Editing Steve Bracks

{{short description|44th Premier of Victoria, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
| name                = Steve Bracks
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AC}}
| nationality         = Australian
| image               = File:Steve Bracks at a Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony, August 2006 b.jpg
| order1              = 44th [[Premier of Victoria]]
| term_start1         = 20 October 1999
| term_end1           = 30 July 2007
| monarch1            = [[Elizabeth II of Australia|Elizabeth II]]
| governor1           = [[James Gobbo]]<br />[[John Landy]]<br />[[David de Kretser]]
| deputy1             = [[John Thwaites (Australian politician)|John Thwaites]]
| predecessor1        = [[Jeff Kennett]]
| successor1          = [[John Brumby]]
| office2             = [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria]]
| term_start2         = 22 March 1999
| term_end2           = 30 July 2007
| deputy2             = [[John Thwaites (Australian politician)|John Thwaites]]
| predecessor2        = [[John Brumby]]
| successor2          = [[John Brumby]]
| office3             = [[Leader of the Opposition (Victoria)|Leader of the Opposition in Victoria]]
| premier3            = [[Jeff Kennett]]
| term_start3         = 22 March 1999
| term_end3           = 20 October 1999
| deputy3             = [[John Thwaites (Australian politician)|John Thwaites]]
| predecessor3        = [[John Brumby]]
| successor3          = [[Jeff Kennett]]
| office4             = [[Minister for Multicultural Affairs (Victoria)|Minister for Multicultural Affairs]]
| term_start4         = 20 October 1999
| term_end4           = 30 July 2007
| premier4            = ''Himself''
| predecessor4        = [[Jeff Kennett]]
| successor4          = [[John Brumby]]
| office5             = [[Minister for Veterans' Affairs (Victoria)|Minister for Veterans' Affairs]]
| term_start5         = 5 December 2002
| term_end5           = 30 July 2007
| premier5            = ''Himself''
| predecessor5        = ''New position''
| successor5          = [[John Brumby]]
| office6             = [[Treasurer of Victoria]]
| term_start6         = 20 October 1999
| term_end6           = 22 May 2000
| premier6            = ''Himself''
| predecessor6        = [[Denis Napthine]]
| successor6          = [[John Brumby]]
| office7             = Member of the [[Victorian Legislative Assembly]] for [[Electoral district of Williamstown|Williamstown]]
| term_start7         = 13 August 1994
| term_end7           = 6 August 2007
| predecessor7        = [[Joan Kirner]]
| successor7          = [[Wade Noonan]]
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1954|10|15|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Ballarat]], Victoria, Australia
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| birthname           = Stephen Phillip Bracks
| party               = [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor]]
| spouse              = Terry Horsfall
| children            = 3, including [[Nick Bracks]]
| profession          = Teacher
| footnotes           = 
| alma_mater          = [[University of Ballarat]]
| website             = {{URL|stevebracks.com.au}}
| signature           = Signature of Steve Bracks (Former Premier of Victoria).png
| caption             = Bracks in 2006
}}
{{Steve Bracks sidebar}}
'''Stephen Phillip Bracks''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AC}} (born 15 October 1954) is a former Australian politician and was the 44th [[Premier of Victoria]]. He first won the [[electoral district of Williamstown]] in 1994 for the [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor Party]] and was party leader and premier from 1999 to 2007.

Bracks led Labor in Victoria to [[minority government]] at the [[1999 Victorian state election|1999 election]], defeating the incumbent [[Jeff Kennett]] [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberal]] and [[National Party of Australia – Victoria|National]] [[Coalition (Australia)|coalition]] government. Labor was returned with a [[majority government]] after a landslide win at the [[2002 Victorian state election|2002 election]]. Labor was elected for a third term at the [[2006 Victorian state election|2006 election]] with a substantial but reduced majority. The [[Treasurer of Victoria|treasurer]], [[John Brumby]], became Labor leader and premier in 2007 when Bracks retired from politics. Bracks is the third-longest-serving Labor premier in Victorian history, surpassed only by [[John Cain (junior)|John Cain Jr.]] and [[Daniel Andrews]].

