Dr Brendan Nelson was first elected to represent the Sydney electorate of Bradfield for the Liberal Party of Australia in 1996.

On 29th November 2007, Dr Brendan Nelson was elected Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, succeeding the Hon John Howard, after his successful 11 ½ years as Leader of the Coalition Government.  The Hon Julie Bishop was elected by the Parliamentary Liberal Party to be Dr Nelson’s Deputy.

In January 2006, Brendan Nelson was sworn in as the Minister for Defence, having served as Minister for Education, Science and Training since November 2001, and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence from December 2000 until his elevation to Cabinet in November 2001.

Dr Nelson, as Minister for Defence, managed Australia’s overseas military deployments, international defence relations, and an annual budget of over $20 billion.

Highlights of Dr Nelson’s time as Defence Minister include:

Securing record budget increases for Defence, including an average 3% real annual increase over the next 10 years, out to 2015/16.
Deploying troops within our region to help restore stability including to the Solomon Islands and East Timor.
A greater focus on recruitment and retention, including a $1 billion package to attract and retain people.

In his time as Minister for Education, Science and Training, Dr Nelson implemented a range of key reforms, including:

Delivering higher standards and greater national consistency in Australian schools. Developing and implementing a comprehensive reform package for Australia’s higher education system – Our Universities: Backing Australia’s Future.
Raising the status of vocational education, training and apprenticeships.
Abolishing compulsory up-front student union fees in Australian universities.
Dr Nelson was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence between December 2000 and November 2001, during which time he carried out a major revitalisation of school-based cadets.

Prior to serving as Parliamentary Secretary, he chaired the Sydney Airport Community Forum, which interfaces the aviation industry, three tiers of government and Sydney communities planning long-term air traffic management and noise abatement strategies.

A general practitioner by training and a graduate of Flinders University in South Australia, Dr Nelson at the age of 35 was the youngest doctor to have ever been elected to the Federal Presidency of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), a position he held from 1993 to 1995. He had previously served as its Federal Vice President and Tasmanian Branch President.

In 1995 Dr Nelson was awarded the AMA’s highest honour – the Gold Medal for "distinguished service to medicine and humanity". He was further acknowledged in 1995 for his commitment to the medical profession and public health in particular, with an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He is also a Sydney University John Lowenthal medallist and a Paul Harris Fellow.

Dr Nelson is married, has three children and his interests include music, motorcycles and playing the guitar.