Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus

2025-06-17T17:31:02Z

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{{one source|date=July 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
The '''Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus''' is the [[bipartisan]] [[caucus]] within the [[Congress of the United States|U.S. Congress]] that seeks to "promote a deeper cultural understanding, enhance our mutual security, and strengthen our economic ties" between the [[United States]] and [[Australia]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-09 |title=Friends of Australia Caucus Lead Bicameral, Bipartisan Coalition in Pledging Support to Australia Amid Ongoing Bushfire Crisis {{!}} Congressman Joe Courtney |url=https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/friends-australia-caucus-lead-bicameral-bipartisan-coalition-pledging |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=courtney.house.gov |language=en}}</ref> The caucus was founded by [[Jennifer Dunn (politician)|Jennifer Dunn]] and [[Cal Dooley]].

This group corresponds to the [[U.S./Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group]] in the [[Parliament of Australia]].

==See also==
* [[Australia–United States relations]]
* [[U.S./Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Australia–United States relations}}

[[Category:Caucuses of the United States Congress|Australia]]
[[Category:Australia–United States relations]]
[[Category:Australia friendship associations]]
[[Category:United States friendship associations]]

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells

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{{Short description|Australian politician (born 1960)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name = Concetta Fierravanti-Wells
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Concetta-fierravanti-wells-portrait.jpg
| caption =
| office = [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)#List of Ministers for International Development|Minister for International Development and the Pacific]]
| term_start = {{start date|2016|02|18|df=y}}
| term_end = {{start date|2018|08|21|df=y}}
| primeminister = [[Malcolm Turnbull]]
| predecessor = [[Steven Ciobo]]
| successor = [[Anne Ruston]]

| office1 = [[Minister for Immigration and Border Protection#List of assistant ministers|Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs]]
| primeminister1 = [[Malcolm Turnbull]]
| predecessor1 = ''Office established''
| successor1 = [[Craig Laundy]]
| term_start1 = 15 September 2015
| term_end1 = {{start date|2016|02|18|df=y}}

| office2 = [[Australian Senate|Senator]] for [[New South Wales]]
| term_start2 = 5 May 2005
| term_end2 = 30 June 2022
| predecessor2 = [[John Tierney (Australian politician)|John Tierney]]
| successor2 = [[Ross Cadell]]
| constituency2 =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|5|20|df=y}}
| birth_name = Concetta Anna Fierravanti
| birth_place = [[Wollongong]], [[New South Wales]], Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Australian
| party = [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]]
| residence =
| spouse = {{marriage|John Wells|1990}}
| alma_mater = [[Australian National University]] (BA,
[[LL.B]])
| occupation =
| profession = Solicitor
| signature =
| website =
}}

'''Concetta Anna Fierravanti-Wells''' ({{née|'''Fierravanti'''}};{{efn|Italian pronunciation: {{IPA|it|konˈtʃɛtta ˈanna fjerraˈvanti|}}.}} born 20 May 1960) is an Australian politician who was a [[Australian Senate|Senator]] for [[New South Wales]] from 2005 to 2022, representing the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]]. She served as [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)#List of Ministers for International Development|Minister for International Development and the Pacific]] in the [[Turnbull government]] from 2016 to 2018. She grew up in [[Port Kembla, New South Wales]], and, prior to entering politics, worked as a lawyer and policy adviser.

==Early life==
Fierravanti-Wells was born on 20 May 1960 in [[Wollongong]], [[New South Wales]].<ref name=aph>{{Cite web | url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=(Id:handbook/allmps/e4t); |title = ParlInfo – Biography for FIERRAVANTI-WELLS, the Hon. Concetta (Connie) Anna}}</ref> She is the daughter of Giuseppe and Antonia Fierravanti,<ref name=wendt>{{cite news|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/feature/voice-silent-majority|title=Voice of the 'silent majority'?|publisher=SBS News|date=30 September 2016|access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref> both of whom were born in [[Calitri]], Italy.<ref name=citizenship>{{cite web |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Senators_Interests/CitizenshipRegister |title=Citizenship Register |publisher=Parliament of Australia |access-date=5 December 2017 |archive-date=18 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518070439/https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Senators_Interests/CitizenshipRegister |url-status=dead }}</ref> Her father arrived in Australia in 1953 to work at the [[Port Kembla, New South Wales|Port Kembla]] steelworks, and was joined by his future wife six years later.<ref name=wendt/> Fierravanti-Wells acquired Italian citizenship by descent in 1985, but renounced it in 1994 prior to standing for parliamentary preselection.<ref name=citizenship/> She spoke Italian as her first language, learning English at kindergarten.<ref name=hall>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/senator-concetta-fierravantiwells-insists-all-migrants-must-speak-english-20140125-31frb.html|title=Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells insists all migrants must speak English|first=Bianca|last=Hall|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=26 January 2014|access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref>

