Gary Johns

Gary Thomas Johns (born 29 August 1952) is an Australian writer and politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1987 to 1996, holding the Queensland seat of Petrie for the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He served as a minister in the Keating government.

Early life Johns was born in Melbourne on 29 August 1952. He is the youngest of four sons born to Doris and Claude Johns; his father was a painter and decorator. He holds a Bachelor of Economics and Master of Arts from Monash University and, later, a PhD from the University of Queensland. He tutored in geography at Melbourne State College.

Later career Since his defeat, Johns has drifted from the ALP and has been critical of his old party. Johns told Brett Evans that he might still be a member of the ALP but Evans says that in Johns' heart he has moved on from the ALP. Johns now describes himself as a "small-l liberal". with the responsibility for an inquiry into the national workers' compensation and occupational health and safety framework.

Johns was awarded a PhD in political science in 2001 from the University of Queensland, in 2002 the Fulbright Professional Award in Australian-United States Alliance Studies, Georgetown University in Washington D.C., and in 2003 the Centenary Medal for "service to Australian society through the advancement of economic, social and political issues".

He has been a columnist for The Australian newspaper and the author of numerous papers and books. He writes for The Spectator and Quadrant. His latest book is Public Health: an unhealthy conceit.

In 2017, Johns was appointed by the Turnbull government as the commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. He resigned in June 2022 following the Albanese Government's election to office.

In 2023, Johns was chairman of Recognise a Better Way, a group arguing the "No" case regarding the Albanese government's proposal for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. He then formed the research organisation Close the Gap Research, of which he is chairman.