Mark McArdle

The Honourable
Mark McArdle
MP
Minister for Energy and Water Supply of Queensland
In office
3 April 2012 – 14 February 2015
Premier Campbell Newman
Preceded by Stephen Robertson (Energy and Water Utilities)
Succeeded by Mark Bailey
Deputy Leader of the Opposition of Queensland
In office
7 December 2007 – 2 April 2009
Preceded by Bruce Flegg
Succeeded by Lawrence Springborg
Member of the Queensland Parliament
for Caloundra
Assumed office
16 February 2004
Preceded by Joan Sheldon
Personal details
Born (1956-12-21) 21 December 1956
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Political party Liberal National Party
Other political
affiliations		 Liberal (2004–2008)
Spouse(s) Judy McArdle
Profession Solicitor

Mark Francis McArdle (born 21 December 1956) is an Australian politician and former Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Queensland. He has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland since 2004, representing the electorate of Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. Initially a Liberal Party member, in 2007 he became the party leader and the following year oversaw a merger with the National Party that produced the Liberal National Party.

McArdle has held many parliamentary party positions, including stints as a Shadow Minister for Justice, State Development & Innovation; Emergency Services; Seniors; and Local Government. He has also served the Shadow Attorney General and the Parliamentary Liberal Party Whip.

Political career

Member of Parliament

McArdle was first elected to Parliament at the 2004 Queensland State Election, succeeding former Deputy Premier Joan Sheldon.[1] In the 2006 Queensland election, McArdle was returned as the Member for Caloundra, taking a 2.6-point swing in his favour, and increasing his margin to 3.9%.[2] Following electoral redistributions in 2008 prior to the 2009 state election, McArdle's margin was reduced to 1.9%.[3]

He was returned to Parliament again in the 2012 State Election. At the 2015 state election, Mark McArdle successfully defeated Labor candidate Jason Hunt to retain his state seat, despite a swing of over 20% against him.[4] He was returned to his seat again, in the 2017 Queensland Elections.

Ministerial Portfolios & Parliamentary Positions

McArdle served as the State Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party and the Deputy Opposition Leader, between 2007 and 2009. He was installed as a compromise candidate in the Leadership Contest of December 2007, after a deadlock between supporters of former leader Bruce Flegg and young challenger Tim Nicholls. He was made Deputy Leader of the Liberal National Party after the Queensland Liberal Party merged with the Queensland National Party. After the 2009 Queensland election, Mark McArdle vacated his position as Deputy Leader, as did Leader Lawrence Springborg. Days later, John Paul Langbroek was elected Leader with Lawrence Springborg as Deputy Leader.

Additional to his Parliamentary Party responsibilities, McArdle assumed the role of Shadow Minister for Health in August 2008, until the LNP's emphatic victory in 2012. Following the party leadership change, McArdle remained in his position as Shadow Minister for Health. After the Liberal National Party's landslide win in the Queensland state election, 2012, McArdle was appointed as Minister for Energy and Water Supply[5] by Premier Campbell Newman, overseeing long-awaited and modernising reforms in energy and water security, after a series of natural disasters and an historical drought.

In 2013, he revealed that he had prostate cancer, and took time off from his portfolio to battle the disease.[6]

Party Involvement

McArdle has held many party positions as well, including as Chair of the Fisher Federal Divisional Council; Chair of the Fisher Business Branch; and as a Member of the State Executive of the then Liberal Party. [1] [7]

2006 Election Controversy

Prior to the 2006 Election, McArdle, by then an emerging force within the Parliament, came under sustained criticism from the Labor Party and local media for his role in the collapse of mortgage schemes run by Boyce Garrick Lawyers. Premier Peter Beattie claimed that his role in the collapse made him unfit for such a leadership position. McArdle responded by pointing out that he was cleared of any fault in the collapse by the Queensland Law Society in its investigation in 2001.[8] He ultimately retained his seat.[2]

Activities

McArdle takes an active role in the administration of his portfolio. He regularly attends relevant conferences and meets with key industry executives. [9] [10]

References

  1. 1 2 Mark McArdle Biography | Queensland Parliament Archived 12 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. 1 2 "ABC 2006 Queensland Election Results". Retrieved 13 September 2006.
  3. ↑ "ABC 2009 Queensland Election". Retrieved 16 March 2009.
  4. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/qld-election-2015/guide/calo/
  5. ↑ http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/premier-campbell-newman-announces-queensland-governments-new-ministry/story-fnbt5t29-1226314516484
  6. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-27/qld-minister-mark-mcardle-reveals-he-has-cancer/4785948
  7. ↑ LNP Queensland State MP Bio
  8. ↑ "Former firm's failed schemes haunt McArdle". Archived from the original on 20 August 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2006.
  9. ↑ Ministerial Diary for November 2013 Archived 9 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine., Meeting with Pacific Aluminium to discuss Boyne Smelter
  10. ↑ Australian Domestic Gas Outlook 2014, List of confirmed speakers
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by
Joan Sheldon		 Member for Caloundra
2004–present		 Incumbent
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