Bracks has served as the 6th Chancellor of [[Victoria University, Melbourne|Victoria University]] since 2021.<ref name="vu_edu_au">{{cite web |title=Steve Bracks appointed Chancellor from 2021 |url=https://www.vu.edu.au/about-vu/news-events/news/steve-bracks-appointed-chancellor-from-2021 |publisher=Victoria University |access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref>

==Early life==
Steve Bracks was born in [[Ballarat]], where his family owns a fashion business. He is a [[Lebanese Australian]]; his paternal grandfather came to Australia as a child from [[Zahlé]] in the [[Beqaa Valley]] of Lebanon in the 1890s.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/19/1079199436997.html?from=storyrhs Bracks gets down to some family business], ''[[The Age]]'', 20 March 2004.</ref> His family were [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite Catholic]] before migrating and became Latin Catholic.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://soundcloud.com/triplejsundaynightsafran/cindy-frost-antony-loewenstein| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160630050351/https://soundcloud.com/triplejsundaynightsafran/cindy-frost-antony-loewenstein| archive-date = 2016-06-30| title = Cindy Frost, Antony Loewenstein, Steve Bracks, Blogger and Hugo Schwyzer. Oct 21, 2012 by triplejsundaynightsafran {{!}} Free Listening on SoundCloud}}</ref>

Bracks was educated in Ballarat at [[St Patrick's College, Ballarat|St Patrick's College]] and the Ballarat College of Advanced Education (now [[Federation University Australia|Federation University]]), where he graduated in business studies and education. He became a keen follower of [[Australian rules football]], supporting the [[Geelong Football Club]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Beveridge|first1=Riley|title=Your AFL club's most famous supporters, from Barack Obama to Cam Newton|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/your-afl-clubs-most-famous-supporters-from-barack-obama-to-cam-newton/news-story/03eb54659866d587cf9c2cc4b9f3d8c5|publisher=Fox Sports|date=29 January 2016|access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref>

==Before politics==
From 1976 to 1981 Bracks was a school commerce teacher at [[Sacred Heart College, Ballarat]].<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The Challenge of Change |url=http://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/_uploads/enews/2013_E-news/March/feb28heather.pdf |magazine=Catholic Diocese of Ballarat e-news |location=Ballarat, Victoria, Australia |publisher=Diocese of Ballarat |date=28 February 2013 |access-date=9 May 2016 |archive-date=11 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311102836/http://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/_uploads/enews//2013_E-news/March/feb28heather.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> During the 1980s he worked in local government in Ballarat and then as executive director of the Ballarat Education Centre. While in these positions he twice (1985 and 1988) contested the seat of Ballarat North in the [[Victorian Legislative Assembly]] for the [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor Party]].<ref name="timeline">[http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22143511-2,00.html Steve Bracks timeline] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007012007/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22143511-2,00.html |date=7 October 2008 }}, [[News Limited]], 27 July 2007.</ref>

In 1989 Bracks was appointed statewide manager of Victorian state government employment programs, under the Labor government of [[John Cain (junior)|John Cain Jr]]. He then became an adviser to both Cain and Cain's successor as Premier, [[Joan Kirner]]. Here he witnessed from the inside the collapse of the Labor government following the economic and budgetary crisis which began in 1988. This experience gave Bracks a very conservative and cautious view of economic management in government.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/jeff-and-teds-misadventure/2006/11/17/1163266787639.html?page=fullpage Jeff and Ted's misadventure], ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'', 18 November 2006.</ref>

Following the defeat of the Kirner government by the [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberal]] leader [[Jeff Kennett]] in late 1992, Bracks became executive director of the Victorian Printing Industry Training Board. Kirner resigned from parliament in 1994, and Bracks was elected to Kirner's seat of Williamstown in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Bracks and his wife Terry lived in Williamstown. They have three children,<ref name="timeline"/> one of whom is model [[Nick Bracks]].

==State politics==

===Early days===

Bracks was immediately elected to Labor's front bench, as Shadow Minister for Employment, Industrial Relations and Tourism. In 1996, after Labor under [[John Brumby]] was again defeated, he became Shadow Treasurer. In March 1999, when it became apparent that Labor was headed for another defeat under Brumby's leadership, Brumby resigned and Bracks was elected Opposition Leader.

