son, Middleton, Karen, The Age, 4 December 1996, 2, * NEWS, Nervous collapse hospitalises euthanasia son, The Australian, 5 December 1996, 3, When the bill went through the House of Representatives on 10 December, Nelson was one of 88 MPs who voted for Andrews' bill on a conscience vote.Hansard; also, NEWS, We cannot fight MPs' vote â€“ Stone, Ceresa, Maria, The Australian, 11 December 1996, 2, Nelson also had to apologise to Parliament in March 1997 when it was found that 11 parts of a speech he had given matched a paper on overseas doctors by immigration expert Bob Birrell of Monash University published the previous year.NEWS, Liberal apologises to the House, 7 March 1997, The Age, Middleton, Karen, Also NEWS, Nelson says sorry over plagiarism, 7 March 1997, The Australian, 3, The publication involved was JOURNAL,weblink Birrell, Bob, 1996, Medical manpower: the continuing crisis, People and Place, 4, 3, 37–46, 1039-4788, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090913213151weblink">weblink 13 September 2009, Nelson was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence in 2001. In this role he directed the Mulwala ammunition factory to be decontaminated and decommissioned.WEB, 2006/2007 (Vol. 1 - Dept of Defence), PP no. 89 of 2008,weblink 2022-10-23, Trove, en,

Minister for Education, Science and Training (2001–2006)

After the 2001 federal election he was promoted directly to Cabinet with the senior portfolio of Minister for Education, Science and Training. Despite Bradfield's long-standing status as a comfortably safe Liberal seat, Nelson was the first person to be promoted to cabinet while holding the seat.He introduced a series of radical changes to Australia's higher education system that simultaneously imposed more direct government control over the management of universities while also allowing them to earn more revenue by charging higher fees to students. He extended the government's policy of directing more federal funding to non-government schools, as well as becoming more involved in reviewing the state education systems. In 2005 he introduced Voluntary Student Unionism. He was a popular target for student activism because of these changes.Nelson too chicken to face us, say students {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201180436weblink |date=1 December 2007 }} Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 28 September 2005'Safety fear' stops Nelson talking at uni again, The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 September 2005Nelson announced in August 2004 that public schools "must have a functioning flagpole, fly the Australian flag and display the values framework in a prominent place in the school."WEB, Vol. 85 No. 07 (9 Aug 2004),weblink 2022-10-23, Trove, en, WEB, 22 June 2004, Joint Press Conference with Minister for Education, Science and Training Brendan Nelson Prime Minister's Courtyard Parliament House, Canberra,weblink 2022-10-23, pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au, In 2005 Nelson expressed support for giving parents the option of having students exposed to the controversial subject of intelligent design. However he emphasised that evolution should always hold first place saying, "I'd be quite concerned if intelligent design were to replace evolution."'Intelligent design' an option: Nelson, The Age, 11 August 2005 He later said intelligent design should only be taught in religion or philosophy classes.Intelligent design not science: experts, The Sydney Morning Herald, 21 October 2005

Minister for Defence (2006–2007)

After his rapid promotion to Cabinet, Nelson was spoken of as a possible future Liberal leader.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} On 24 January 2006, then Prime Minister John Howard announced Nelson's promotion from the Education, Science and Training portfolio to the high profile Defence portfolio.As Defence Minister, he made the controversial decision to purchase Boeing's Super Hornet aircraft instead of a fighter perceived by some to be more capable.'Flying Blind' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925144139weblink |date=25 September 2016 }}, Four Corners, 29 October 2007

Leader of the Opposition (2007–2008)

