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The Optimism of Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister

"Serving the people living in the regions is what keeps me optimistic, even in the toughest of days."
Victor Perton

Victor Perton

1 Min Read

I asked Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack what makes him optimistic.

Michael kindly told me, “When I get out of bed every day, I look forward to making sure that we can build a better rural and regional Australia. 

“Serving the people living in the regions is what keeps me optimistic, even in the toughest of days. These people have put their trust in me to fight and deliver for our local communities, and I will always speak up for them loudly. 

“I have lived my life by this motto – promising not to be silent when I ought to speak.” 

The Honourable Michael McCormack MP is Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development.  He is the Leader of The Nationals and the Federal Member for Riverina.

Author(s)

  • Victor Perton

    Chief Optimism Officer

    The Centre for Optimism

    I ask people what makes them optimistic.

    The purpose? To help everyone and anyone become more optimistic and to add to their CV “I am a realistic and infectiously optimistic leader.” My underpinning beliefs are “The leader looks like the person in your mirror” & “All good leadership is optimistic.” I am the author of “Optimism: The How and Why” and “The Case for Optimism: The Optimist's Voices”. I am the Founder and Editor of “The Australian Leadership Project” (www.australianleadership.com) I am an author, speaker, compère, moderator, barrister and researcher. In prison, schools, universities, boards, corporates, NGOs, conferences and retreats I have shared the learnings from “The Case for Optimism" & The Australian Leadership Project. I am available to moderate roundtables and retreats, deliver keynote speeches and conference panels and one-to-one coaching. For the right causes, we undertake CEO & board searches with optimistic leadership as the sought-after quality. My life experience includes stints as Commissioner to the Americas, 18 years a parliamentarian, practice as a barrister, mediator, arbitrator, businessman and board service. I was Senior Engagement Adviser in the Australian G20 presidency supporting Australian leadership of the G20 Finance Ministers & Central Bank Governors & in the Brisbane G20 Leaders Summit described by the Prime Minister as "the most important gathering Australia has ever hosted."