Tom Switzer

Tom Switzer (/ˈswɪtsər/; born 1971) is an Australian political writer who is the executive director of the Centre for Independent Studies,^[1] a Sydney-based libertarian public-policy research think tank that focuses on classical liberal issues. He is also the host of Between the Lines^[2] on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio National and a columnist at the Sydney Morning Herald^[3] and Australian Financial Review.^[4]

Early life and education

Switzer was born in 1971 in Dallas, Texas,^[5] and grew up in Sydney. He attended St Aloysius' College in Kirribilli, where he was an Australian schools track and field champion in 1989, and was trained by Australian Olympic coach Jackie Byrnes.^[6] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History (First Class Honours) in 1993; and a Masters in International Relations in 1994; both from the University of Sydney.^[2]

Career

He is a former senior associate at the University of Sydney's United States Studies Centre (2009–17), editor of The Spectator Australia (2009–2014), opinion editor for The Australian (2001–2008), editorial writer at the Australian Financial Review (1998–2001) and assistant editor at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. (1995–1998).^[1]

In 2008, he was senior adviser to federal Liberal Party leader Brendan Nelson until the leadership spill that resulted in Nelson's defeat by Malcolm Turnbull. In 2009, after Nelson resigned from Parliament, Switzer was a candidate to replace him in the by-election and received endorsements from John Howard, Tony Abbott and Peter Costello. Switzer was defeated in the fifth round, with Paul Fletcher selected as eventual candidate.^[7]

Switzer's analysis of Australian politics has been published in international media, including The Wall Street Journal in opinion articles such as "Howard's End",^[8] "Defenestration Down Under",^[9] "The Triumph of Tony Abbott",^[10] "Australians Turn Away From Malcolm Turnbull",^[11] and "Australia’s Left Loses An Election It Was Sure To Win".^[12]

References

1. "Tom Switzer". Centre for Independent Studies. Research Scholars. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
2. "Tom Switzer". Radio National. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
3. "Tom Switzer". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
4. "Tom Switzer". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
5. "Tom Switzer". Q&A. Australia: ABC TV. 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
6. "Profile: Tom Switzer". Honi Soit. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
7. Salusinszky, Imre (28 September 2009). "Chosen for his smarts". The Australian. Sydney. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
8. Switzer, Tom (21 November 2007). "Howard's End". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
9. Switzer, Tom (27 June 2013). "Defenestration Down Under". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
10. Switzer, Tom (8 September 2013). "The Triumph of Tony Abbott". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
11. Switzer, Tom (3 July 2016). "Australians Turn Away From Malcolm Turnbull". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
12. Switzer, Tom (19 May 2019). "Australia's Left Loses An Election It Was Sure To Win". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 1 September 2020.