Mark Vaile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Honourable Mark Vaile MP |
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 Mark Vaile |
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| In office July 2005 – 3 December 2007 |
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| Prime Minister | John Howard |
| Preceded by | John Anderson |
| Succeeded by | Julia Gillard |
| Constituency | Lyne |
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| Born | 18 April 1956 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | National |
Mark Anthony James Vaile (born 18 April 1956), Australian politician, is a former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and former leader of the National Party of Australia.
Vaile was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and worked as a farm machinery retailer and stock and station and real estate agent before entering politics. He was a member of the Greater Taree City Council 1985-93, including three years as Deputy Mayor. He is married with three daughters and lives on a 40 ha (approx 99 acres) rural property outside Taree, New South Wales.[1]
[edit] Political career
Vaile has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1993, representing the Division of Lyne, New South Wales. He was Assistant National Party Whip 1994-96 and National Party Whip 1996-97. In 1997 he was appointed Minister for Transport and Regional Development, and in 1998 he became Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. In July 1999, following the resignation of Tim Fischer and the election of John Anderson as National Party leader, he was elected the party's Deputy Leader and became Minister for Trade. When John Anderson resigned in 2005, Vaile was elected Leader unopposed. On 6 July 2005 he was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister.[1]
As Trade Minister, Vaile was involved in the negotiation of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which was opposed by some traditional National Party constituencies such as the sugar industry. During 2005 he also conducted negotiations for the proposed Australia-China Free Trade Agreement. In late 2005 he had an operation to remove a malignant melanoma from his back.[2]
Since Vaile took on the leadership of the Nationals in 2005, there have been increasing suggestions for Vaile to take on a domestic portfolio as the trade portfolio requires frequent overseas travel. Throughout 2006, Vaile's position in the Trade portfolio came under increasing scrutiny due to his handling of the AWB kickbacks scandal and Australia's worsening trade performance. He has also faced the difficult task of placating his back bench, with Queensland Senator Barnaby Joyce having crossed the floor on more than one occasion.
It was announced on 24 September 2006 that he would switch portfolios with his deputy Nationals leader Warren Truss and become Minister for Transport and Regional Services. His new position had a greater focus on regional Australia, the Nationals party's main constituency. He lost his ministerial position as a result of the coalition's defeat in the November 2007 election He subsequently decided not to contest the Nationals' leadership contest after the election and moved to the backbench.[3]
In March 2008, Mark Vaile undertook a trip to Dubai to work at a part-time consultancy job in the Sydney-based firm ServCorp, in order to boost his $127,000 salary as an MP. This move was widely criticised by Liberal and Opposition cabinet ministers. Liberal senator Nick Minchin indicated that Vaile should consider retirement. Agriculture minister Tony Burke also criticised his absence, remarking that he should quit politics altogether. Opposition leader Brendan Nelson remarked negatively upon his decision as well:
"Had he consulted me about this before he had gone I most certainly would have advised him in the strongest possible terms that it wasn't appropriate for him to be overseas."[4]
Vaile rebuked criticism of his actions, saying that he had received permission from the Clerk of the House, and that many MPs have conducted similar extra-governmental business activities in the past.[5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b "Vaile takes over Nationals", AAP/Fairfax Digital, 23 June 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
- ^ "Deputy PM back at work", Manning River Times, 8 November 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
- ^ "New Shock As Vaile Quits", SMH/Fairfax Digital, 26 November 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
- ^ "Nelson rebukes Vaile over trip", The Australian, 5 March 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
- ^ "Vaile unrepentant about moonlight role", The Australian, 5 March 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
[edit] External links
- Mark Vaile's Maiden Speech in the House of Representatives
- Trademark Thoughts, Aurora: (Roman Catholic) Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, Tracey Edstein, December 2005-January 2006.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Sharp |
Minister for Transport and Regional Development 1997 – 1999 |
Succeeded by John Anderson |
| Preceded by John Anderson |
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 1998 – 1999 |
Succeeded by Warren Truss |
| Preceded by Tim Fischer |
Minister for Trade 1999 – 2006 |
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| Preceded by Warren Truss |
Minister for Transport and Regional Services 2006 – 2007 |
Succeeded by Anthony Albanese |
| Preceded by John Anderson |
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia 2005 – 2007 |
Succeeded by Julia Gillard |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by John Anderson |
Leader of the National Party of Australia 2005 – 2007 |
Succeeded by Warren Truss |
| Parliament of Australia | ||
| Preceded by Bruce Cowan |
Member for Lyne 1993 – present |
Incumbent |
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| Persondata | |
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| NAME | Vaile, Mark Anthony James |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Australian politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 18 April 1956 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | living |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
