Likely new senator Richard Dowling sign of Labor’s renewal
Inspired by Paul Keating, Richard Dowling was drawn to politics from a young age. Read what makes the man set to become a senator tick.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A corporate high-flyer and economist is set to become Tasmania’s next Labor senator.
Richard Dowling, 41, joined the Labor Party in 2006 when he was working in Treasury alongside Labor leader Dean Winter and former minister Scott Bacon.
The trio were inspired Paul Keating.
From the same right faction as the former PM, Mr Dowling has secured the safe number two spot on the Senate ticket once held by Catryna Bilyk who is retiring.
His almost certain election marks a renewal as he is set to join long-serving Labor senators Carol Brown and Helen Polley with Senator Anne Urquhart contesting Braddon.
Mr Dowling returned to Tasmania with his corporate lawyer wife Georgia Allen last year to work in Mr Winter’s office.
“I had great opportunities thanks to a strong public education system,” he says.
“I was captivated at a young age watching replays of Question Time — which is obviously not normal.
“I recall one of my teachers saying I would be better off having a career first before looking at politics — which turned out to be sound advice.
“The Senate has always appealed to me because it provides an opportunity to represent the whole of Tasmania and think longer term, as our Constitution intended.”
He was just 25 when he became senior economist with the TCCI before working as senior adviser to former Premier Lara Giddings.
A colleague describes him as “very smart, good humoured and easy to get along with”.
“When he spoke he was listened to and respected by politicians, business people or bureaucrats who could see he knew what he was talking about and had a deep understanding of business, industry and the state economy.
“He had a knack for explaining complex economic issues in a simple way that people could understand which was why he was such an effective spokesman for the TCCI.”
In government he faced a challenging time during the GFC, which he says “gave me a strong foundation for my professional life”.
Some in the union movement struggle to forgive him for the drastic cuts Labor made in 2011 with one saying Labor was still suffering the fallout from today.
“We hope he’s changed, he is working hard and the days of Labor infighting are over,” one unionist said.
After Labor lost office in 2014, Mr Dowling worked for a diverse range of companies in Australia and overseas in areas including clean energy and computer software.
He has even addressed the European Parliament on digital trends in the Asia-Pacific region.
A one-eyed Essendon and North Hobart supporter he’s happy anywhere from the boardroom to the bowls club.
“Having been away, I come to this role with no grudges or scores to settle – just fresh energy and enthusiasm.
“Labor’s investment in a strong social safety net is a significant contrast to what is seen in many other parts of the world, where it can become impossible to overcome disadvantage.”
He also wants students to learn about finances.
“It is something that can be taught and learned and is an important life skill like driving a car or using a computer.
“Not knowing how to handle a car is dangerous. So is not knowing how to handle a credit card.”
Originally published as Likely new senator Richard Dowling sign of Labor’s renewal
Labor accuses crossbencher of threatening to ‘blow up the government’
The Opposition has criticised an independent MP for publicly declaring she had lost confidence in the minority Liberal government.
Hobart market ranked in world’s top 10 best
This Hobart market was a humble 12 stalls with “like five florets of broccoli” just 16 years ago. Now with dozens of stalls and “five million” florets, it has just been ranked in the top 10 markets in the world. Read why: