Brendan Smyth MLA

Deputy Canberra Liberals Leader

Shadow Treasurer; Shadow Minister for Business & Economic Development; Shadow Minister for
Tourism; Shadow Minister for Emergency Services; Shadow Minister for Territory Owned Corporations;
Shadow Minister for Gaming & Racing; and Member for Brindabella.

Brendan Smyth was first elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly in 1998 as
a Member for Brindabella. He was the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in
the ACT Legislative Assembly from November 2000 until November 2002,
when he was elected Leader of the Opposition through until May 2006.

Born in Sydney in July 1959, Brendan's family moved to Canberra in May

1969 to own and operate the Lyons, then Fisher, then Weston Newsagency.
The Smyth family lived in Curtin and Brendan attended Marist College
Pearce. Upon leaving school Brendan was a Staff Cadet at the Royal Military
College Duntroon from 1978 to 1980. For the next seven years Brendan
worked in the family business, the Weston Newsagency at Cooleman Court.

After spells in both the Department of Community Service and Health, and
the Patents Office Brendan used his small business experience to establish
the shop at Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre. In 1991
he then moved on to be the Manager of Sales and Distribution for the
National Library of Australia, which included managing the National Library
Shop.

With an interest in current affairs and the future of Canberra, Brendan joined
the ACT Division of the Liberal Party in 1985. When in 1995 the seat of Canberra was vacated mid-term Brendan
was preselected as the Liberal candidate. The 16.7% swing against the ALP was hailed as "bigger than Bass" and
saw Brendan sworn in as the Member for Canberra. A narrow loss at the Federal Election in 1996 resulted in time
as a ministerial adviser to Minister Amanda Vanstone and then Minister Peter Reith till he re-entered politics at the
Territory level in 1998.

As a Minister in the Carnell government, Brendan became the Minister for Urban Services. In October 2000 as a
Minister in the Humphries Government, Brendan added Business Tourism and the Arts, Police and Emergency
Services as well as Deputy Chief Minister to his responsibilities.

Brendan lives in Gilmore with his two daughters and his newborn son. He is an active member of the Guises Creek
Bushfire Brigade and when not caught up in the busy life of a politician enjoys bushwalking, cycling, reading,
computing and Whiskey. Yes Whiskey! One day in the future (after politics) Brendan intends to set up a Whiskey
distillery and produce Snowy Mountains Scotch, McCauley's Irish Whiskey and whatever else takes his fancy at the
time.

Phone : 02 6205 0099

Fax : 02 6205 0859
eMail : smyth@parliament.act.gov.au

Or write to
Mr Brendan Smyth MLA
ACT Legislative Assembly
GPO Box 1020
CANBERRA ACT 2601