===First term as Premier===
{{Main|1999 Victorian state election}}
Political observers were almost unanimous that Bracks had no chance of defeating Liberal premier [[Jeff Kennett]] at the [[1999 Victorian state election|September 1999 election]]:<ref name=Woodward>{{cite journal|author1=Woodward, Dennis |author2=Costar, Brian |title=The Victorian Election of 18 September 1999: Another Case of Electoral Volatility?|journal=Australian Journal of Political Science|volume=35|issue=1|pages=125–133|date=9 June 2010|doi=10.1080/10361140050002881|s2cid=153439196 }}</ref> polls gave Kennett a 60% popularity rating. Bracks and his senior colleagues (particularly Brumby, who comes from [[Bendigo]]) campaigned heavily in regional areas, accusing Kennett of ignoring regional communities. In response, voters in regional areas deserted the Kennett government.  On election night, much to its own surprise, Labor increased its seat count from 29 to 41, with the Liberals and their [[National Party of Australia – Victoria|National Party]] allies retaining 43, and three falling to rural independents. With the Coalition one seat short of government, the election was to be decided in [[Electoral district of Frankston East|Frankston East]], when the death of incumbent [[Peter McLellan]] forced a supplementary election.  That supplementary election was won by Labor on a large swing, resulting in a [[hung parliament]].  The independents then threw their support to Labor, allowing Bracks to form government by one seat.

The Coalition briefly considered forcing Bracks to demonstrate that he had support on the floor of the Assembly. However, two of the independents, [[Russell Savage]] and [[Susan Davies]], felt Kennett had given them short shrift in the previous legislature, and would not have even considered supporting him. In any event, this gambit was brought undone when Kennett announced his retirement from politics on 20 October. Bracks then advised the [[Governor of Victoria|Governor]], Sir [[James Gobbo]], that he could form a government, which was duly sworn in later that day. Bracks became the first Catholic Labor Premier of Victoria since 1932.

Former leader Brumby, appointed Treasurer, was regarded as a major part of the government's success. He and the Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, [[John Thwaites (Australian politician)|John Thwaites]], and the Attorney-General, [[Rob Hulls]], were regarded as the key ministers in the Bracks government.

Following a pre-1999 election commitment to consider the feasibility of introducing fast rail services to regional centres, in 2000 the government approved funding for the [[Regional Fast Rail project]], upgrading rail lines between Melbourne and Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Traralgon. However, in 2006 the Victorian Auditor General noted that in spite of $750&nbsp;million spent, "We found that the delivery of more frequent fast rail services in the Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo corridors by the agreed dates was not achieved. In total, the journey time outcomes will be more modest than we would have expected with only a minority of travellers likely to benefit from significant journey time improvements. These outcomes occur because giving some passengers full express services means bypassing often large numbers of passengers at intermediate stations along the corridors."<ref>[http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/reports_mp_psa/psa1601.html Results of special audits and other investigations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903095437/https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/reports_mp_psa/psa1601.html |date=3 September 2007 }}, Victorian Auditor-General's Office, August 2006.</ref>

On 14 December 2000, Steve Bracks released a document outlining his government's intent to introduce the [[Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001]].

The major criticism of Bracks's first government was that their insistence on consultation stood in the way of effective, proactive government. Bracks, according to critics, achieved little, and lost the excitement of constant change that was characteristic of the Kennett years. The talents of some of the more junior ministers in the government were also questioned. Nevertheless, Bracks got through his first term without major mishaps, and his popularity undiminished.

===Second term as Premier===
{{Main|2002 Victorian state election}}
[[File:Steve bracks.jpg|thumb|right|Bracks in 2005]]
Labor won the 2002 election in a landslide, taking 62 seats out of 88 in the Legislative Assembly—only the third time in Victoria's history that a Labor government had been reelected. In another first, Labor won a slim but clear majority in the [[Victorian Legislative Council|Legislative Council]] as well. While this was the greatest victory Labor had ever had in a Victorian state election, it brought with it considerable risks. With majorities in both houses Bracks could no longer cite his weak parliamentary position as an excuse for inaction.

