21 Facts About Richard Colbeck

Richard Mansell Colbeck was born on 5 April 1958 and is an Australian politician.

Richard Colbeck has been a Senator for Tasmania since 2018, representing the Liberal Party, and served a previous term in the Senate from 2002 to 2016.

Richard Colbeck was first elected at the 2001 federal election, and was a parliamentary secretary in the Howard government.

Richard Colbeck served as the Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment and the Minister for Tourism and International Education in the Turnbull government from 2015 to 2016, but was defeated at the 2016 election.

Richard Colbeck returned to the Senate following a recount after Stephen Parry was disqualified during the parliamentary eligibility crisis.

Richard Colbeck was born in Myrtleford, Victoria, and was educated at Devonport Technical College.

Richard Colbeck was a building estimator and supervisor, managing director and proprietor of a building consultancy before entering politics.

From 1993 to 1996, and from 1998 to 2000, Richard Colbeck served as the president of the Devonport Chamber of Commerce.

On 4 February 2002, Richard Colbeck was appointed to the Senate by the Governor of Tasmania under section 15 of the Constitution, to fill the casual vacancy caused by the retirement of Senator Jocelyn Newman.

Richard Colbeck had already been elected to the Senate at the 2001 federal election, to a term beginning on 1 July 2002.

Richard Colbeck was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in October 2004.

Richard Colbeck was shifted to the role of Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in September 2008.

In September 2010, Richard Colbeck was appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation, Industry and Science by the new opposition leader Tony Abbott.

At the 2016 federal election, Richard Colbeck was demoted to fifth place on the Liberal Senate ticket.

Richard Colbeck blamed factional opponent Eric Abetz for his failure to win a higher position on the ticket.

Richard Colbeck polled an unusually high below-the-line tally, attributed to a strong "personal vote", but nonetheless lost his seat.

Richard Colbeck unexpectedly returned to the Senate in February 2018, after Senate President Stephen Parry was caught up in the parliamentary eligibility crisis.

Richard Colbeck is considered to belong to the moderate wing of the Tasmanian Liberals, and supported Malcolm Turnbull during the 2018 leadership spills; he was reportedly the only Tasmanian Liberal not to sign the petition calling for a second spill.

Between August and September 2020, Richard Colbeck was criticised for his handling of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care facilities in Victoria, resulting in the deaths of 350 aged care residents as of late August 2020.

In December 2020, his aged care portfolio was passed to health minister Greg Hunt, with Richard Colbeck continuing as Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services and Minister for Sport.

Richard Colbeck held these portfolios until May 2022, following the appointment of the Albanese ministry.