Biography for COSTELLO, the Hon. Peter HowardMember for Higgins (Vic) 1990-2009
Liberal Party of Australia
Parliamentary Service
Elected to the House of Representatives for Higgins, Victoria, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007. Resigned 19.10.2009.
Ministerial Appointments
Treasurer from 11.3.96 to 3.12.07.
Committee Service
House of Representatives Standing: Privileges from 16.5.90 to 8.2.93; Legal and Constitutional Affairs from 16.5.90 to 14.9.92.
House of Representatives Select: Print Media from 22.8.91 to 25.3.92.
Conferences, Delegations and Visits
Official visits to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, March-April 1995; Japan, March 1996; France, Germany and UK, May 1996; USA, September-October 1996; Philippines, April 1997; Malaysia, China and Hong Kong, September 1997; Singapore and Malaysia, November-December 1997; USA, April 1998; Canada and USA, May 1998; USA, April 1999; Malaysia and Hong Kong, May 1999; Papua New Guinea, July 1999; USA, Ireland and UK, September-October 1999; Germany and France, December 1999; France, June 2000; Indonesia and Brunei, September 2000; USA and Canada, October 2000; USA, April-May 2001; China, September 2001; Canada, November 2001; Vanuatu, July 2002; Mexico, September 2002; India, September 2002; UK and USA, September-October 2002; New Zealand, February 2003; Turkey and France, April-May 2003; Thailand, September 2003; Israel, Jordan and United Arab Emirates, September 2003; Mexico, October 2003; USA, April 2004; New Zealand, June 2004; UK and Germany, November 2004; New Zealand, February 2005; Indonesia and Republic of Korea, September 2005; USA, September-October 2005; China, October 2005; USA, January 2006; Russia, June 2006; Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, July 2006; Vietnam and South Africa, September 2006; Singapore, September 2006; New Zealand, January 2007; UK and USA, April 2007.
Parliamentary Delegate to the Australian Constitutional Convention, Canberra, February 1998.
Parliamentary Party Positions
Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party from 23.5.94 to 29.11.07.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 23.5.94 to 11.3.96.
Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry from 11.4.90 to 11.3.96. Shadow Minister for Corporate Law Reform and Consumer Affairs from 11.4.90 to 23.5.92; Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for Justice from 23.5.92 to 7.4.93; Shadow Minister for Finance from 7.4.93 to 26.5.94; Shadow Treasurer from 26.5.94 to 11.3.96.
Chair, Public Administration Group from 23.5.92 to 7.4.93.
Party Positions
State Executive, Young Liberal Movement (Vic) 1980-81.
Vice-Chair, East Metropolitan Area Conference (Vic).
Chair, Constitutional Committee (Vic) 1987-90.
Personal
Born 14.8.1957, Melbourne, Vic.
Married.
Qualifications and Occupation before entering Federal Parliament
BA, LLB (Hons) (Monash).
Barrister.
Tutor in Law, Economics and Politics faculties, Monash University.
Publications
Arbitration in contempt, Melbourne: Mercury-Walch, 1986.
The Costello memoirs: the age of prosperity, Melbourne University Press, 2008.
Electorate
Description: inner metropolitan.
Location: south-eastern Melbourne; it includes the suburbs of Armadale, Ashburton, Kooyong, Malvern, Malvern East and Toorak, and parts of Camberwell, Carnegie, Glen Iris, Hughesdale, Murrumbeena, Prahran, South Yarra and Windsor.
Area: 39 sq km (approx.).
Electors enrolled: 89 345 (at 24.11.07).
Industries: retail and service industries.
State electorates: Higgins includes the Victorian Legislative Assembly electorate of Malvern, and parts of Burwood, Hawthorn, Oakleigh and Prahran.