On 28 August 2002, Bracks, in conjunction with his then [[Premier of New South Wales|New South Wales counterpart]], [[Bob Carr]], opened the Mowamba [[aqueduct (watercourse)|aqueduct]] between [[Jindabyne]] and [[Dalgety, New South Wales|Dalgety]], to divert 38 gigalitres of water a year from [[Lake Eucumbene]] to the Snowy and Murray rivers.<ref>[http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/MediaRelArc02.nsf/0/e851e24b91a0fb52ca256c23007e352d!OpenDocument&Click= Media release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930223644/https://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/MediaRelArc02.nsf/0/e851e24b91a0fb52ca256c23007e352d%21OpenDocument%26Click%3D |date=30 September 2007 }}</ref> The ten-year plan cost A$300&nbsp;million with [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]] and NSW splitting the costs. [[Melbourne Water]] has stated that within 50 years there will be 20 per cent less water going into Victorian reservoirs.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/editorial/were-still-a-nation-of-wallies-with-water/2006/08/04/1154198330444.html?page=2 | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=We're still a nation of wallies with water | date=5 August 2006}}</ref>

In May 2003 Bracks broke an election promise and announced that the proposed [[EastLink (Melbourne)|Scoresby Freeway]] in Melbourne's eastern suburbs would be a tollway rather than a freeway, as promised at the 2002 elections. As well as risking a loss of support in marginal seats in eastern Melbourne, this decision brought about a strong response from the [[John Howard|Howard]] Federal government, which cut off federal funding for the project on the grounds that the Bracks government had reneged on the terms of the federal-state funding agreement. The decision seems to have been on the recommendation of Brumby, who was concerned with the state's budgetary position. Also opposing the decision was the Federal Labor Opposition, which feared anti-Labor reaction at the 2004 Federal election. The then Opposition Leader [[Mark Latham]] described a meeting with Bracks and federal shadow ministers, writing:
{{blockquote|''Bracks has broken his promise, hoping the odium will wear off before the next State election. But we're copping the fall-out electorally... Bracks, however, was unmoved, even when Faulkner put it right on him... Sat there like a statue, that silly grin on his face.''|[[The Latham Diaries]], page 283.}}

This backflip, while seen by many{{who|date=December 2011}} as an opportunity for the Liberals to make ground, saw the then leader of the Liberals, [[Robert Doyle]], adopt a much-criticised policy of half tolls, which was later overturned by his successor, [[Ted Baillieu]].

In 2005, following extensive independent studies<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/victoria-alpine-national-park/pubs/b6-alpine-grazing-taskforce-2005.pdf |id=www.dse.vic.gov.au/alpinegrazing |publisher=Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Grazing |author=Alpine Grazing Taskforce |isbn=1-74152-124-6 |title=Report of the investigation into the future of cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park |publication-date=May 2005 |access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref> it was found that cattle had created extensive damage to the high country National Park and their continued presence in the Park was incompatible with the values of National Parks.  Bracks backed the environment and his environment minister, John Thwaites and announced that Victoria would follow the NSW example and cattlemen would be banned from using the "High Plains" in Victoria's National Parks to graze cattle. Stockmen had been fearing this decision since 1984, when a Labor government excised land to create the [[Alpine National Park]]. Some estimated three hundred cattlemen rode horses down Bourke street in protest while police said it was closer to 100. Colourful Victorian National Party leader [[Peter Ryan (politician)|Peter Ryan]] was quoted as saying that Bracks had killed "[[The Man from Snowy River (poem)|The Man from Snowy River]]" (although the poem was about mustering horses, not cattle – a practice which was stopped in the high country just after World War 2.)