Following the defeat of the Howard government at the 2007 federal election, he was elected Liberal party leader and therefore Leader of the Opposition, narrowly defeating Malcolm Turnbull in a 45 to 42 vote, after the withdrawal from the race of Tony Abbott. After Nelson's election, his political past resurfaced, with him claiming he came from a Labor family.WEB,weblink Nelson dogged by Labor party past, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC News, 29 November 2007, Nelson became the first person since Billy Snedden in 1972 to become Opposition Leader without prior experience in Opposition. Nelson also became the first Catholic to lead the Liberal Party.weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080807073719weblink">Holy oversight, Brendan: The Australian 29 July 2008Nelson was elected Liberal leader on 29 November, four days before the commission of the Howard government and hence his appointment as Defence Minister was terminated. This meant that technically he was both Liberal leader and Defence Minister in those four days.On 1 December 2007 Nelson attempted to distance himself from some of the conservative policies of his predecessor, saying "I don't support gay marriage, adoption or IVF. But I believe in addressing the social and economic injustices affecting homosexuals."'Nelson backs gay legal rights' {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920125235weblink |date=20 September 2008 }}, Sunday Herald Sun, 2 December 2007Nelson declared that the Liberal Party had "listened and learned" from the Australian public on WorkChoices. He pronounced the program "dead," vowing it would never be resurrected as part of Coalition policy, and called on the Government to move quickly to introduce draft industrial relations legislation.WEB,weblink Nelson declares WorkChoices dead, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 19 December 2007, 13 June 2010, In January 2008, Nelson opposed making any formal apology to the Indigenous Australians known as the "Stolen Generations". Nelson said such an apology would fuel guilt among middle Australia, and cause a mentality of "victimhood" among indigenous Australians.NEWS, Misha, Schubert, Liberal division grows on apology,weblink The Age, 30 January 2008, 30 January 2008, In early February 2008, Nelson changed his stance, and declared that he supported the apology, first personally,NEWS,weblink Howard will not attend apology, The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 February 2008, 1 March 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080415181353weblink">weblink 15 April 2008, NEWS,weblink Nelson agrees to 'sorry', Coorey, Phillip, The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 February 2008, 1 March 2012, NEWS,weblink Nelson rubbishes 'sorry' switch claims, Milne, Glenn, The Australian, 10 February 2008, 1 March 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080212221926weblink">weblink 12 February 2008, then also on behalf of his party:I, on behalf of the Coalition, of the alternative government of Australia, are [sic] providing in-principle support for the offer of an apology to the forcibly removed generations of Aboriginal children.NEWS,weblink Opposition joins rush to say sorry, Hoare, Daniel, ABC Online, 7 February 2008, 1 March 2012, When a motion formally apologising to the Stolen Generations was put before the House on 13 February, Nelson voted in favour, as did all Coalition members present in the chamber. However, seven members of Nelson's caucus—Peter Dutton, Don Randall, Sophie Mirabella, Dennis Jensen, Wilson Tuckey, Luke Simpkins and Alby Schultz—were absent. Before the vote, Nelson delivered a 20-minute speech endorsing the apology. Nelson's endorsement triggered nationwide protests; several people watching the speech booed, jeered and turned their backs on him.NEWS,weblink Fury over Nelson's 'sorry' response, The Age, 13 February 2008, 1 March 2012, Nelson's leadership came under increased pressure in January 2008, after an MP shifted loyalties to Turnbull, and taking into consideration that former MP Dave Tollner had been allowed to vote in the initial contest, the leadership vote would now be deadlocked at 43–43.Nelson's leadership shaky as MPs shift loyalties {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214153851weblink |date=14 February 2008 }}, Dennis Shanahan, The Australian, 12 February 2008 Newspoll polling in February 2008 set a record low "Preferred Prime Minister" rating for any opposition leader at 9 percent, with March polling setting another record of 7 percent, with