Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MELBOURNE119
2009-11-12 23:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Consulate Melbourne
Cable title:
AUSTRALIAN VA MINISTER TO MEET U.S. COUNTERPART
how-toVZCZCXRO5435 RR RUEHPT DE RUEHBN #0119/01 3162346 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 122346Z NOV 09 FM AMCONSUL MELBOURNE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5016 INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3662 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0033 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0001 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0014 RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 1626 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 2145
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MELBOURNE 000119
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR
STATE PLEASE PASS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN VA MINISTER TO MEET U.S. COUNTERPART
REF: MELBOURNE 52
Classified By: JUSTIN KOLBECK, POL/ECON OFFICER FOR REASON 1.4(B)
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MELBOURNE 000119
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR
STATE PLEASE PASS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN VA MINISTER TO MEET U.S. COUNTERPART
REF: MELBOURNE 52
Classified By: JUSTIN KOLBECK, POL/ECON OFFICER FOR REASON 1.4(B)
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Alan Griffin, Australia's Minister for Veterans'
Affairs, informed us that he is planning to meet U.S.
Secretary for Veterans' Affairs Shinseki in New Zealand in
February 2010 along with the VA ministers from the United
Kingdom, New Zealand and Canada. We provide bio notes on
this left-leaning member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP).
End Summary.
Five Eyes VA Meeting
--------------
2. (SBU) Griffin informed Consul General on November 6 that
he plans to meet U.S. Secretary of Veterans' Affairs Shinseki
in New Zealand in February 2010 along with the VA ministers
from the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand, hoping to
learn from "shared challenges" such as dealing with traumatic
brain injury. Griffin said he had met former VA Secretary
Peake in late 2008 and that he still holds Peake in very high
regard.
Bio Notes - Alan Griffin
--------------
3. (SBU) Born February 23, 1960, Alan Peter Griffin hails
from Melbourne and has served in the Australian House of
Representatives since March 1993. Kevin Rudd appointed him
Minister for Veterans Affairs (VA) following the November
2007 election. Prior to that, Griffin filled the minor
opposition roles of Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs and
Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Health from
2003 to 2005. In June 2005, he was appointed Shadow Minister
for Veterans' Affairs and Shadow Special Minister of State.
4. (SBU) Like most ALP parliamentarians, Griffin has a strong
union affiliation, serving as an official for the Federated
Clerk's Union (now part of the Australian Services Union).
Griffin was a member of the Springvale City Council from
1991-1993 while working as a staffer for former federal
minister Simon Crean. Griffin is part of the Victorian
Socialist Left faction led by Kim Carr, Minister for
Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. He played a
leading role in mending a divide that erupted in early 2009
within Victoria's state ALP branch. Griffin also backed
Prime Minister Rudd's campaign to replace Kim Beazley
(incoming Australian Ambassador to Washington) as ALP leader.
Ministerial Style
--------------
5. (C/NF) Griffin is a conscientious politician. In
describing his Veterans' Affairs portfolio during a November
6 meeting with Consul General, he outlined campaign promises
yet to be implemented, saying he needs to make progress on
them before they became "embarrassing issues" in the next
federal election (likely to be held August-November 2010).
Griffin's electorate of Bruce is an ethnically diverse area,
including a large number of Tamils, with a wide range of
commercial activities including warehousing and light
engineering.
6. (C/NF) In light of the current asylum seeker challenge in
Australia, which he believes will not be an election issue
for the Rudd government, Griffin relayed a story about the
funeral of one of his long-time friends of Tamil extraction.
Griffin was asked to speak at the funeral and only noticed
when he approached the coffin that it was draped in the Tamil
Tiger flag. He quickly modified his televised speech,
acknowledging that he and his friend had a long-term
friendship, but "often disagreed." Griffin also noted the
disturbing possibility of Tamil Tiger members being among
Tamil asylum seekers destined for Australia.
Comment
--------------
7. (C/NF) Griffin is a dynamic interlocutor with a profound
MELBOURNE 00000119 002 OF 002
grasp of Australian politics and a street reputation for
being a ladies' man. He views his duties as a minister
through the prism of the election cycle and its impact upon
his career, yet he seems content with his current portfolio.
