Alistair Coe

Alistair Bruce Coe (born 9 January 1984) is an Australian politician and a former leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). He has been a member of the ACT Legislative Assembly since the 2008 election, representing the Ginninderra electorate from 2008 to 2016 and the Yerrabi electorate since 2016.[1][2][3] As Opposition Leader Coe led the Liberal Party to defeat at the 2020 election, and afterwards chose not to re-contest the party's leadership position.[4]

Alistair Coe MLA
Coe in October 2016
Leader of the Opposition of the Australian Capital Territory Elections: 2020
In office 25 October 2016 – 27 October 2020
Deputy	Nicole Lawder
Preceded by	Jeremy Hanson
Succeeded by	Elizabeth Lee
Member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly for Yerrabi
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 October 2016
Member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly for Ginninderra
In office 29 October 2008 – 15 October 2016
Personal details
Born	Alistair Bruce Coe 9 January 1984 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Yasmin Coe
Alma mater	Australian National University

Legislative Assembly

Coe at the Australian War Memorial in 2009

Coe's first speech in the ACT Legislative Assembly was on 9 December 2008.

His portfolio responsibilities[2] from 2008 to 2012 were as Shadow Minister for Urban Services, for Transport Services, for Housing, for Heritage, and for Youth. From 2012,[5] Coe's responsibilities included Shadow Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, for Planning & Infrastructure, for Transport, and for Heritage.

At the 2012 election, Coe was returned with a quota of 0.9.

When Zed Seselja, then Leader of the Opposition, mounted a bid to win preselection for the Senate for the 2013 Australian federal election, Coe was elected as Deputy Leader of the Liberals.

Leader of the Opposition

In the wake of a fifth consecutive Liberal defeat in the 2016 election, former leader Jeremy Hanson resigned, and Coe was elected as his replacement with Nicole Lawder as his deputy.[6]

During the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, Coe was the only federal, state or territory party leader to oppose same-sex marriage.[7]

Coe led the Canberra Liberals to the 2020 election. His party faced an uphill battle as soon as the campaign began, with the Greens declaring they would not support a Liberal coalition government. This almost certainly meant that the Liberals had to win a majority in order to govern, something only ever done once in ACT history.[8]

Ultimately, the Liberals were defeated at the election, losing 2 seats. Coe conceded on election night, when it became apparent that a Labor-Greens coalition would return to power.[9] On 27 October 2020, Coe was replaced by Elizabeth Lee as Leader of the Canberra Liberals and Leader of the Opposition.[10] On 24 January 2021, Coe announced he would resign from the Legislative Assembly in March 2021.[11]

Personal life

Alistair Coe and Yasmin were married on 9 March 2013, at St Paul's Church, Manuka. He identifies as member of the Anglican Church.[12]

He was the Deputy Chairman of the International Young Democrat Union in 2011.

See also

• 2020 Australian Capital Territory general election

References

1. "Alistair Coe". Member profile. Legislative Assembly for the ACT. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
2. Canberra Liberals - official website
3. "Mr Seselja statement". Hansard. Legislative Assembly for the ACT. 5 November 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
4. "Elizabeth Lee named ACT Opposition Leader after Alistair Coe chooses not to contest Canberra Liberal leadership". ABC News. 27 October 2020.
5. "Shadow ministerial responsibilities". ACT Government. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
6. "Canberra Liberals name Alistair Coe as new leader". ABC News. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
7. "Every Government And Opposition Leader in Australia Is Voting Yes on Same-Sex Marriage...Except One". Buzzfeed News. 27 September 2017.
8. Lindell, Jasper (27 September 2020). "ACT election 2020: Greens rule out forming coalition with Liberals". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
9. "Alistair Coe concedes the ACT election". ABC News. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
10. Jervis-Bardy, Dan (27 October 2020). "Elizabeth Lee elected Canberra Liberals' new leader". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
11. "Former opposition leader Alistair Coe announces he is leaving politics". ABC News. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
12. "VfV Show with Alistair Coe". Australian Christian Lobby. Retrieved 31 August 2020.

External links

Media related to Alistair Coe at Wikimedia Commons

• Canberra Liberals