Fierravanti-Wells grew up in Port Kembla, attending St Patrick's Catholic Primary School and St Mary, Star of the Sea College in Wollongong.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/hansards/2005-06-14/0115%22|title=Maiden speech|date=14 June 2005|access-date=19 June 2021|publisher=Parliament of Australia|work=Hansard}}</ref> She went on to study at the [[Australian National University]], completing a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in political science in European languages in 1980 and a [[Bachelor of Laws]] in 1982.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/qanda/concetta-fierravanti-wells/10643506|title=Concetta Fierravanti-Wells|work=Q&A|publisher=ABC|access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref> While at university she was named Miss Rugby 1981 by the [[ACT Rugby Union]], representing the [[Uni-Norths Owls|ANU Rugby Club]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127069375|title=Miss Rugby crown goes to university|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=30 August 1981}}</ref>

==Career==
Fierravanti-Wells served her [[articles of clerkship]] with the Canberra firm of Macphillamy, Cummins and Gibson. She joined the office of the [[Australian Government Solicitor]] (AGS) in 1984, working for its ACT branch until 1986 and then joining its New South Wales branch. She was the acting principal legal officer at the [[Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service]] in 1990.<ref name=aph/> In the same year, Fierravanti-Wells began working as a policy adviser for federal MP and shadow minister [[Jim Carlton]]. She was involved in drafting the proposed changes to the [[Australian Public Service]] under the federal opposition's [[Fightback! (policy)|Fightback!]] policy. After the Coalition's defeat at the [[1993 Australian federal election|1993 federal election]] she was seconded to New South Wales premier [[John Fahey (politician)|John Fahey]] as his senior private secretary.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/hansards/6b734b2a-e113-486c-bacc-822e11cbf7e6/0050%22|title=CONDOLENCES: Carlton, Hon. James (Jim) Joseph, AO|publisher=Parliament of Australia|work=Hansard|date=2 February 2016|access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref> Fierravanti-Wells re-joined the AGS in 1994 as a senior lawyer. She was also a consultant to [[MinterEllison]] from 2003.<ref name=aph/>

Outside of her professional career, Fierravanti-Wells was the Australian representative on the General Council of Italians Abroad (Consiglio Generale degli Italiani all'Estero) from 1990 to 1998.<ref name=aph/> She was made a knight of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] in 1998,<ref name=wendt/> the youngest Australian to receive the honour.<ref name=smh>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/that-feminine-feeling-grows-stronger-20050509-gdla6q.html|title=That feminine feeling grows stronger|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=9 May 2005|access-date=20 June 2021}}</ref> Fierravanti-Wells was one of the Coalition's nominees to the multicultural advisory committee for the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in Sydney. She also served on the board of [[Chris Riley (priest)|Chris Riley]]'s charity [[Youth Off The Streets]] from 1999 to 2004, including as chairman from 2002.<ref name=aph/>

==Political career==
[[File:Concetta_Fierravanti-Wells_Portrait_2015.jpg|thumb|right|Fierravanti-Wells in 2015]]
Fierravanti-Wells was an unsuccessful candidate for Liberal preselection at the [[1994 Warringah by-election]], which saw future prime minister [[Tony Abbott]] elected to parliament.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134300357|title=14 nominate for safe Liberal seat|newspaper=Canberra Times|date=8 February 1994}}</ref> She was president of the party's Italian special branch from 1995 and elected to the state executive in 1996, also serving as a delegate to state council from 1995 and to federal council from 2000.<ref name=aph/>

Fierravanti-Wells defeated incumbent senator [[John Tierney (Australian politician)|John Tierney]] for Liberal preselection prior to the [[2004 Australian federal election|2004 federal election]], winning by 57 votes to 51 with the support of powerbroker [[David Clarke (Australian politician)|David Clarke]]. Her victory followed four previous attempts to gain preselection.<ref name=smh/> Normally Fierravanti-Wells would have taken her seat on 1 July 2005, however Tierney resigned in April prior to the expiration of his term. She was appointed to the resulting casual vacancy, and took her seat on 5 May.

