Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Preceded by Tony Burke Preceded by Greg Combet Succeeded by Greg Hunt | Succeeded by Office abolished Name Mark Butler Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Party Australian Labor Party | |
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Role Member of the Australian Parliament Office Member of the Australian Parliament since 2007 Education University of Adelaide, Deakin University Similar People Greg Hunt, Tony Burke, Tanya Plibersek, Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong Profiles | ||
Mark Butler - Tackling Climate Change
Mark Christopher Butler (born 8 July 1970) is an Australian politician, representing the electoral division of Port Adelaide in the Commonwealth Parliament since 2007. He is the Federal President and a member of the Australian Labor Party.
Contents
- Mark Butler Tackling Climate Change
- Mark butler nmhc report card 2012 handing over speech
- Early life
- Trade union career
- Political career
- Personal life
- References
Before entering parliament, Butler was the South Australian secretary of the Liquour, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU).
Butler served as Minister for Climate Change and Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Water in the Second Rudd Ministry. At the change of government following the 2013 Federal Election he became Shadow Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, and after the 2016 Federal Election the Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy.
Mark butler nmhc report card 2012 handing over speech
Early life
Butler was born in Canberra on 8 July 1970. He is the great-great-grandson and great-grandson respectively of conservative Premiers of South Australia, Sir Richard B. Butler and Sir Richard L. Butler.
Butler was educated at the University of Adelaide, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence and a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours. He later completed a Master of International Relations degree at Deakin University.
Butler was active in student politics while at university and became friends with future South Australian Labor Party leaders including Penny Wong and Jay Weatherill.
Trade union career
In 1996 Butler became the Secretary of the South Australian branch of the Liquour, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU), and in 1997 he was elected the youngest-ever President of the Labor Party in South Australia.
Butler was a key figure in the Labor Left faction. He developed a close working relationship with his NSW counterpart Anthony Albanese and represented the faction on the ALP National Executive since 2000. He would later serve as Albanese's campaign manager in the October 2013 election for the Federal ALP Leadership.
Butler was also noted for his constructive relationship with the Labor Right faction in South Australia, particularly then-Secretary of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, Don Farrell.
Political career
Butler was elected as the Labor member for the electoral division of Port Adelaide at the 2007 Federal Election.
In a 2009 First Rudd Ministry reshuffle, Butler was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health. On 14 September 2010, he was sworn in as Minister for Mental Health and Ageing in the Second Gillard Ministry. On 12 September 2011 he was given the additional responsibility of Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform. On 14 December 2011, Butler's ministry was renamed Mental Health and Aged Care, and he became a member of Cabinet.
After the 2013 election, Bill Shorten named Butler as the Shadow Minister for the Environment.
On 17 June 2015, Butler was elected National President of the Australian Labor Party.
Personal life
Butler lives in Woodville Park with his wife and two children. He supports the Port Adelaide Football Club.