Bracks' second government achieved one of Victorian Labor's longest-held goals with a complete reform of the state's system for electing its upper house. It saw the introduction of [[proportional representation]], with eight five-member regions replacing the current single-member constituencies. This system increases the opportunity for minor parties such as the [[Victorian Greens|Greens]] and [[Democratic Labour Party (Australia, 1980)|DLP]] to win seats in the Legislative Council, giving them a greater chance of holding the balance of power. Illustrating the historic importance Labor assigns to the changes, in a speech to a conference celebrating the 150th anniversary of the [[Eureka Stockade]], Bracks said it was "another victory for the aspirations of Eureka",<ref>[http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/Speech_item_archive.asp?id=80 Eureka 150 Democracy Conference] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060819215743/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/Newsroom/Speech_item_archive.asp?id=80 |date=19 August 2006 }} – Full speech by Steve Bracks, 26 November 2004</ref> and has described the changes as "his proudest achievement".<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/will-bracks-live-to-regret-this-reform/2005/07/14/1120934356963.html Will Bracks live to regret this reform?] – ''The Age'', 15 July 2005</ref>

The staging of the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]], generally viewed as a success (albeit an expensive one), was viewed as a plus for Bracks and the government. With times reasonably good, a perception arguably reinforced by an extensive government advertising campaign selling the virtues of Victoria to Victorians,<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/state-ads-come-with-healthy-1m-price-tag/2006/04/22/1145344320287.html State ads come with healthy price tag] – ''The Age'', 23 April 2006</ref> polls indicated little interest in change, although towards the end of the election campaign polling indicated that the Liberals under Baillieu were closing the gap.

===Third term as Premier===
{{Main|2006 Victorian state election}}
[[File:Regional fast rail launch at geelong.jpg|thumb|Steve Bracks and Transport minister [[Peter Batchelor]] at the launch of the [[Regional Fast Rail project]] Geelong line upgrades in February 2006]]
The [[2006 Victorian state election|election campaign]] was a relatively low-key affair, with the Government and Bracks largely running on their record, as well as their plans to tackle infrastructure issues in their third term. Bracks' image loomed large in Labor's election advertising. Liberal attacks concentrated on the slow process of infrastructure development under Bracks (notably on water supply issues relating to the severe drought affecting Victoria in the election leadup), and new Liberal leader [[Ted Baillieu]] promised to start construction on a range of new infrastructure initiatives, including a new dam on the [[Maribyrnong River]] and a desalination plant. Labor's broken election promise on Eastlink was also expected to be a factor in some seats in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

On 25 November 2006, Steve Bracks won his third election, comfortably defeating Baillieu to secure a third term, with a slightly reduced majority in the Lower House. This marked only the second time that the Victorian Labor Party had won a third term in office. His third term Cabinet was sworn in on 1 December 2006 with Bracks also holding the portfolio of [[Minister for Veterans' Affairs (Victoria)|Minister for Veterans' Affairs]] and Multicultural Affairs.

===Resignation===
Bracks announced his resignation as Premier on 27 July 2007, saying this was to spend more time with his family.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bracks-resigns-as-premier/2007/07/27/1185339209648.html|title=Steve Bracks resigns as Premier|date=27 July 2007|access-date=27 July 2007|newspaper=The Age | location=Melbourne}}</ref> He stepped down on 30 July 2007. According to the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]], Bracks had been under political and personal pressure in the weeks before his resignation. Alone among State Premiers, he had refused to agree to the Federal Government's $10&nbsp;billion [[Murray–Darling basin]] water conservation plan,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/dead-in-the-water/2007/05/23/1179601445732.html|title=Bracks pulls plug on Murray-Darling plan|date=23 May 2007|access-date=27 July 2007|newspaper=The Age | location=Melbourne}}</ref> and his son had been involved in an accident involving a charge of drink driving.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/premiers-son-on-crash-charges/2007/07/13/1183833733525.html|title=Son behaved 'like an idiot'|date=13 July 2007|access-date=27 July 2007|newspaper=The Age | location=Melbourne}}</ref> Bracks told a media conference he could no longer give a 100 per cent commitment to politics:

{{blockquote|''Once you reach a point where you can no longer make that commitment, the choice is clear – I have made that choice.''|Steve Bracks, announcing his retirement<ref>{{cite news|url=http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/27/1989807.html |title=Bracks era ends in Victoria |date=27 July 2007 |access-date=5 August 2007 |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia }}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>}}

Bracks' deputy [[John Thwaites (Australian politician)|John Thwaites]] announced his resignation on the same day. News of the resignations caused surprise to the general community as well as to politicians. It was revealed that then Federal Labor Leader [[Kevin Rudd]] was informed only minutes before the announcement, and tried to talk Bracks out of his decision. Bracks' Treasurer [[John Brumby]] was elected unopposed by the Victorian Labor [[Caucus]] as Premier, while Attorney-General [[Rob Hulls]] was elected Deputy Premier.