Following the [[2008 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill|2008 Liberal leadership spill]], Fierravanti-Wells was appointed as a shadow parliamentary secretary under [[Malcolm Turnbull]], with responsibility for immigration and citizenship. She was promoted to shadow minister for ageing when [[Tony Abbott]] replaced Turnbull as opposition leader in December 2009, adding the mental health portfolio following the [[2010 Australian federal election|2010 election]].<ref name=aph/>

After the [[2013 Australian federal election|2013 federal election]], Fierravanti-Wells was appointed to the [[Abbott Ministry]] as the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Services from September 2013.<ref name=aph/> In May 2015 she was also made parliamentary secretary to the [[Attorney-General of Australia|Attorney-General]], with a focus on anti-[[radicalisation]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/may/26/concetta-fierravanti-wells-tipped-for-new-anti-radicalisation-cabinet-position|title=Anti-radicalisation roles for Philip Ruddock and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells|first=Shalailah|last=Medhora|publisher=Guardian Australia|date=26 May 2015|access-date=20 June 2021}}</ref> She was appointed as Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs in September 2015, following Turnbull's victory over Abbott in [[September 2015 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill|a leadership spill]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-20/turnbull-cabinet-reshuffle-whos-going-where/6775446 |title=Turnbull cabinet reshuffle: who's going where |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia }}</ref> Following the [[2015 Parramatta shooting]], Fierravanti-Wells stated that "we have been dealing with extremism and violent extremism as a national security issue, but what we really need to do is to be looking at it [as] a social issue with a national security angle". She supported [[ASIO]] director-general [[Duncan Lewis]]'s request that Coalition MPs use more moderate language in reference to Islamic extremism, which was seen as controversial. She also stated that it was a duty of government to support "the modern and moderate interpretation" of Islam.<ref name=wendt/>

On 13 February 2016, it was announced that Fierravanti-Wells would be appointed [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)#List of Ministers for International Development|Minister for International Development and the Pacific]] following a [[First Turnbull Ministry#Second arrangement|rearrangement]] in the [[First Turnbull Ministry]].<ref name=Age130216>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/cabinet-reshuffle-malcolm-turnbull-announces-new-frontbench-as-mal-brough-resigns-20160213-gmta7z.html |title=Cabinet reshuffle: Malcolm Turnbull announces new frontbench as Mal Brough resigns |work=[[The Age]] |date=13 February 2016 |access-date=13 February 2016 |author=Massola, James}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://gg.gov.au/events/ministerial-swearing-ceremony-0 |title=Ministerial Swearing-in Ceremony |work=Events |publisher=[[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia]] |date=18 February 2016 |access-date=19 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301170128/http://gg.gov.au/events/ministerial-swearing-ceremony-0 |archive-date=1 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In April 2018, speaking at the [[Overseas Development Institute]] in London, Fierravanti-Wells said increasing Australia's foreign aid commitment was opposed by most in the country. "In Australia we had some research done where it showed that about 80% of Australians believe that we should not be spending more on foreign aid or that what we spend is about right". In 2018, Australia's foreign aid commitment stood at $3.9bn,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/julie-bishop-says-foreign-aid-will-stay-in-freezer-until-budget-reaches-surplus-20170510-gw1e1l.html|title=Julie Bishop says foreign aid will stay in freezer until budget reaches surplus|last=Hunter|first=Fergus|date=11 May 2017|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref> its lowest ever level as a proportion of the budget: 0.22% of gross national income.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/17/australian-minister-claims-foreign-aid-spending-too-unpopular-to-increase|title=Australian minister claims foreign aid spending too unpopular to increase|last=Doherty|first=Ben|date=17 April 2018|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref>

Fierravanti-Wells resigned from the ministry on 21 August 2018, following the [[Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill, 2018|Liberal Party leadership spill]] that day.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pearson |first1=Andrew |title=Wollongong-based Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells resigns |url=https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/sport/local-sport/5599780/wollongong-based-senator-concetta-fierravanti-wells-resigns/ |access-date=22 August 2018 |work=Illawarra Mercury |date=21 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822145717/https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/sport/local-sport/5599780/wollongong-based-senator-concetta-fierravanti-wells-resigns/ |archive-date=22 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Political positions===
During the [[Morrison government]], Fierravanti-Wells was a member of the [[National Right (Liberal Party of Australia)|National Right]] faction of the Liberal Party.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Massola |first1=James |title=Who's who in the Liberals' left, right and centre factions? |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/who-s-who-in-the-liberals-left-right-and-centre-factions-20210303-p577gv.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=20 March 2021 |publisher=Fairfax Media |access-date=1 February 2022}}</ref> She was a member of [[Australians for Constitutional Monarchy|Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy]] and served on the committee of a Liberal Party publication, ''The Conservative''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=e4t|title=Senator the Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells|website=www.aph.gov.au|language=en-AU|access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref>

Speaking in 2012 about same-sex marriage, Fierravanti-Wells said that many LGBT people do not "even intend on staying in a monogamous relationship".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/348839/gay-couples-not-interested-in-monogamy/|title=Gay couples 'not interested in monogamy' |last=McIlwain|first=Kate|date=21 September 2012|work=Illawarra Mercury|access-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> She is one of twelve senators who voted against what became the [[Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/gay-marriage/samesex-marriage-bill-set-to-pass-the-senate/news-story/77e3a18b6f990ee542a96d9e75ff0c5d |title=Senate passes same-sex marriage bill |newspaper=News.com.au |publisher=News Limited |date=29 November 2017 |access-date=9 January 2018}}</ref>

