Alexander John Gosse Downer is an Australian former politician and diplomat who was leader of the Liberal Party from 1994 to 1995, Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1996 to 2007, and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2014 to 2018.
Downer was born in Adelaide, the son of Sir Alick Downer and the grandson of Sir John Downer. After periods working for the Bank of New South Wales and with the diplomatic service, he was appointed executive director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in 1983. He also served as an advisor to Liberal leaders Malcolm Fraser and Andrew Peacock. Downer was elected to parliament at the 1984 federal election, winning the Division of Mayo in South Australia. He was added to the opposition frontbench in 1987.
After the Coalition lost the 1993 election, John Hewson's position as leader of the Liberal Party came into question. Downer successfully challenged him for the leadership in May 1994, thus becoming Leader of the Opposition. He initially had high approval ratings, but after a series of gaffes resigned the leadership in January 1995 and was replaced by John Howard. He was the first Liberal leader to fail to lead the party to an election, and remains the shortest-serving leader in party history.
When the Howard Government came to power in 1996, Downer was made Minister for Foreign Affairs. He served until the government's defeat in 2007, making him the longest-serving foreign minister in Australian history. Downer left politics in 2008, and was subsequently named Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Cyprus. He held that post until 2014, when he was appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom by the Abbott Government.
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Some of their strengths
Alexander Downer has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Energetic, Curious, Adventurous, Independent, Creative, Generous, and Honest.
Smart and Sophisticated
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Alexander Downer is someone who is a smart, sophisticated, and organized person who displays kindness and grace in every day interactions, and who also has a passionate soul. A person who is known for being fun and creative.
Adventurous and Free
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Alexander Downer well know them as someone who can be talented, wayward and free, like a big river or the ocean.
Active and Ambitious
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Alexander Downer as someone who is active, ambitious, bold, and courageous.
A person who is driven and organized, is wise with money, who knows how to tell a good story, likes physical activity, and who loves learning.
Wise and Deep
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Alexander Downer is someone who tends to have an internal innate wisdom, and who people tend to see as an "old soul".
They are also someone who is balanced, stable, and energetic, who likes the idea of home and family, and who is very comfortable being the person in charge.
Altruistic and Purposeful
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Alexander Downer tends to be someone who has a desire to be of service to a higher calling and who is always trying to perfect things. Who can be practical and polished, reserved and methodical, and who tends to trust internal judgment before trusting anyone else at face value.
Some of Alexander Downer's challenges
While Alexander Downer has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Alexander Downer can be Impulsive, Stubborn, Difficult, Perfectionist, Careless, Idle, and Aggressive.
Difficult and Perfectionist
One of Alexander Downer's key challenges is that they are someone who can be difficult and too much of a perfectionist.
Impulsive and Aggressive
Alexander Downer is someone who can be impulsive, aggressive, and confrontational, can have difficulty listening to others, be moody and high strung, have conflict with authority figures, be too judgmental of others, and who can be overindulgent and extravagant.
Critical and Bossy
Finally, Alexander Downer also can be too focused on the small details of life, try to control whatever is happening, and be finicky and demanding.
