Angus Taylor is an Australian Liberal Party politician who has served as the Member for Hume in New South Wales since 2013 and currently holds the position of Shadow Treasurer in Peter Dutton's opposition frontbench. Born in 1966, Taylor grew up on a sheep and cattle property near Goulburn and holds impressive academic credentials, including a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney, a Master of Philosophy in Economics from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and an MBA from the Wharton School. Before entering politics, he worked as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and co-founded successful agricultural and renewable energy businesses, giving him extensive private sector experience in economics and business development.
Taylor's political career has been marked by senior ministerial roles during the Coalition's time in government from 2013-2022. He served as Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources (2016-2017), Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity (2017-2018), and notably as Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction (2018-2022), where he played a key role in developing Australia's energy policy during a period of significant debate over climate change and energy transition. His tenure was characterized by strong advocacy for gas as a transition fuel, support for traditional energy sources, and a focus on energy affordability and reliability. Taylor has consistently championed free market principles, reduced regulation, and policies aimed at lowering energy costs for consumers and businesses.
As Shadow Treasurer since May 2022, Taylor has positioned himself as a critic of the Labor government's economic management, particularly focusing on cost-of-living pressures, inflation, and energy policy. He has advocated for tax relief, reduced government spending, and policies to boost productivity and economic growth. Throughout his career, Taylor has maintained strong connections to rural and regional Australia, reflecting his agricultural background, while also engaging with urban economic issues. His approach to policy has generally emphasized market-based solutions, fiscal responsibility, and the importance of maintaining Australia's competitive position in global markets.