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Steve Dimopoulos
Australian politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Steve Dimopoulos (born 1972) is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2014 representing the electoral district of Oakleigh.[1] He served as the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events and the Minister for Creative Industries in the Second Andrews Ministry from June 2022 to September 2023.[2] He continued as Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for Outdoor Recreation in the Allan Ministry.
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Early life
Dimopoulos was raised in Hughesdale, and publicly educated at Hughesdale Primary School and later attended Chadstone High School. Hughesdale Primary School was threatened by the Kennett Liberal Government with closure due to demographic changes, but ultimately avoided closing.
Dimopoulos later studied at Monash University, Clayton Campus where he studied a Bachelor of Arts with Honours, majoring in Politics and History. During this time Dimopoulos worked as an Electorate Officer for the late Member for Hotham, Simon Crean AC.
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Early career
In 2002, Dimopoulos opened his own small business, called Cosmic Bear, a cafe which was located along Atherton Road in Oakleigh.[3] Dimopoulos parted ways with the business in 2005, following his election as Mayor of the City of Monash.
While operating Cosmic Bear Cafe, Dimopoulos worked at the Victorian Multicultural Commission as Manager in Policy and Programs, in August of 2003 until December of 2010. In January of 2011, Dimopoulos work as the Assiant Director of the Department of Justice and Regulation.
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Political career
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Monash City Council (2003-2014)
Steve was elected as a Municipal Councillor to the City of Monash in 2003, representing Huntingdale Ward. He was subsequently elected Mayor of the City of Monash in 2005[4]. Following, a restructuring of Wards in the council to transition from Single-member Wards to Multiple-member, Dimopoulos was reelected to council in 2005, 2008, and 2012, representing Oakleigh ward.
First Andrews Labor Government (2014-2018)
Dimopoulos was elected in 2014 to represent the electorate of Oakleigh, succeeding former Labor MP Ann Barker. Dimopoulos became the first MP of Greek Descent to represent the electorate in 87 years. In December of 2014, Dimopoulous was appointed to the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee and was later appointed to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee in April of 2018.
Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP)
Dimopoulos was a vocal advocate for the Level Crossing Removal Project, which removed 6 level crossing in the Oakleigh Electorate between 2014 and 2018. Between the Carnegie and Clayton portion of the Cranbourne-Pakenham Line. This project also created the Djerring Trail, a 17km stretch of urban green space, which connected the north and south of the line for the first time in decades.
Second Andrews Labor Government (2018-2022)
Following reelection in 2018, Dimopoulos was promoted to Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer. He then served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, and Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health from 2020.
On the 27th of June 2022, Dimopoulos was promoted and sworn in as Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events and Minister for Creative Industries on 27 June 2022.[5][6]
Third Andrews Labor Government (2022-2023)
Originally a member of Labor Action, Dimopoulos moved across to Labor Left along with six of his colleagues shortly after the 2022 Victorian state election; the move of his colleagues and himself meant that Labor Left constituted a majority of the state Labor caucus.[7][8]
First Allan Labor Government (2023-Present)
Following the resignation of Premier Daniel Andrews in 2023, Dimopoulos was promoted to Minister for the Environment and Minister for Outdoor Recreation in the First Allan Labor Ministry, and retained his role as Minister for Tourism, Sports and Major Events.[9]
Electoral history
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Personal life
Dimopoulos is of Greek descent. He and Harriet Shing are the first openly gay frontbenchers in the Parliament of Victoria.[10][11]
Dimopoulos is a support of local clubs and is the joint Number One ticket holder, with Clare O'Neil, for the Oakleigh Amateur Football Club.
Dimopoulos also holds membership with a number of community groups such as the Rotary Club of Oakleigh Clayton Huntingdale Inc., Monash Glen Eira Historical Society, and Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Australia.
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References
External links
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