27 Facts About Simon Birmingham

Simon John Birmingham was born on 14 June 1974 and is a former Australian politician who was a Senator for South Australia between May 2007 to January 2025.

Simon Birmingham previously served as Minister for Education and Training in the Turnbull government from 2015 to 2018, and as a parliamentary secretary and assistant minister in the Abbott government.

On 30 October 2020, Birmingham was sworn in as Minister for Finance and became Leader of the Government in the Senate following the resignation of Mathias Cormann.

Simon Birmingham grew up on his family's horse agistment property near Gawler, South Australia.

Simon Birmingham was educated at Gawler High School and the University of Adelaide; neither of his parents had attended university.

Simon Birmingham has cited his grandmother Madge Herde, a school principal, as a key influence in his decision to enter politics.

Simon Birmingham was named South Australia's Lions Club Youth of the Year in 1992 and awarded the Town of Gawler's Australia Day Young Citizen of the Year Award in 1993.

Simon Birmingham commenced studying an economics degree, but left his course to work for Senator Robert Hill.

Simon Birmingham later returned to study and completed a Master of Business Administration from the Adelaide Graduate School of Business, University of Adelaide.

Simon Birmingham began his career working as an electorate officer for Senator Robert Hill.

In 1997 Simon Birmingham moved from federal to state politics, working as a ministerial advisor to Joan Hall.

Early in 2000 Simon Birmingham moved to Canberra to become the national manager of public affairs for the Australian Hotels Association.

In late 2001, Simon Birmingham was appointed chief of staff to the South Australian state minister for tourism and innovation, Martin Hamilton-Smith.

At the age of 29, Simon Birmingham won Liberal Party preselection for the marginal seat of Hindmarsh at the 2004 federal election following the retirement of sitting member Chris Gallus.

At the time of his appointment on 3 May 2007, Simon Birmingham was the youngest member of the Australian Senate.

Simon Birmingham is identified with the moderate wing of the Liberal Party.

Simon Birmingham served on Senate Environment, Communications, and Arts Committees from May 2007 to February 2010, the Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network as well as the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties from 2007 to September 2012.

Simon Birmingham was the Chair of the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee, the Deputy Chair of the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and a member of the Joint Committee on the National Broadband Network.

Simon Birmingham is deputy chair of the Parliamentary Association for UNICEF.

Simon Birmingham has a keen interest in water issues including the health and future of the Murray Darling Basin, and in December 2008 introduced a Private Member's Bill, Water Amendment Bill 2008.

In December 2009 Simon Birmingham was appointed to the Coalition frontbench as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray Darling Basin and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action.

Simon Birmingham represented the Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband, Hon Malcolm Turnbull, in the Senate.

In November 2024, Simon Birmingham announced his intention to retire and resign from the Senate.

Simon Birmingham became the Minister for Education and Training in the First Turnbull Ministry in September 2015.

On 30 October 2020, Simon Birmingham was further appointed as Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister for Finance.

Simon Birmingham is a member of the moderate or liberal wing of the Liberal Party, and was regarded as a key backer of Malcolm Turnbull in the 2015 leadership contest.

Simon Birmingham is married to his former campaign manager Courtney Morcombe, who was the chief of staff to former South Australian premier Steven Marshall.