Preceded by Anna Burke Occupation Wool and grain grower Political party The Nationals | Nationality Australian Preceded by Ian Cameron Name Bruce Scott | |
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Born 20 October 1943 (age 80)
Roma, Queensland ( 1943-10-20 ) Role Member of the Australian House of Representatives Party National Party of Australia Office Member of the Australian Parliament since 1990 | ||
Bruce Craig Scott (born 20 October 1943), the former Australian politician, was Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2012 to 2016. He was a The Nationals member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1990 to May 2016, representing the Division of Maranoa, Queensland.
Biography
Scott was born in Roma, Queensland, and was a wool and grain grower before entering politics. He was educated at the Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane. Before entering politics, Scott was president of the Queensland Merino Stud Sheep Breeders Association, president of the Maranoa Graziers' Association and president of the Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders. He was a Nuffield Farming Scholar in 1983.
Scott was first elected in 1990, and has held this safely conservative seat without serious difficulty since then. Maranoa has been in Country/National hands for all but three years since 1921, and without interruption since 1943. He currently holds the seat with a majority of 22.3 percent, the second-safest seat in Australia.
He was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry 1992–96. He was Minister for Veterans' Affairs from 1996 to 1998, and Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence from 1998 to 2001.
Following the resignation of Harry Jenkins as Speaker of the House on 24 November 2011, Scott was nominated for the position of Deputy Speaker of the House by Liberal MP Christopher Pyne. Scott accepted the nomination and a ballot took place, installing Anna Burke as the Deputy Speaker of the House. Following the resignation of Peter Slipper as Speaker on 9 October 2012, Burke was elected as his replacement. Scott was nominated by Pyne as Deputy; with his nomination seconded by Tony Windsor. Scott defeated Steve Georganas in a ballot.
Scott announced on 3 August 2015 that he would not stand in the next election.