Griffin will likely continue to do the hard yards within the
ranks of the ALP and may obtain a more senior cabinet post in
the next five years. Along with Senator Kim Carr, Griffin is
a counterweight in the Victorian ALP to Stephen Conroy
(reftel) and Bill Shorten in the ALP right, though Griffin
emphasized that factions are becoming less important in
Australian politics.
THURSTON
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR
STATE PLEASE PASS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN VA MINISTER TO MEET U.S. COUNTERPART
REF: MELBOURNE 52
Classified By: JUSTIN KOLBECK, POL/ECON OFFICER FOR REASON 1.4(B)
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Alan Griffin, Australia's Minister for Veterans'
Affairs, informed us that he is planning to meet U.S.
Secretary for Veterans' Affairs Shinseki in New Zealand in
February 2010 along with the VA ministers from the United
Kingdom, New Zealand and Canada. We provide bio notes on
this left-leaning member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP).
End Summary.
Five Eyes VA Meeting
--------------
2. (SBU) Griffin informed Consul General on November 6 that
he plans to meet U.S. Secretary of Veterans' Affairs Shinseki
in New Zealand in February 2010 along with the VA ministers
from the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand, hoping to
learn from "shared challenges" such as dealing with traumatic
brain injury. Griffin said he had met former VA Secretary
Peake in late 2008 and that he still holds Peake in very high
regard.
Bio Notes - Alan Griffin
--------------
3. (SBU) Born February 23, 1960, Alan Peter Griffin hails
from Melbourne and has served in the Australian House of
Representatives since March 1993. Kevin Rudd appointed him
Minister for Veterans Affairs (VA) following the November
2007 election. Prior to that, Griffin filled the minor
opposition roles of Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs and
Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Health from
2003 to 2005. In June 2005, he was appointed Shadow Minister
for Veterans' Affairs and Shadow Special Minister of State.
4. (SBU) Like most ALP parliamentarians, Griffin has a strong
union affiliation, serving as an official for the Federated
Clerk's Union (now part of the Australian Services Union).
Griffin was a member of the Springvale City Council from
1991-1993 while working as a staffer for former federal
minister Simon Crean. Griffin is part of the Victorian
Socialist Left faction led by Kim Carr, Minister for
Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. He played a
leading role in mending a divide that erupted in early 2009
within Victoria's state ALP branch. Griffin also backed
Prime Minister Rudd's campaign to replace Kim Beazley
(incoming Australian Ambassador to Washington) as ALP leader.
Ministerial Style
--------------
5. (C/NF) Griffin is a conscientious politician. In
describing his Veterans' Affairs portfolio during a November
6 meeting with Consul General, he outlined campaign promises
yet to be implemented, saying he needs to make progress on
them before they became "embarrassing issues" in the next
federal election (likely to be held August-November 2010).
Griffin's electorate of Bruce is an ethnically diverse area,
including a large number of Tamils, with a wide range of
commercial activities including warehousing and light
engineering.
6. (C/NF) In light of the current asylum seeker challenge in
Australia, which he believes will not be an election issue
for the Rudd government, Griffin relayed a story about the
funeral of one of his long-time friends of Tamil extraction.
Griffin was asked to speak at the funeral and only noticed
when he approached the coffin that it was draped in the Tamil
Tiger flag. He quickly modified his televised speech,
acknowledging that he and his friend had a long-term
friendship, but "often disagreed." Griffin also noted the
disturbing possibility of Tamil Tiger members being among
Tamil asylum seekers destined for Australia.
Comment
--------------
7. (C/NF) Griffin is a dynamic interlocutor with a profound
MELBOURNE 00000119 002 OF 002
grasp of Australian politics and a street reputation for
being a ladies' man. He views his duties as a minister
through the prism of the election cycle and its impact upon
his career, yet he seems content with his current portfolio.
Griffin will likely continue to do the hard yards within the
ranks of the ALP and may obtain a more senior cabinet post in
the next five years. Along with Senator Kim Carr, Griffin is
a counterweight in the Victorian ALP to Stephen Conroy
(reftel) and Bill Shorten in the ALP right, though Griffin
emphasized that factions are becoming less important in
Australian politics.
THURSTON