Hon. Steve Bracks AC

Following his election to the Victorian Parliament for the Australian Labor Party in 1994, Steve Bracks went on to become Victoria's 44th Premier in October, 1999.

He became one of Victoria's most successful Premiers winning three consecutive elections including achieving record majorities in the 2002 and 2006 elections.

Whilst Premier, Mr Bracks rebuilt Victoria's infrastructure and services while maintaining strong budgets and managing a growing economy.

He invested heavily in education and skills with Victoria's retention rate to Year 12 education now one of the highest in Australia. He also led a reform proposal through a National Reform Agenda designed to increase workplace participation, improve skills, reduce business regulation and boost productivity.

These proposals won backing from all Australian Governments.

Mr Bracks at 52 retired as Premier of Victoria on 27 July 2007, after almost eight years as Premier, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Veterans' Affairs.

Subsequent to his retirement as Premier of Victoria, The Hon Steve Bracks AC now holds six major honorary positions: as an Adviser to the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Xanana Gusmao; as a Director of the Bionic Ear Institute Board; as Chair of the Deakin Foundation, Deakin University; and Centre for Dialogue, LaTrobe University. He is also Honorary Chair of the Union Education Foundation and the John Button Foundation. He is Chairman of the superannuation fund Cbus and a Director of Jardine Lloyd Thomson Australia and a Senior Adviser to National Australia Bank and KPMG.

Mr Bracks is also the Independent Chair for the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA).

Additionally during 2008 Mr Bracks was commissioned by the Federal Government to head a major review of the Australian Automotive Industry. He is now an Automotive Envoy for the Australian Government.

He was also Honorary Chair of the Organising Committee for the World Road Cycling Championships held in Victoria in 2010.

Mr Bracks received a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2010 for services to the Parliament and community of Victoria. He has also received Honorary Doctorates from both Ballarat and Deakin Universities.

He is Patron of the Burnet Institute; the Eureka Democracy Centre, Ballarat; the Cape Otway Centre for Conservation Ecology; the Seaworks Foundation, Williamstown; The Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards; and the Western Melbourne Tourism Board.

He is also a leading advocate for both multiculturalism and Aboriginal reconciliation.

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Timor-Leste governance project

Steve Bracks has been Special Adviser on governance issues to the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Xanana Gusmão, since August 2007.

Mr Bracks acts in an honorary capacity, while a generous donation from Harold Mitchell AC, and support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Timor-Leste, assist with travel, administration and research expenses. The Bracks Timor-Leste Governance Project is managed by Senior Research Associate, Kim McGrath with administrative assistance from the National Education and Employment Foundation.

The Project is primarily focused on public administration issues that Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmão raised with Steve Bracks when they meet in Dili during Mr Bracks' first mission in September 2007: establishment of a Civil Service Commission; anti-corruption and audit reforms; and, improved strategic planning capacity within the Government of Timor-Leste's central agencies.

Information about progress on these initiatives can be found at the Timor-Leste Government website.

Mr Bracks has led 18 missions to Dili since September 2007. At the start of each mission he has met with the Prime Minister to be briefed on the Government's governance priorities and to provide up-dates on governance initiatives and other matters. Mr Bracks also regularly meets with the President of Timor-Leste, Dr Jose Ramos Horta, senior Ministers and Secretaries of State, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) and Deputy SRSG, the UNDP Country Director and relevant donor organisations. The Bracks Timor-Leste Governance Project Timor-Leste expanded in 2010 to include three additional matters the Prime Minister raised with Mr Bracks early in the year; advice regarding aspects of From Conflict to Prosperity, Timor-Leste's Strategic Development Plan, 2011 – 2030, Summary; advice in relation to the provision of a retirement income scheme for civil servants; and, the development of a masterplan for sanitation and drainage in Dili.

There has been significant progress on the governance reform agenda in Timor-Leste. Highly competent individuals have been appointed to run the Civil Service Commission and Anti Corruption Commission and both organisations are now recruiting senior staff. 2011 will be the most challenging yet as the Government, and the people of Timor-Leste, will be watching closely to see that both organisations deliver according to their statutory agendas.

In addition to the issues discussed above the Bracks Timor-Leste Governance Project has also assisted the Dili Chamber of Commerce initiative, the UNDP climate change and local government programs, the Balibo Fort accommodation social enterprise initiative and a national football league initiative.