two-party-preferred setting another Newspoll record at 37–63 percent.NEWS,weblink Brendan Nelson and Liberal-Nationals Coalition hit all-time low in Newspoll, Maiden, Samantha, The Australian, 3 March 2008, 13 June 2010, Nelson responded by declaring himself the underdog.NEWS, Samantha Maiden and Dennis Shanahan,weblinkweblink" title="archive.today/20121215185806weblink">weblink dead, 15 December 2012, Nelson defends record low poll figures, Theaustralian.news.com.au, 4 March 2008, 13 June 2010, In response to increased speculation about his leadership Nelson commented in April that he "will keep fighting and standing up for everyday Australians.".NEWS,weblink Nelson vows to stay on as Liberal leader, Kate, Lahey, The Age, 12 April 2008, 13 June 2010, Nelson used his 2008 budget reply to declare the Rudd government budget a "tax and spend" budget, as well as arguing for a 5-cent reduction in petrol excise, and pledging to block an increase in the "alcopop" tax.NEWS, Maiden, Samantha,weblink Nelson's Budget reply: slash petrol tax, News.com.au, 15 May 2008, 13 June 2010, In May 2008, Nelson gave his approval to a merger occurring between the Queensland Liberal Party and Queensland National Party.NEWS, Greg Roberts,weblink Nelson removes a merger caveat, Theaustralian.news.com.au, 15 May 2008, 13 June 2010,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20081121173047weblink">weblink 21 November 2008, dead, Support for Nelson as leader within the Liberal Party had all but collapsed by the end of July 2008, in part due to repeated gaffes on emissions trading and climate change. Expected to challenge him was either Peter Costello or Malcolm Turnbull, upon the release of Costello's book, The Costello Memoirs.NEWS,weblink Brendan Nelson's leadership is hanging by a thread: Herald Sun 2/8/2008, News.com.au, 2 August 2008, 13 June 2010, 25 September 2008,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080925185043weblink">weblink dead, Look out Brendan, here comes the tap: NEWS.com.au 2/8/2008 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805143217weblink |date=5 August 2008 }}NEWS,weblink Libs meet amid leadership speculation: SMH 2/9/2008, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 September 2008, 13 June 2010, Sandra, O'malley, Costello stated he would not be making any move for the Liberal leadership,WEB,weblink Costello clears the air over Liberal leadership: ABC News 11/9/2008, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 11 September 2008, 13 June 2010, however media outlets capitalised on Costello's failure to categorically rule out any future leadership challenge.NEWS, Matthew Franklin, Chief political correspondent,weblink Costello could stand at next election, The Australian, 12 September 2008, 13 June 2010,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080915022539weblink">weblink 15 September 2008, dead, NEWS,weblink Costello may still harbour dream of being PM: The age 12/9/2008, The Age, 12 September 2008, 13 June 2010, Melbourne, Nelson suffered from another gaffe in August 2008, where he stated:Peter's made his decision that he did not seek the leadership of the party. As I've said before, I'd be very happy if he changes his mind.NEWS,weblink I absolutely and totally support Nelson, says feted Costello, 30 August 2008, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2021-11-11, He later attempted to clarify the comment in that he was referring to Costello staying in parliament.WEB,weblink Nelson would be 'very happy' if Costello seeks leadership: WA Today 29/8/2008, Watoday.com.au, 29 August 2008, 13 June 2010, NEWS,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080917183430weblink">weblink dead, 17 September 2008, Nelson heightens leadership speculation, The Australian, 13 June 2010, NEWS, Dennis Shanahan, Political editor,weblink Brendan Nelson struggles to quell roll-over gaffe, The Australian, 30 August 2008, 13 June 2010,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090407011255weblink">weblink 7 April 2009, dead, Despite a small and steady increase after record low polling, Nelson lost the leadership of the Liberal Party to Shadow Treasurer, Malcolm Turnbull, on 16 September 2008 by 45 to 41 votes in a spill.NEWS,weblink Leadership spill: Nelson draws 'line in the sand': The Age 15/8/2008, The Age, 15 September 2008, 13 June 2010, Melbourne, Nelson went to the backbench.Turnbull and later Liberal leader Tony Abbott eventually became Prime Ministers and meant that so far Nelson is the only Liberal leader of the 21st century who did not become Prime Minister.

