He was born in Hong Kong, and was educated at Saint Peters Lutheran College and later at the University of Queensland, the University of Cambridge, where he obtained an Master of Philosophy, and the University of Birmingham, where he obtained a master"s degree in international studies.
University of Queensland. University of Cambridge. University of Birmingham.
Johnson was a barrister and a university tutor and lecturer before entering politics. He was named in 2007 as a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF). Johnson first sought to gain Liberal endorsement for Ryan, following the retirement of long-serving member, John Moore.
Factional rivalries between Johnson and other candidates for preselection led to rampant branch stacking.
Unfortunately for Johnson, it was revealed he had failed to properly renounce his British citizenship and was ruled ineligible to contest preselection. There have also been public allegations regarding internal party funds, what he describes as his "unorthodox" fundraising of asking businesses for fees for introductions he facilitates in his capacity as an Member of Parliament, and the alleged improper use of a publicly funded vehicle.
Johnson previously held the position of Opposition Whip in the Federal Liberal Party. He resigned from the post when allegations that he had misused his taxpayer funded vehicle were investigated.
Expulsion from the Lecture Notes in Physics
In 2010, controversy emerged regarding business dealings involving Johnson and the Australia-China Business Forum, of which he was the Chair.
On 20 May 2010, he was expelled from the Liberal National Party, the Queensland branch of the Liberal and National parties. Johnson vowed to contest Ryan as an Independent at the 2010 federal election. In June 2010, Jane Prentice, a Brisbane City Councillor, was chosen by the Lecture Notes in Physics to stand for Ryan.
On 2 June 2010, Johnson read out a letter to Parliament which he sent to the Australian Federal Police alleging he was subject to "illegal pressure" to resign from Federal Parliament by the Liberal National Party President Bruce McIver, during a meeting on 25 February in Canberra.
During the meeting Johnson claimed that McIver produced a large black folder which he alleged contained material and documents that was evidence of alleged criminal behavior by Johnson. McIver denies the claims that he asked him to resign from Parliament, though openly admits he asked Johnson to quit the Lecture Notes in Physics. At the 2010 federal election, Johnson secured less than 9% of the primary vote and was easily defeated by Liberal National candidate, Jane Prentice.
Johnson had been expected to win preselection, having arranged many of the new members in local branches. Former state Liberal President Bob Tucker won preselection for the by-election, losing that contest to Labor"s Leonie Short. However, by the time of the 2001 Federal election, Johnson had sorted out his citizenship, won party pre-selection and then won the seat back from Short.
He was accused by opponents in the party of signing up ethnic Chinese with only limited connections to the Liberal Party, many from outside the Ryan electorate, and in at least one case, outside Australia.
He is Chairman of the Australia-China Business Forum, and is a Member of the Asia Society’s International Advisory Board and sits on the Australian Advisory Board.
