The Hon Stuart Robert MP

The Hon. Stuart Robert MP grew up in Bundaberg, Queensland on his family’s cane farm and attended Kepnock High School and The Rockhampton Grammar School prior to winning a scholarship to attend the Australian Defence Force Academy where he completed a Bachelor of Arts. After completing his studies, he attended the Royal Military College, Duntroon and was commissioned as an Officer in the Australian Army Intelligence Corps.

During his Army career, Minister Robert served in a variety of Regimental and Staff postings including regimental training at Holsworthy with the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, and on Thursday Island with the 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment. In 1998, he deployed to Bougainville as a member of the Peace Monitoring Force following the civil war. Minister Robert considers this deployment to be a highlight of his 12-year military career.

Whilst serving in the Army, Minister Robert undertook further study and completed Masters Degrees in both Business Administration and Information Technology. In 1999, he left the Army and, together with a colleague, founded an IT services firm that rapidly expanded to become a nationwide firm that was twice included in the Business Review Weekly Fast 100. This list recognises the fastest-growing 100 companies in Australia.

Minister Robert is also a founding director of Watoto Australia and a member of the Watoto International board. With operations based in Uganda, Watoto operates one of the world’s largest orphan programs, caring for more than two million orphaned children due to HIV-AIDS and war.

In 2007, Minister Robert was elected Federal Member for the electorate of Fadden, located on the Gold Coast. A Shadow Defence Minister in opposition, he was appointed as Assistant Minister for Defence when the Abbott Government took office in 2013.

Minister Robert is married to Chantelle and has three sons, Caleb, Isaac and Jacob. In rare moments of spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and serving the community through his local church. He is a keen supporter of a number of community organisations and is a passionate supporter of the Gold Coast Titans and the Gold Coast Suns.