Campbell Newman

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Campbell Newman is the current Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Australia. He was elected in 2004, and reelected in 2008.^[1] With the defeat of the Coalition government in the 2007 federal election Newman is sometimes described as the most senior elected Liberal in Australia.^[2]

Campbell Newman is the son of former senator and federal minister Jocelyn Newman, and former member for Bass and federal minister the late Kevin Newman. He is a qualified civil engineer and spent 13 years in the Australian Army, retiring with the rank of Major.^[1] He lives in Brisbane with his wife Lisa and their two children Rebecca and Sarah.

Newman's slogan during the 2004 and 2008 election campaigns was "Can Do". It is common for supporters to refer to him as "Can Do Campbell". At Duntroon he was nicknamed "Noddy", in reference both to his appearance and to his misadventures during his time in the Army, such as an expedition he led across the Tanami Desert, in northern Australia, in which his party had no fewer than 199 flat tyres.^[3]

[edit] Split Council

Due to the laws governing the election of Brisbane's Lord Mayor and City Councillors, Newman was elected directly to replace Tim Quinn. However, in the 2004 election a majority of wards returned ALP Councillors, meaning Newman had to work with a cabinet dominated by his nominal Opposition. In the 2008 election, the ALP lost at least 6 wards to the Liberal Party, giving the Liberals a majority. ^[4]