About Simon
Simon Birmingham is the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs.
He served as a Liberal Party Senator for South Australia since May 2007 and has served in a number of senior Ministerial roles.
During the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison Governments, he held key portfolios including being the Minister for Education, the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment and the Minister for Finance.
Simon has also served as both the Deputy Leader, and Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Simon grew up near Gawler in Adelaide’s north on his family’s small horse agistment property and was educated at local schools before going on to study at the University of Adelaide where he completed a Masters of Business Administration.
Prior to entering the Senate, Simon worked for a number of industry bodies, establishing particular experience in the wine, tourism and hospitality sectors – industries that are critical to South Australia’s prosperity.
After less than three years in the Senate, Simon was appointed to the Shadow Ministry, serving as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray-Darling Basin and the Environment until the 2013 election.
Simon is married to Courtney and together they have two young daughters, Matilda and Amelia. Simon is an active advocate for mental health and ovarian cancer and is a proud Adelaide Crows fan.