Before his election in 2008, Porter was working as a lecturer at Curtin University and the University of Western Australia as well as retaining, part-time, his position as senior prosecutor at the DPP.
(meta data) TITLE: Christian Porter MP | Meet Christian # CHRISTIAN PORTER MP ## Federal Member for Pearce # CHRISTIAN PORTER MP ## FEDERAL MEMBER FOR PEARCE Meet Christian About Pearce Our Community Local Governments Local News Portfolio News Media Releases What's On Have Your Say Stronger Communities Programme Small Business Survey Help Fight Labor's Retiree Tax Online Office Request a Flag Request a Congratulatory Message Useful Links Contact Christian # Christian Porter MP Meet Christian About Pearce Our Community Local Governments Local News Portfolio News Media Releases What's On Have Your Say Stronger Communities Programme Small Business Survey Help Fight Labor's Retiree Tax Online Office Request a Flag Request a Congratulatory Message Useful Links Contact Christian # CHRISTIAN PORTER MP ## Federal Member for Pearce # CHRISTIAN PORTER MP ## FEDERAL MEMBER FOR PEARCE # Meet Christian ## Christian was born and raised in Western Australia and calls yanchep home with his wife Jennifer, son Lachlan and DAUGHTER FLORENCE. Christian Porter has been Australia's Attorney-General since December 2017. Following the May 2019 election, he has also taken on responsibility for the Industrial Relations portfolio and has become Leader of the House. He previously served as Minister for Social Services. As Attorney-General, Christian played a key role in the modernisation of Australia's national security laws with the successful passage of the Espionage and Foreign Interference, and Foreign Influence and Transparency Scheme legislation, which represent the most substantial reforms to Australia's national security legislation since the 1970s. Christian is also currently focused on reforming the family court system to help families save time and costs in family law disputes. In Social Services, Christian steered the critical transition of the National Disability Insurance Scheme from trial to national roll out and oversaw a suite of welfare reforms which, combined with strong job growth, saw 140,000 fewer people relying on welfare – resulting in the lowest level of welfare dependency in working age Australians since the 1980s. Prior to entering Federal Parliament, Christian was a Minister in the Western Australian State Government, holding the portfolios of Attorney-General, Minister for Corrective Services and Treasurer. As WA Treasurer, Christian delivered successive budget surpluses, reduced recurrent expenditure growth by more than 6 per cent and was central to delivering funding for key projects such as the new Perth Stadium and Elizabeth Quay. As WA Attorney-General, Christian reformed the jury system and pursued a range of legislative reforms that significantly reduced all reported crime. Christian holds a Bachelor of Economics, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia, as well as a Master of Science (Political Theory) from the London School of Economics. Prior to politics, Christian worked as a lawyer in both the commercial and government settings; beginning his career at Clayton Utz and then later working as a Senior State Prosecutor for the Director of Public Prosecutions WA, where he prosecuted criminal trials for the State. He has also lectured at the University of Western Australia in law, public policy and economics and, immediately before entering Federal Parliament, Christian was a Professor of Law at Curtin University. ## WATCHChristian's Maiden Speech Read transcript
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Christian Porter
Background and early career.
Porter's father was Charles "Chilla" Porter, who during the 1970s and 1980s was director of Western Australia's Liberal Party. His grandfather, Sir Charles Robert Porter, was a Queensland Liberal state MP between 1966 and 1980 and served in the ministry of Joh Bjelke-Petersen. 
 Porter was educated at Hale School, then at the University of Western Australia where he graduated Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Arts with first-class honours in politics, before completing a Bachelor of Laws degree. Porter later studied at the London School of Economics for a Master of Science in political theory, from which he graduated at the top of his class with distinction. Prior to entering Parliament, Porter worked predominantly as a lawyer, starting as a commercial litigator at Clayton Utz before moving to public practice. He spent a year as an advisor to the Federal Minister for Justice and then began working for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as a senior state prosecutor.