Paterson was born in Melbourne on 21 November 1987.[1] He attended what he described as a "hippie" school in Melbourne's outer suburbs, and also briefly attended an elementary school in Washington, D.C., USA, while his mother undertook an academic exchange.[2] He completed high school at McKinnon Secondary College.[3]
Paterson joined the Liberal Party at the age of 17, despite coming from "a Labor or Greens-voting family of long-time trade union members".[2] He was heavily involved in student politics as vice-president of the Melbourne University Liberal Club (2008–2009), vice-president of the Australian Liberal Students' Federation (2008–2009), and state president of the Young Liberals (2009).[1]
Paterson and fellow MP Andrew Hastie were denied entry into China for a study tour in November 2019.[9] Some believe this is due to criticism the pair has raised about Chinese actions towards the Uighurs in Xinjiang province[10] as well as attempted influencing of opinion about China within Australia.[11] In 2022, Paterson travelled to Washington as the new Australian Co-Chair for the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China in 2022; the grouping works to ensure an ascendant Communist China does not shape the decisions and values of the world's democracies.[12]
In 2021, Paterson was elected Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security following Andrew Hastie's appointment as Assistant Minister for Defence.[13]
In 2022, Paterson was appointed the Shadow Minister for Cyber Security and the Shadow Minister for Countering Foreign Interference by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.[14]
In 2023, Paterson was appointed the Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and the Shadow Minister for Cyber Security by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.[15]
In 2024, Paterson added Shadow Cabinet Secretary to his portfolio responsibilities.[16]
Paterson on right, meeting with Uyghurs delegates and Andrew Hastie, at the Parliament of Australia, November 2019.
Political positions
Paterson is aligned with the national right faction of the Liberal Party.[17][18] Coming from the IPA where he was a fellow, Paterson has been associated with Libertarian elements of Liberal Party, who put a strong emphasis on freedom of speech as well as free markets.[19][20][tone] He has sought reform to section 18C of the Racial Vilification Act 1996 to remove elements that may restrict free speech.[21]
Migrants
Foreign policy
On global matters, Paterson has been an advocate for human rights of religious and ethnic minority groups and a strong critic of China.[22][23][tone] Paterson expressed his support of Brexit, and a freedom of movement deal between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom (CANZUK).[24][25]
Same-sex marriage
In August 2017, Paterson described himself as a supporter of same-sex marriage,[26][improper synthesis?] and during the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey he drafted a same-sex marriage bill as an alternative to one proposed by Senator Dean Smith.[27] He later backed down from putting up a bill.
Personal life
Paterson met his wife Lydia at a Liberal student function. The couple had two children as of 2021.[3]
Paterson is an agnostic and has described himself as "not religious at all", although his wife is Catholic and his children were baptised as Catholics.[3]
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