Kelvin Thomson

Parliamentary Secretary for Trade

Kelvin was born in Pascoe Vale. and at the age of 11, with his younger brother Lex, Kelvin established the Pascoe Vale Young Naturalists as he became increasingly interested in conservation and the environment.
 
After his interest in politics grew, Kelvin joined the Australian Labor Party in 1974, inspired by the Gough Whitlam years.

Kelvin graduated with First Class Combined Honours in History and Politics from the University of Melbourne and later returned to study part-time a Bachelor of Laws (also at the University of Melbourne) for which he was awarded the Supreme Court Prize in 1987.

For more than a decade Kelvin worked in the Commonwealth public service as a research officer before working for Senator Gareth Evans.

“People came here in search of work, from countries where opportunities for work had simply dried up. People came here in search of a clean and healthy environment. So we owe to ourselves the protection of our urban and natural environment. One of the many great things about Australia is that we still have a lot of our original environment left and that the quality of life in our cities is high.”

Kelvin has passionately represented his local area in Melbourne northern suburbs for decades: first as a local councillor, then in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, and in the federal parliament since 1996.

Recently appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Trade, Kelvin is a strong advocate for population stabilisation, action on climate change, and the protection of Australia’s unique environment.