Openly-gay ACT Treasurer Andrew Barr has revealed he would like to be a father.
‘‘I turn 40 next year and that does make you think about where you are going in life and what is important,’’ Barr says.
‘‘I would like to be a father one day but it is not going to happen while I am in politics.’’
In his six-year career as an elected politician, Barr has risen to a position where he now holds a suite of territory portfolios. But late last year Barr stepped on to the national stage, becoming Labor’s most vocal advocate of gay marriage.
‘‘My dad has two sons – one gay and one straight – and he’d like both of them to have the same rights,’’ Barr says.
At the national ALP conference in 2011, Barr’s motion to support same-sex marriage – seconded by federal Finance Minister Penny Wong who sat beside him – was strongly supported by delegates. It was a significant policy shift for Labor nationally.
According to pundits at the time, the gay movement’s victory led by Barr was a rare defeat for powerful and ultra-conservative part of the right faction, aligned to the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, headed by Joe de Bruyn.
In the lead up to this Father’s Day, Barr says his parents were the biggest influences in his life. He says he told his parents about his sexuality at a regular family Sunday dinner in 1999.
‘‘Like the rest of my family, my dad has been incredibly supportive of my relationship with [partner] Anthony and my political career,’’ Barr says.
‘‘I have a close relationship with my father. He and my mother are the biggest influences on my life.
‘‘My dad is only 19 years older than me so we share a lot of interests.’’
In the words of his dad, James, it is fair to say their relationship is not typical.
‘‘Where else is a former Treasury official the father of a current Treasurer?’’ James says.
‘‘We understand both sides of the ‘policy’ coin – this can make for interesting family dinners.’’
When asked about his son’s sexuality, James says his son’s happiness is the most important thing.
‘‘Hopefully, we are now very close to the point where politicians will act to ensure everyone is treated equally and all the positives from marriage are available to everyone.’’
Barr remembers how his dad coached his junior cricket team in the 1980s. Today they share golf clubs.
‘‘I have my dad to thank for introducing me to the music of the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello,’’ he says.
‘‘I still remember the first time I played his Stones LPs and then regularly raided his collection to make mix tapes.’’
James has watched his son’s rise through Labor’s ranks.
The young Barr joined the ALP in 1992 at the age of 18 and worked his way up, serving stints as the party’s secretary at sub-branches in Curtin and Mount Ainslie.
He also served as ACT Young Labor president from 1998 to 2000. He is now Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, and the Minister for Economic Development Tourism, Sport and Recreation.