Chris Ellison

Christopher Martin Ellison (15 June 1954— ) is an Australian lawyer and former Liberal politician. 

Born in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Ellison was educated in Perth and attended the University of Western Australia, gaining a BJuris in 1977 and LLB in 1978 ("Former Senator Christopher Ellison", n.d.). After spending two years working for Legal Aid Western Australia, he opened his own firm, Williams Ellison, which he ran for 13 years until pivoting to politics in 1993. Ellison is a conservative Catholic and a member of the Australians for Constitutional Monarchy ("Senate Debates", 2008). 

A member of the Liberal party since his time at university, Ellison was elected to the Senate in 1993, representing Western Australia. He held a range of ministerial responsibilities as part of the Howard Government, notably as the longest-serving Minister for Justice and Customs from 2001-2007 ("Former Senator Christopher Eliison, n.d.).  In this position, he enforced the Suicide Related Material Offences Act 2005, which makes it a criminal offence to provide information electronically about suicide methods ("Fines for suicide advice", 2005), and amended the 1958 Prohibited Export Regulations to penalise anyone attempting to import or export devices or documents relating to suicide; as a result, Philip Nitschke had his 'death machine' and plastic bags confiscated at Sydney Airport en route to a conference ("Nitschke's death machine seized", 2003). 

Ellison is married, with three children ("Senate Debates", 2008). In 2009, he resigned from politics to spend more time with his family.

Fines for suicide advice. (2005, March 9). The Age. https://www.theage.com.au/national/fines-for-suicide-advice-20050309-gdzqze.html

Former Senator Christopher Ellison. [n.d.]. Parliament of Australia. https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=9X5

Nitschke's death machine seized. (2003, January 11). The Age. https://www.theage.com.au/national/nitschkes-death-machine-seized-20030111-gdv1sv.html

Senate Debates. (2008, December 3). Open Australia. https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2008-12-03.115.2