Duncan Kerr

Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs
(Pacific Island Affairs)

Following the election of the Labor government on November 24, 2007, Duncan Kerr SC was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Pacific Island Affairs). First elected to federal parliament in 1987 Duncan has built the margin of his Tasmanian seat of Denison, which he won from the Liberals, to more than 16 per cent.

As Justice Minister in the Labor government from 1993 to 1996 Duncan cut red tape in the Copyright Act, reformed the law of evidence and carried oversight of the landmark Justice Statement (May 2005). He also moved to establish a model Criminal Code and reformed Commonwealth Criminal Law. In Opposition from 1996 Duncan served in shadow ministry roles including Immigration, Environment, Arts, Justice and Customs. Duncan is an active parliamentarian and has served on various legal and national security-related parliamentary committees.

Before his election to parliament Duncan practised law as a barrister and in June 2004 was appointed Senior Counsel. He has maintained his practice rights and has appeared pro bono in major public interest cases before the High Court of Australia. In July 2007 Duncan was appointed Adjunct Professor of Law at the Queensland University of Technology.

Duncan holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania and a Bachelor of Arts (Social Work) from the Tasmanian College of Advanced Education. He has served as Crown Counsel for Tasmania, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Papua New Guinea, and Principal Solicitor for the NSW Aboriginal Legal Service. He has appeared before the Tasmanian Supreme Court numerous times and represented the State in legal proceedings in the United States.

Duncan is a passionate advocate for human rights and, amongst other things, is vice-president of the United Nations Association (Tasmanian division). He has contributed to several law and public policy journals and has authored books, the most recent being Elect the Ambassador! Building a democracy in a globalised world.

Duncan, 56, was born and raised in Hobart, Tasmania's beautiful capital city, and continues to live there.