Resignation from politics

On 16 February 2009, Nelson announced that he would retire from politics at the next federal election.NEWS,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090217203015weblink">weblink dead, 17 February 2009, Brendan Nelson announces he will quit politics at the next election, The Australian, 13 June 2010, On 25 August 2009, he announced that he would resign from Parliament in late September 2009. Nearly two months later, Nelson officially resigned on 19 October 2009,NEWS,weblink Brendan Nelson bows out of Bradfield, The Age, 6 February 2012, triggering the 2009 Bradfield by-election. He maintains an interest in Australian political life, recently speaking at a Liberal Party event in honour of Australia's first Indigenous Parliamentarian, Senator Neville Bonner.WEB, Napier-Raman, Noel Towell, Kishor, 2022-09-21, Out of the frying pan and into the fire? Soutphommasane's new job,weblink 2022-10-23, The Age, en, WEB, Neville Bonner: A man of position and principle,weblink 2022-10-23, Menzies Research Centre, en-US,

Post-political career

File:Defense.gov photo essay 120426-D-0193C-003.jpg|thumb|Brendan Nelson, as Australia's ambassador to the European Union, speaks with U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. DempseyMartin E. Dempsey

Diplomatic appointments

On 17 September 2009, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith appointed Nelson as the Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union, and NATO,PRESS RELEASE,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150403201832weblink">weblink 3 April 2015, 17 September 2009, Stephen, Smith, Australian Government, Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the European Communities, Belgium and Luxembourg, Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Special Representative to the World Health Organization, NEWS,weblink Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 17 September 2009,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150502011548weblink">weblink 2 May 2015, Beazley, Nelson appointed to key diplomatic posts, WEB,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100809073946weblink">weblink 9 August 2010, Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and NATO, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government, at the same time appointing former Federal Labor Leader Kim Beazley as the Australian Ambassador to the United States.WEB,weblink Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the United States, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced the appointments in Canberra the same day. Nelson accepted the appointment from his former rival and commended the decision to appoint Beazley as Ambassador to the US. Nelson said of both appointments, they "would be accepted across the political spectrum."WEB, News.com.au,weblink Kim Beazley, Brendan Nelson new US, EU ambassadors, 17 September 2009, 14 April 2013,

Director of the Australian War Memorial

On 23 August 2012, the government announced Nelson's forthcoming appointment in the Australian Public Service as the new Director of the Australian War Memorial effective from 17 December 2012, succeeding Major General Steve Gower.PRESS RELEASE, Australian War Memorial Director Appointed,weblink The Hon Warren Snowdon MP, 27 August 2012, 23 August 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121207214539weblink">weblink 7 December 2012, In August 2019, Nelson announced that after seven years he would be stepping down as head of the Australian War Memorial.PRESS RELEASE, Australian War Memorial,weblink Australian War Memorial Director to retire from position, 15 August 2019,

Business appointments

File:Ft KLIOWIAESeL-.jpg|thumb|Nelson meeting with Rahm Emanuel (U.S. ambassador to JapanU.S. ambassador to JapanIn February 2020, Nelson became the president of Boeing Australia.Boeing Australia appoints Brendan Nelson president Manufacturers Monthly 20 January 2020 In December 2022, it was announced that effective January 12, 2023, Nelson would serve as the head of Boeing's international division.WEB, Liang, John, Nelson named head of Boeing International {{!, InsideDefense.com |url=https://insidedefense.com/insider/nelson-named-head-boeing-international#:~:text=Boeing%20announced%20it%20has%20named,council%2C%20according%20to%20a%20statement. |website=Inside Defense |access-date=30 April 2023 |date=December 5, 2022}}

Personal life

Nelson is married to Gillian, whom he married in 1999, raising her daughter together.NEWS, Milne, Glenn, 1 December 2007, Liberal backflip on gay rights, The Courier Mail,weblink He was previously married to Kate, a nurse. They married in 1983, were together 15 years, raising their twins, a son and daughter.WEB, 2004-02-28, Selling it like it is,weblink 2022-10-23, The Age, en, Whilst a student, he had been briefly married to his childhood sweetheart, Deanna.In 1995, his brother, Philip, died after a long battle with AIDS.Nelson's hobbies include playing guitarBrendan Nelson's Interests â€“ Playing the Guitar {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719082510weblink |date=19 July 2008 }}NEWS, Franklin, Matthew,weblink Brendan on stairway to Kevin, The Australian, 2 April 2008, 2 April 2008,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080925221941weblink">weblink 25 September 2008, dead, and riding motorcycles, a habit he began at 17 when he dropped out of an economics degree at Adelaide University and needed a cheap form of transport.Brendan Nelson's Interests â€“ Riding Motorcycles {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325003021weblink |date=25 March 2008 }}In 2016 Nelson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition for his distinguished service to the Parliament of Australia, to the community, to the advancement of Australia's international relations, and to major cultural institutions.IT'S AN HONOUR, 1152692, 26 January 2016, The Honourable Dr Brendan John NELSON, Officer of the Order of Australia, AO, For distinguished service to the Parliament of Australia, to the community, to the advancement of Australia's international relations, and to major cultural institutions, 4 December 2022,

References

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External links

{{commons category|Brendan Nelson}}{{OpenAustralia}}

• Nelson's sorry speech {{YouTube|ldzhzXffDxM|Part 1}} and {{YouTube|vvCypon4c7g|Part 2}}

 {{Liberal Party of Australia}}{{Leaders of the Liberal Party of Australia}}{{Boeing}}{{Authority control}}