Mike Horan (politician)

Michael James Horan, AM (born 1 July 1944)[1] is a former Australian politician who represented the seat of Toowoomba South in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 18 May 1991 to 24 March 2012. Originally he was a member of the National Party of Australia, but follow its merger he is now a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland until his retirement.[2]

For the football player, see Mike Horan (American football).

The Hon
Mike Horan
AM
Leader of the Opposition of Queensland
Leader of the Queensland National Party
In office
2 March 2001 – 4 February 2003
DeputyVaughan Johnson
Preceded byRob Borbidge
Succeeded byLawrence Springborg
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Justice
In office
30 September 2008 – 5 April 2009
LeaderLawrence Springborg
Preceded byStuart Copeland
Succeeded byLawrence Springborg
Shadow Minister for Food Security and Agriculture
In office
12 August 2008 – 30 September 2008
LeaderLawrence Springborg
Preceded byNew Position
Succeeded byRay Hopper
Shadow Minister for Fisheries
In office
8 March 2004 – 30 September 2008
LeaderLawrence Springborg
Jeff Seeney
Preceded byPosition Vacated
Succeeded byRay Hopper
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries
In office
8 March 2004 – 12 August 2008
LeaderLawrence Springborg
Jeff Seeney
Preceded byMarc Rowell
Succeeded byPosition Vacant
Shadow Minister for State Development and Small Business
In office
9 February 2003 – 8 March 2004
LeaderLawrence Springborg
Preceded byVaughan Johnson
Succeeded byHoward Hobbs
Shadow Treasurer of Queensland
In office
2 March 2001 – 9 February 2003
LeaderHimself
Preceded byDavid Watson
Succeeded byJeff Seeney
Shadow Minister for Police and Corrective Services of Queensland
In office
26 February 1999 – 2 March 2001
LeaderRob Borbidge
Preceded byAllan Grice
Succeeded byJeff Seeney
Shadow Minister for State Development, Trade and Rural Communities of Queensland
In office
2 July 1998 – 26 February 1999
LeaderRob Borbidge
Preceded byPeter Beattie
Succeeded byDoug Slack
Deputy Leader of the
Queensland National Party
In office
17 February 1998 – 26 February 1999
LeaderRob Borbidge
Preceded byKev Lingard
Succeeded byLawrence Springborg
Minister for Health of Queensland
In office
26 February 1996 – 26 June 1998
PremierRob Borbidge
Preceded byPeter Beattie
Succeeded byWendy Edmond
Shadow Minister for Health
In office
5 November 1992 – 19 February 1996
LeaderRob Borbidge
Preceded byDi McCauley
Succeeded byWendy Edmond
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Toowoomba South
In office
18 May 1991 – 24 March 2012
Preceded byClive Berghofer
Succeeded byJohn McVeigh
Personal details
Born
Michael James Horan

(1944-07-01) 1 July 1944
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Political partyLiberal National Party
Other political
affiliations		National Party
SpouseHelen Horan
RelationsTim Horan (son), Matthew Horan (son), Emma Campbell (Daughter)
Alma materUniversity of Queensland
OccupationGeneral Manager, Farmer

Early life

Prior to entering parliament, Horan was employed as the General Manager of the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland and General Manager of the Toowoomba Greyhound Racing Club.[1]

Political career

Horan entered politics at the 1991 Toowoomba South by-election.[3] He replaced property developer and Toowoomba Mayor Clive Berghofer, who had previously held the seat for the National Party until the state's electoral laws were amended to prevent simultaneous service in state parliamentary and local government authority positions.[4]

Government Minister (1996–98)

Horan served as Health Minister in the Borbidge Government 1996–98, and as Deputy Nationals leader between 1998 and 1999.

Opposition Leader (2001–03)

Horan was made leader of the National Party and Opposition on 2 March 2001 until after Rob Borbidge's retirement from politics.[1] He defeated his successor as deputy leader Lawrence Springborg by 6 votes to 5 with Borbidge not voting.[5][6]

He was replaced as leader by Springborg on 4 February 2003 after he failed to gain ground on Peter Beattie.[7]

Horan became the first leader of his party who did not become Premier since Ted Maher (served 1936-41 when the party was then called the Country Party).

Post Leadership (2003–12)

He became a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland in 2008 and served in the Queensland Parliament as Shadow Attorney-General, Shadow Minister for Justice and Racing, Shadow Minister for Open Government between 30 September 2008 and 5 April 2009.[1] On 6 April 2009, he was appointed to the position of Opposition Whip.[8]

Horan stood down at the 2012 state election.

Personal life

Horan captained the Australian Universities rugby union team, and played for the Parramatta Eels rugby league team in Sydney from 1968 to 1970, before moving to Gympie, Queensland to run a dairy farm.[9]

Horan is married with two sons and a daughter.[3] His son, Tim Horan, is a former Australian rugby union footballer.[3][10]

References
  1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  2. Willacy, Mark (28 July 2008). "Liberals and Nationals merge Qld National Party leader Lawrence Springborg and Liberals leader Mark McArdle Liberals and Nationals merge". ABC.
  3. Franklin, Matthew (1 February 2003). "Horan reign tipped to end". The Courier-Mail.
  4. Johnstone, Craig (25 July 2001). "ON with the SHOW". Courier Mail.
  5. "Horan no comment on leadership". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 February 2003. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  6. Horan to lead Qld National Party| ABC News
  7. Horan announces Vote on Leadership| ABC News
  8. O'Brien, Chris (6 April 2009). "Langbroek unveils Qld shadow cabinet". ABC News. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  9. Mayne, Stephen (22 July 2008). "Vic v's NSW, sporting MP's, UniTab, James Strong, ABC Learning". Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  10. "Horan fills spot on new-look board". The Chronicle. 15 July 2009.
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