Political Career
In the 2007 federal election Kelly stood as the Labor candidate for the marginal New South Wales country electorate of Eden-Monaro, regarded as a "bellwether seat". He was criticised by his opponent, long-standing Liberal member Gary Nairn for not residing in the electorate prior to his nomination and for not facing a local preselection. Nairn's chief of staff also publicly likened Kelly to a Belsen Nazi concentration camp guard for serving in the military in Iraq despite opposing the war itself. The reference became a high-profile campaign issue, with claims that Nairn's office had subsequently promoted the claim using public rather than party funds. The comment was subsequently withdrawn and an apology forwarded to media outlets and to Kelly.
At the election on 24 November 2007, Kelly won the seat with a 6.67% two party preferred swing, and was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support in the incoming Rudd Government and in 2009 he was also appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Water.
After a redistribution changed the boundaries of Eden-Monaro, Kelly defeated Liberal candidate David Gazard in the 2010 Federal Election with a swing of 2%. With the re-elected Labor Government's regional focus, Kelly was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in September 2010 and in December 2010 he was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Defence in a reshuffle of the Government.
In a third reshuffle in early 2013, Kelly replaced Jason Clare as Minister for Defence Materiel.
Kelly has stated that he supports same-sex marriage.
Read more about this topic: Mike Kelly (Australian Politician)
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