Kim Carr

Biography

Kim Carr’s passionate public advocacy and strident defence of the humanities has been a hallmark all through his near thirty years of parliamentary service.

He has long argued for the humanities to be afforded the same dignity and privileges as the other sciences, as the critically important disciplines through which we understand ourselves and others.

As Minister, he moved to provide equal access for the humanities and social sciences to government initiatives such as the Cooperative Research Centres Program, while championing public good outcomes of programs across government, many of which lean heavily on the humanities.

In Opposition, he has vigorously opposed attacks on the humanities such as political interference in research grants, the narrow pursuit of commercial outcomes at the expense of curiosity-driven discovery research, and the punishing costs imposed on arts students in service of a misguided culture war.

Kim Carr’s Parliamentary service to Victorian and Australian communities included Cabinet and Ministerial appointments as Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (2007-2011 and 2013), Minister for Higher Education (2013), Minister for Manufacturing (2011-2012), Minister for Defence Materiel (2011-2012) and Minister for Human Services (2012-2013).

He was Victoria’s longest serving Senator, serving from 1993 to 2022.  He was and remains a passionate, powerful and effective advocate for building Australia’s research and development capacity. His parliamentary work in Opposition concentrated on advocacy and policy development in innovation, higher education and industry.

Prior to his parliamentary career, he was a ministerial adviser in education and a policy analyst in Commonwealth-State relations.

He is currently engaged at Monash University to provide strategic advice and expertise to advance partnerships with industry.