In November 2021, Fierravanti-Wells was one of five Liberal-aligned senators who voted against the government in support of [[Pauline Hanson's One Nation|One Nation]]’s COVID-19 Vaccination Status (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2021B00156|title = COVID-19 Vaccination Status (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/scott-morrison-faces-senate-revolt-over-pauline-hanson-bill/news-story/519fbb22fc22f7f620142007d0386ae3 |title= Scott Morrison faces Senate revolt over Pauline Hanson bill |website=news.com.au |date=22 November 2021 |access-date=22 November 2021}}</ref>

===Departure===
Fierravanti-Wells' senate term would expire in June 2022, along with those of two other Liberal senators. She sought Liberal Party preselection for the [[2022 Australian federal election]] to continue to represent New South Wales. She nominated for the winnable positions (the first two) on the party's Senate ticket. She was defeated by both other senators in the ballot held at the state council meeting on 26 March 2022.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-unveils-jerome-laxale-as-candidate-for-bennelong-20220325-p5a81m.html |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |title=Liberal Party dumps Concetta Fierravanti-Wells ahead of election |first1=Matthew |last1=Knott |first2=James |last2=Massola |date=26 March 2022 |access-date=15 April 2022}}</ref> Fierravanti-Wells later clarified via Twitter and an open letter to party members that she did not nominate for the unwinnable positions, and so she would not appear on the Senate ticket and would not be a candidate at the election.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author= Concetta Fierravanti-Wells |user= Senator_CFW |number= 1510152762222252038 |date=2 April 2022 |title= Have no issue losing a fair contest. This was a "dodgy" preselection. Given I lost by a handful of votes, was advised process open to legal challenge. Have no intent/inclination to pursue at this stage. See email to NSW Liberal members (29/3/22) outlining irregularities #auspol |access-date=15 April 2022}}</ref>

A few days later, on 29 March 2022, she spoke in parliament, criticising [[Scott Morrison]] and the pre-selection process in the [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|New South Wales division of the Liberal Party]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/29/scott-morrison-labelled-an-autocrat-and-bully-with-no-moral-compass-by-liberal-senator-concetta-fierravanti-wells |title=Scott Morrison labelled an 'autocrat and bully who has no moral compass' by Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells |first1=Josh |last1=Butler |first2=Sarah |last2=Martin |newspaper=[[The Guardian (Australia)|The Guardian]] |date=29 March 2022 |access-date=30 March 2022}}</ref>

Fierravanti-Wells's term expired on 30 June 2022.

==Personal life==
Fierravanti-Wells is married to John Wells, a former [[Royal Australian Navy]] officer who commanded {{HMAS|Tobruk|L 50|6}} during the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/viewpoint/private-view/item/19122-concetta-fierravanti-wells-speech|title=Sinking of HMAS Canberra Memorial Ceremony|newspaper=Solomon Star|date=10 August 2017|access-date=13 June 2021|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614153651/https://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/viewpoint/private-view/item/19122-concetta-fierravanti-wells-speech|url-status=dead}}</ref> They married in 1990 at the naval base [[HMAS Watson|HMAS ''Watson'']].<ref name=wendt/> In 2013, when she first became a parliamentary secretary, she reported that they own a property in [[Umbria]], Italy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/fierravanti-wells-stung-by-mafia-link-joke/55f4f289-1188-4456-92eb-878d2418d91f|title=Fierravanti-Wells stung by mafia link joke|publisher=9 News|date=21 October 2015|access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/concetta_fierravanti-wells Summary of parliamentary voting for Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells on TheyVoteForYou.org.au]

{{s-start}}
{{s-parl|au}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John Tierney (Australian politician)|John Tierney]] }}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Australian Senate|Senator]] for [[New South Wales]]|years=2005–2022}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Steven Ciobo]] }}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)#List of Ministers for International Development|Minister for International Development and the Pacific]]|years=2016–2018}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-new|minister }}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister for Immigration and Border Protection#List of assistant ministers|Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs]] |years=2015–2016}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Craig Laundy]] }}
{{s-end}}

{{Abbott Ministry}}
{{First Turnbull Ministry}}
{{Second Turnbull Ministry}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fierravanti-Wells, Concetta}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Wollongong]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian Senate for New South Wales]]
[[Category:Women members of the Australian Senate]]
[[Category:Australian monarchists]]
[[Category:Australian politicians of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Australian National University alumni]]
[[Category:Abbott government]]
[[Category:Turnbull government]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian women politicians]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Australia]]
[[Category:Women government ministers of Australia]]
[[Category:Knights of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]]

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Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells