The Hon Bruce Billson MP is a fifth-term Member of the Australian House of Representatives, having been first elected in March 1996 to represent the outer Melbourne metropolitan coastal constituency of Dunkley.
He is the Shadow Minister for Small Business, Deregulation, Competition Policy and Sustainable Cities.
Prior to this role and following the 2007 election, Bruce served as Shadow Cabinet Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and then Shadow Minister for Sustainable Development and Cities.
From January 2006 until the change of Federal Government in November 2007, Bruce had the honour of being appointed Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence.
Prior to his Ministerial roles, Bruce was appointed to the executive of the Howard Government in a number of parliamentary secretary roles in the foreign affairs, trade and immigration, multicultural and indigenous affairs portfolios.
He chaired the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage.
Prior to being elected to the Federal Parliament, Bruce was the Ministerial Adviser to the Victorian Minister for Natural Resources (1994 – 96), policy adviser to the Shadow Federal Minister for the Environment (1995) and held several senior local government positions (1987 – 94).
Bruce has a Masters degree in Business Leadership, and a post-graduate Management Diploma and Bachelor of Business from RMIT University. He also won the 1992 RMIT/MAV Local Government Law Prize and qualified as a Municipal Clerk.
As a former small business owner with his wife Kate, Bruce is also extremely active in assisting small businesses in outer metropolitan economies and in the provision of key infrastructure to support local development.
Bruce is a Trustee of the Frankston-based philanthropic organisation, SkillsPlus Youth Foundation and his community service interests have included Board and Committee positions with a local not-for-profit hospital and aged care facility, regional library service and a number of local sporting, tourism and economic development organisations.
Bruce is married to Kate and is a proud father to his four young children, Alexander, Zoe, Madeline and Isabella. He enjoys quality time with family and friends, acting as home-handyman and playing cricket, golf and tennis when possible in an attempt to relive past sporting glories from a long and mediocre sporting career.