About Andrew

Andrew Barr was first elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly via a count back in April 2006 and was elevated immediately into the Stanhope Government Cabinet as Minister for Education and Training, Tourism, Sport and Recreation and Industrial Relations. He became Minister for Planning in April 2007 and following his re-election in October 2008, took on additional responsibilities as Minister for Children and Young People.  In November 2009, after a portfolio reshuffle, he added the Gaming and Racing portfolios.

Andrew is currently Minister for Education and Training, Planning, Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Gaming and Racing.  

Andrew was born in Lismore, NSW, in 1973 and moved to Canberra in 1977. He attended Holt pre-school, the AME School, Turner Primary School, Lyneham High School and Lake Ginninderra College before completing a Bachelor of Arts (Policy Studies), majoring in economics, economic history and political science at the Australian National University in 1995.

Since graduating from the ANU, Andrew has worked in the private sector as an account manager, media analyst and salesperson and in the political sphere, as an electorate officer, policy adviser, press secretary, parliamentary adviser and Chief of Staff to a Labor Minister.

Andrew believes in modern Labor values of responsible economic management and progressive social reform. His priorities in the Legislative Assembly include investing in public infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, roads, public transport and sport and recreation facilities and reforming the Territory's education, training and planning systems.

Andrew believes that all people are entitled to respect, dignity and the right to participate in society. He has a long record of support for equal rights for gay and lesbian Canberrans; the reproductive rights of women; multiculturalism and the humanitarian treatment of refugees. He believes in the right of all people to access quality education and is a strong supporter of the public education system.

Andrew has approached his job as a representative of the community with energy and has brought new ideas to the Ministry and the Government.

He has undertaken a massive reform of our public school system and invested the largest ever amount of funding - over $500m - to upgrading every public school in Canberra as well as building new state of the art schools in areas of demand.

As the only sport and education minister in the country, he has committed to revitalising physical education and sport in our schools and is Patron of the Children's Physical Activity Foundation.  The Foundation runs the annual Minister's Physical Activity Challenge in schools. Andrew is an energetic and active participant in the Challenge and has participated in PE classes with students in many different schools around Canberra.

He is committed to continuing to bring energy and new ideas to the ACT Government.

Andrew lives with his partner Anthony in Dickson and outside of politics enjoys cooking, movies, reading, listening to music, exercising, playing numerous team sports and following the fortunes of his beloved ACT Brumbies, Canberra Raiders and Hawthorn Football Clubs.