One consequence of Bracks leaving politics may have been the introduction of abortion law reform in Victoria. It has been suggested that the resignation of Premier Bracks sowed the seeds for abortion law reform by legislation that parliamentarians previously had refused to support, fearing a backlash from anti-abortion groups led by veteran campaigner Margaret Tighe. Bracks, as a Catholic of Lebanese descent, almost certainly would not have allowed abortion legislation into the parliament, but his successor John Brumby did not share this view, and the Abortion Law Reform Bill introduced by upper house member [[Candy Broad]] was passed by the Parliament in 2008.<ref>Ainsley Symons (2014), "Anti-Abortion Campaigning and the Political Process," ''Recorder'' (Australian Society for the Study of Labour History, Melbourne Branch) No, 279, March, p.3</ref>

==After politics==
In August 2007, following his resignation as Premier, Bracks announced he would provide a short-term [[pro bono]] advising role in [[East Timor]] working alongside the newly elected Prime Minister [[Xanana Gusmão]].<ref name=ABC_ETimor>{{cite news |title=Bracks on track for East Timor job |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/31/2020891.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231105858/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/31/2020891.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 December 2012 |date=31 August 2007 |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia |first=Georgia |last=Spokes}}</ref> Bracks was to spend a year travelling between Melbourne and [[Dili]] helping with the establishment of Gusmão's administration, the key departments that would need to be involved, and advising on how they would be accountable and reportable to the legislature.<ref name=ABC_ETimor/><ref>{{cite news |title=Bracks arrives in E Timor to take up new role |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/19/2038083.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220085302/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/19/2038083.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2011 |date=19 September 2007 |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia }}</ref>

During 2008 Bracks indicated his support for Victorian abortion law reform in Victoria.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-10-08/bracks-supports-controversial-abortion-bill/535294|title = Bracks supports controversial abortion bill| publisher=ABC News|location=Australia |date = 8 October 2008}}</ref>

In addition to his role advising Gusmão, Bracks also joined several company advisory boards: [[KPMG]], insurance firm [[Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group]], the AIMS Financial Group and the [[National Australia Bank|NAB]]. The KPMG appointment was controversial, as the Victorian government had awarded the firm over 100 contracts during Bracks' time as Premier.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/brumby-backs-bracks-job/2007/10/04/1191091235655.html Brumby stands by Bracks' new job], ''[[The Age]]'', 4 October 2007.</ref> On 14 February 2008, the Federal Labor Government appointed Bracks to head an inquiry into the ongoing viability of the Australian car industry.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080217033037/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/14/2162385.htm Bracks 'not qualified' to lead car industry review], ''[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]'', 14 February 2008.</ref>

In 2010, Bracks was appointed a [[Order of Australia|Companion of the Order of Australia]] for services to the community and the Parliament of Victoria.<ref>{{cite web|title=Search Australian Honours: Bracks, Stephen Phillip|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1142598|work=It's an honour|publisher=Australian Government|access-date=13 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129122951/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1142598|archive-date=29 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In recognition of his distinguished services to the Victorian community, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws ([[honoris causa]]) – [[LL.D]] ''[[honorary degree|(h.c.)]]'' by [[Deakin University]] on 27 April 2010.<ref>[http://www.deakin.edu.au/news/2010/27042010bracks.php Dr Bracks] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409143336/https://deakin.edu.au/news/2010/27042010bracks.php |date=9 April 2011 }}</ref> He was also appointed to the Honorary Chair of the Deakin University Foundation.<ref>[http://www.deakin.edu.au/giving/foundation/news/steve-bracks.php An Honorable Chair] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311114307/https://www.deakin.edu.au/giving/foundation/news/steve-bracks.php |date=11 March 2011 }}</ref>

