Episode 033 - Senator Scott Ryan

In this episode, we talk to Senator Scott Ryan, Senator for Victoria and President of the Senate about engaging the Australian voters in the political discourse. Topics covered include: - How the President of the Senate gets elected - The President’s relationship with public committees - The differences and similarities between the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House - Managing debate in the Senate - The untold successes of the writing of the Constitution - The role of the media in Parliament - What life lessons are most important when applying them to a political career - The need for everyone to have access to opportunities across Australia - The impact of single-issue movements on the political party system - What drives party policy behind the scenes - The benefits of greater citizen in engagement in politics and political issues - The history of media releases in Parliament House - How technology has changed Parliamentary processes - The push to table speeches - Top book recommendations - Federalism in Australia About Senator Ryan: Scott Ryan was elected as a Liberal Senator for Victoria at the 2007 federal election. He was re-elected in 2013 and again in 2016. In November 2017 Senator Ryan was elected by the Senate to serve as its 25th President. Immediately prior to this, from August 2016, he was Special Minister of State and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cabinet. He previously served as Minister for Vocational Education and Skills and Deputy Manager of Government Business in the Senate between February and August 2016, and as Assistant Cabinet Secretary from September 2015 to February 2016. Prior to that, and following the election the Coalition in September 2013, Senator Ryan was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Training. Senator Ryan was a member of the shadow ministry from 2010 to 2013, serving as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition. Senator Ryan has previously been a member of numerous Senate and Joint Parliamentary committees, including serving as Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration. He graduated from St Kevin’s College and went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours at the University of Melbourne. Before being elected to the Senate in 2007, he worked for international pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline and as a consultant in the health and insurance industries. He has also served as a research fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs, worked as a senior adviser to the Leader of the Opposition in Victoria, a speechwriter for Senator the Hon Nick Minchin and in the office of the Victorian Premier, the Hon Jeff Kennett. He is married to Helen and they live in Melbourne with their two sons. He is a member of the Essendon Football Club, the Institute of Public Affairs, the Centre for Independent Studies and the Samuel Griffith Society. He is an honorary life member of the Melbourne University Liberal Club and the Australian Liberal Students’ Federation.