18 Facts About Brian Greig

Brian Andrew Greig OAM was born on 22 February 1966 and is a former Australian politician.

Brian Greig studied Arts at Murdoch University, where he became involved in student politics and editor of student newspaper 'Metior'.

At university, Brian Greig campaigned on the issue of student fees and, in 1986, helped re-establish the National Union of Students.

Brian Greig began to get involved in gay rights activism during the 1990s, and for several years was spokesperson for Gay and Lesbian Equality, campaigning for the decriminalisation of homosexuality, anti-discrimination protections and partnership recognition for same-sex couples.

Brian Greig helped establish the now defunct Australian Council for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1993, the first national lobby of its kind focused on discriminatory commonwealth laws.

At the October 1998 federal election, aged 33, Brian Greig was elected to the Senate.

Brian Greig used his maiden speech to acknowledge his homosexuality, highlight existing areas of discrimination and called for a range of national reforms in this area.

Brian Greig has been considered to be the first openly gay leader of an Australian political party.

Brian Greig was replaced in the resulting leadership ballot by Andrew Bartlett in October, 2002.

Brian Greig is mostly remembered for his pursuit of LGBTI issues, raising questions with Ministers, moving same-sex amendments to government legislation and triggering speeches from all parties on how to remedy commonwealth inequality against same-sex couples.

In 2004, just prior to the election being called, Brian Greig was one of only nine senators to vote against the ban on same-sex marriage by the Howard Government.

The ban was overturned in 2017 and Brian Greig's pioneering speech and advocacy from 2004 was acknowledged by sitting senators and referenced in the media.

Brian Greig stood for re-election at the 2004 election, but lost his seat to Rachel Siewert of the Australian Greens.

Since leaving parliament, Brian Greig has worked as a Communications Manager for the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia and in media operations for Anglicare WA and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

Brian Greig maintained his LGBTI advocacy, serving as the WA Representative to Australian Marriage Equality between 2013 and 2016 and is currently WA spokesperson for lobby group Just-Equal Australia.

On 13 June 2011, Brian Greig was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community as a social justice advocate for the gay and lesbian community.

Brian Greig is self-employed in consulting and works for the hospitality sector.

Brian Greig is chairperson of local LGBTI advocacy group Busselton Pride Alliance, and is a founding member of the LGBTIQ advocacy group Just-Equal Australia.