HON SANTO SANTORO

Hon Santo Santoro

External Consultant

Santo was elected to the Queensland Parliament in 1989 and served as the Minister for Training and Industrial Relations. During this time, his reforms led to re-establishing the financial viability of the State’s workers’ compensation, major restructuring of the industrial relations system and transformation of the workplace safety and training sectors.

Santo became a member of the Australian Senate in 2002. He served with Prime Minister John Howard as the Minister for Ageing and oversaw major reforms of aged care in Australia, including the introduction of funding reforms and the implementation of world-leading measures to protect the elderly.

Santo’s parliamentary career included wide ranging roles such as the Chair of the Joint Statutory Committee on the Australian Federal Crime Commission, membership of the Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee, and membership of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties.

This experience supports his continuing keen interest in development, regulation and funding of new media and communications technologies; diplomatic and international trade issues; and health and aged care employment, training and workplace relations.

Santo’s comprehensive knowledge of regulatory approaches and structures, extensive networks with leading players in both the public and private sectors, and his association with international corporate and government contacts (including in the USA, Italy and China) enable him to frame optimal strategic responses to policy and business challenges.

Santo has been a leading figure in the Liberal Party of Australia for 33 years. He is one of few Australians who have served in dual levels of Parliament and enjoys the rare honour of serving as a Minster in both State and Commonwealth Parliaments.

He holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Economics degrees and is actively involved in community organisations. Santo is a Director of the Salvation Army Aged Care Plus, a Trustee of the MacArthur Museum Foundation, a Council Member of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Queensland) and of the Australian American Association of Queensland. His interests also include work for the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and membership of the Society of Saint Andrews of Scotland and of the Australian National Flag Association.