In February 2013 after the announcement that [[Nicola Roxon]] would retire from federal politics, Bracks was cited as a possible candidate for her safe Labor seat of [[Division of Gellibrand|Gellibrand]], but he ruled out running for the seat.<ref>Sydney Morning Herald [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-04/bracks-27welcome27-to-run-in-gellibrand/4498858 Bracks rules out running for Gellibrand: source 4 April 2013]</ref>

Bracks was appointed to the role of Australian Consul-General in New York in May 2013, by the Federal [[Australian Labor Party|ALP]] Government of [[Julia Gillard]]. At the time, the shadow Foreign Minister, the Deputy Liberal leader [[Julie Bishop]], described the appointment as "inappropriate" because of the proximity to the upcoming election and "arrogant" because of a lack of consultation with the then-opposition. Following the defeat of the [[Australian Labor Party|ALP]] at the 7 September [[2013 Australian federal election|election]], incoming foreign minister Julie Bishop reversed the appointment in a decision described as 'petty and vindictive' by acting [[Australian Labor Party|ALP]] foreign affairs spokeswoman [[Tanya Plibersek]].<ref>{{cite news | first = Adrian | last = Lowe | title = Former Victorian premier Steve Bracks sacked by Julie Bishop in 'vindictive' decision | date = 10 September 2013 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/former-victorian-premier-steve-bracks-sacked-by-julie-bishop-in-vindictive-decision-20130910-2tgtp.html | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | access-date = 10 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first = Ben | last = Packham | title = Incoming coalition government axes Steve Bracks from plum New York diplomatic post | date = 10 September 2013 | url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/incoming-coalition-government-axes-steve-bracks-from-plum-new-york-diplomatic-post/story-fn59nm2j-1226715816173 | work = The Australian | access-date = 10 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Steve Bracks says Coalition has stripped him of consul-general role in New York | date = 10 September 2013 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-10/bracks-stripped-of-ny-post-by-incoming-abbott-government/4947454 | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | access-date = 10 September 2013}}</ref>

In March 2019, it was announced that Bracks will serve as the 6th Chancellor of [[Victoria University, Melbourne|Victoria University]] from 2021.<ref name="vu_edu_au" />

In June 2020, Bracks and former federal Labor deputy leader [[Jenny Macklin]] were appointed as administrators of the [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party]] by the [[Australian Labor Party National Executive|party's National Executive]] until early 2021, after allegations of branch-stacking by Victorian minister [[Adem Somyurek]] were revealed. The pair reviewed the state party's operations and provided detailed recommendations to tackle the issue of branch-stacking within the party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-17/labor-party-alp-pledges-to-clean-up-victorian-branch/12362744|title=Labor Party's national executive pledges to clean up troubled Victoria branch|publisher=ABC News|location=United States|date=17 June 2020|access-date=17 June 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|au-vic}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Joan Kirner]]}} 
{{s-ttl|title=Member for [[Electoral district of Williamstown|Williamstown]]|years=1994–2007}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[Wade Noonan]]}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Alan Stockdale]]}} 
{{s-ttl|title=[[Treasurer of Victoria]]|years=1999–2000}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[John Brumby]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jeff Kennett]]}} 
{{s-ttl|title=[[Premiers of Victoria|Premier of Victoria]]|years=1999–2007}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[John Brumby]]}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John Brumby]]}} 
{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor Party]] in Victoria|years=1999–2007}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[John Brumby]]}}
{{s-dip}}
{{s-bef|before=Phil Scanlan}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Consuls-General of Australia in New York|Australian Consul General in New York]]|years=2013}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Nick Minchin]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Premiers of Victoria}}
{{Treasurers of Victoria}}
{{Leaders of the Labor Party in VIC}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bracks, Steve}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Australian people of Lebanese descent]]
[[Category:Premiers of Victoria]]
[[Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Victoria]]
[[Category:Labor Right politicians]]
[[Category:Australian republicans]]
[[Category:Australian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Australian schoolteachers]]
[[Category:Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Treasurers of Victoria]]
[[Category:Leaders of the opposition in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Federation University Australia alumni]]
[[Category:People from Ballarat]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People educated at St Patrick's College, Ballarat]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian politicians]]
[[Category:Consuls-General of Australia in New York]]
[[Category:Ministers for multicultural affairs (Victoria)]]
[[Category:Ministers for veterans (Victoria)]]