Robert Simms (politician)
| Senator Robert Simms | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senator for South Australia | |
|
In office 22 September 2015 – 2 July 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Penny Wright |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
26 March 1984 Yorkshire, England, UK |
| Political party | Australian Greens |
| Residence | Adelaide |
| Education | Flinders University |
| Occupation | Journalist, political advisor |
| Profession | Barrister |
| Website | Robert-Simms.GreensMPs.org.au |
Robert Andrew Simms (born 26 March 1984) is an Australian politician. He was a Greens member of the Senate, representing the state of South Australia, from 22 September 2015 until his defeat at the 2016 election. Until the appointment of James Paterson to the Senate in March 2016, he was the youngest serving senator and the second-youngest sitting MP (after Wyatt Roy).
Elected as a City of Adelaide councillor in 2014, he resigned on 8 September 2015[1] following the resignation of Penny Wright from the Senate, and was appointed to fill the casual vacancy that resulted.[2]
Simms has worked in the community sector as a policy advocate, served on the boards of a number of community organisations including the Youth Affairs Council and AIDS Council of South Australia,[3] and worked briefly as a radio journalist. He is also a freelance writer and resides in Adelaide.[4]
He holds a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice (Honours), a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in politics and sociology) and a Graduate Certificate in Journalism.[4] In 2008 he was admitted to the Supreme Court as a Barrister and Solicitor.[5] As of 2015 Simms is partway through a PhD in political philosophy at Flinders University where he has also taught in the politics department.[4]
Previously, Simms stood as a candidate for the Greens in Enfield at the 2010 state election, and the Electoral district of Adelaide in the 2014 state election. In 2015 he was a co-convenor of the SA Greens.
Simms was the Greens parliamentary spokesperson on higher education, LGBT rights and marriage equality—portfolios previously held by Senators Lee Rhiannon and Janet Rice.[6]
Simms was one of five openly-LGBTI members in the Parliament of Australia and supports marriage equality in Australia.[7]
References
- ↑ "Resignation from Adelaide City Council". Self-published. Retrieved 14 Sep 2015.
- ↑ "New Greens SA senator confirmed". AAP. 22 Sep 2015. Retrieved 22 Sep 2015.
- ↑ "Robert Simms - Adelaide City Council". City of Adelaide. Retrieved 5 Sep 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Robert Simms - About". Self-published. Retrieved 5 Sep 2015.
- ↑ "About Robert Simms". Australian Greens. Retrieved 22 Sep 2015.
- ↑ "Greens reshuffle while all eyes on PM". Sky News. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ↑ Ireland, Judith (13 October 2015). "New senator Robert Simms talks of struggle to come out". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 November 2015.