Don Farrell
Don Farrell is an Australian Labor Party politician and former union leader. Born on 6 June 1954 in Murray Bridge, South Australia, he trained as a lawyer at the University of Adelaide and built a long career with the SDA union, rising to state secretary from 1993 to 2008. He entered federal politics after being elected as a Senator for South Australia in 2007, serving from 2008 to 2014, and later returned to the Senate in 2016.
During his first term, Farrell held several ministerial roles, including Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, Minister for Science and Research, and Minister Assisting on Tourism. He briefly served as Minister for Sport in 2013. After losing his seat in 2013, he returned to the Senate in 2016 and became a leading figure in the Labor Right, later being elected as deputy Senate leader.
In June 2022, Farrell joined the Albanese government’s cabinet as Special Minister of State and Minister for Trade and Tourism, and he became the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate. As Trade Minister, he has pressed for sanctions to be lifted and for Australia to diversify its trade relationships. China lifted punitive tariffs on Australian wine in April 2024, and Farrell has continued to push for new free trade deals with the United Kingdom and India. India’s free trade agreement with Australia began on 1 January 2022, removing tariffs on 85% of exports. Talks with the European Union have been ongoing but have not yet concluded.
In 2014, Farrell started Farrell Wines in the Clare Valley. He is married to Nimfa and has three grown daughters.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 11:57 (CET).