Mark McArdle

Mark Francis McArdle (born 21 December 1956) is an Australian politician and former Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Queensland. He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland between 2004 and 2020, 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.

Mark McArdle
Minister for Energy and Water Supply of Queensland
In office
3 April 2012 – 14 February 2015
PremierCampbell Newman
Preceded byStephen Robertson (Energy and Water Utilities)
Succeeded byMark Bailey
Shadow Minister for Health
In office
20 February 2015 – 10 May 2016
LeaderLawrence Springborg
Preceded byJo-Ann Miller
Succeeded byJohn-Paul Langbroek
In office
12 August 2008 – 19 February 2012
LeaderLawrence Springborg
John-Paul Langbroek
Campbell Newman
Preceded byJohn-Paul Langbroek
Succeeded byJo-Ann Miller
Deputy Leader of the Liberal National Party
In office
26 July 2008 – 2 April 2009
LeaderLawrence Springborg
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byLawrence Springborg
Deputy Leader of the Opposition of Queensland
In office
7 December 2007 – 2 April 2009
LeaderLawrence Springborg
Preceded byBruce Flegg
Succeeded byLawrence Springborg
Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party
In office
4 December 2007 – 26 July 2008
DeputyTim Nicholls
Preceded byBruce Flegg
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Deputy Leader of the
Queensland Liberal Party
In office
7 August 2006 – 4 December 2007
LeaderBruce Flegg
Preceded byBruce Flegg
Succeeded byTim Nicholls
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Justice
In office
28 September 2005 – 12 August 2008
LeaderLawrence Springborg
Jeff Seeney
Preceded byLawrence Springborg
Succeeded byStuart Copeland
Member of the Queensland Parliament
for Caloundra
In office
7 February 2004 – 6 October 2020
Preceded byJoan Sheldon
Succeeded byJason Hunt
Personal details
Born (1956-12-21) 21 December 1956
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Political partyLiberal National Party
Other political
affiliations		Liberal (2004–2008)
SpouseJudy McArdle
ProfessionSolicitor

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.

In June 2019 McArdle announced he would retire at the 2020 Queensland state election in October.[5]

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 2012 Queensland state election, McArdle was appointed as Minister for Energy and Water Supply[6] 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.[7]

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] [8]

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.[9] 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. [10] [11]

References
  1. Mark McArdle Biography | Queensland Parliament Archived 12 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "ABC 2006 Queensland Election Results". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2006.
  3. "ABC 2009 Queensland Election". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
  4. "Caloundra - Queensland Election 2015 - QLD Election 2015 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  5. Lynch, Lydia (27 June 2019). "Sunshine Coast MP to stand down at next election for 'younger blood'". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  6. "Premier Campbell Newman announces Queensland Government's new ministry | Latest Queensland state election 2012 coverage from the Courier-Mail | the Courier-Mail". Archived from the original on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  7. "Queensland Minister Mark McArdle reveals he has prostate cancer - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 25 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  8. LNP Queensland State MP Bio
  9. "Former firm's failed schemes haunt McArdle". Archived from the original on 20 August 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2006.
  10. Ministerial Diary for November 2013 Archived 9 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Meeting with Pacific Aluminium to discuss Boyne Smelter
  11. Australian Domestic Gas Outlook 2014 Archived 9 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, List of confirmed speakers
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