The Honourable Warren Truss MP |
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12th Leader of the National Party of Australia | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office 3 December 2007 |
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Deputy | Nigel Scullion |
Preceded by | Mark Vaile |
Constituency | Wide Bay |
Majority | 15.6% |
Minister for Trade | |
In office 10 August 2006 – 3 December 2007 |
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Preceded by | Mark Vaile |
Succeeded by | Simon Crean |
Minister for Transport and Regional Services | |
In office 6 July 2005 – 10 August 2006 |
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Preceded by | John Anderson |
Succeeded by | Mark Vaile |
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | |
In office 20 July 1999 – 6 July 2005 |
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Preceded by | Mark Vaile |
Succeeded by | Peter McGauran |
Member of the Australian Parliament for Wide Bay |
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Incumbent | |
Assumed office 24 March 1990 |
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Preceded by | Clarrie Millar |
Personal details | |
Born | 8 October 1948 Kingaroy, Queensland |
Political party | National (federal) Liberal National (state) |
Spouse(s) | Lyn |
Residence | Maryborough, Queensland |
Occupation | farmer |
Website | warrentruss.com |
Warren Errol Truss (born 8 October 1948), Australian politician, is the current leader of the National Party of Australia in the Parliament of Australia. He has held the House of Representatives seat of Wide Bay since the 1990 election. Following the merger of the Queensland branches of the Nationals and Liberals, Truss was re-elected in 2010 for the Liberal National Party.
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He was born in Kingaroy, Queensland, and was a farmer before entering politics. He was chair of the Sugar Coast Burnett Regional Tourism Board and a councillor of the Shire of Kingaroy 1976–90.[1]
Truss's first attempt at a parliamentary seat was in the Queensland state parliament as the Nationals candidate at the 1988 Barambah by-election, triggered by the retirement of former premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen. However, Truss lost in an upset to the Citizens Electoral Council candidate Trevor Perrett, who later joined the National Party.[2]
Truss was elected to the seat of Wide Bay at the 1990 election. He was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry 1994–96.
With the Liberal/National Coalition defeating the Australian Labor Party at the 1996 election, Truss was appointed Deputy Leader of the House 1997–98, Minister for Customs and Consumer Affairs 1997–98, and Minister for Community Services 1998–99. He was promoted to the John Howard cabinet and served as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 1999–2005.[1]
In June 2005 John Anderson announced his intention to resign as National Party Leader. Deputy Leader Mark Vaile was elected the new Leader, and Truss was elected Deputy Leader. In the reshuffled ministry following Anderson's resignation Truss became Minister for Transport and Regional Services.
In 2006, following the AWB oil for food scandal, Truss and Vaile swapped portfolios, with Truss becoming Minister for Trade and Vaile taking the Transport and Regional Services portfolio until the defeat of the Liberal/National Coalition government at the 2007 election.[1]
After the election, Mark Vaile declined to continue in his role as National Party Leader, citing the party's need for "generational renewal". Truss was elected leader of the federal National Party of Australia on 3 December 2007.[3][4][5]
In 2008, Coalition leader Malcolm Turnbull appointed Truss as Shadow Minister for Trade, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.[6] He retained that portfolio after Tony Abbott became Coalition leader in late 2009.[7] Following the 2010 election, Truss became Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.[8]
On 1 January 2001 Warren Truss was awarded the Centenary Medal for 'service as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry'[9]
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Chris Ellison |
Minister for Customs and Consumer Affairs 1997–98 |
Succeeded by Amanda Vanstone |
Preceded by Judi Moylan |
Minister for Community Services 1998–99 |
Succeeded by Larry Anthony |
Preceded by Mark Vaile |
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forrestry 1999–2005 |
Succeeded by Peter McGauran |
Preceded by John Anderson |
Minister for Transport and Regional Services 2005–06 |
Succeeded by Mark Vaile |
Preceded by Mark Vaile |
Minister for Trade 2006–07 |
Succeeded by Simon Crean |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by Mark Vaile |
Leader of the National Party of Australia 2007–present |
Incumbent |
Preceded by Mark Vaile |
Deputy Leader of the National Party of Australia 2005–07 |
Succeeded by Nigel Scullion |
Parliament of Australia | ||
Preceded by Clarrie Millar |
Member for Wide Bay 1990–present |
Incumbent |
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