Tim Mulherin

Timothy Sean Mulherin (born 24 August 1957) is an Australian politician who was the MP for Mackay in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1995 to 2015 and Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Early life and career

Born in Mackay, he was a clerk on the Mackay Electricity Board before becoming involved in politics.

Political career

From 1994 to 1995 he was a state organiser of the Australian Labor Party. In 1995, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland as the Labor member for Mackay, replacing Ed Casey, a former ALP leader. He served as a backbencher until he was named to the Beattie Ministry to replace the disgraced Gordon Nuttall as Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries in December 2005. He was given additional responsibility for Regional Development in 2009, and his title was recast as Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland. In February 2011, his titled was again changed, this time to Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies^[1]

Mulherin was elected as Deputy Opposition Leader in the wake of the ALP's defeat at the 2012 election. He is the longest-serving ALP MP and the only one to have previously served in Opposition, having been in Parliament during the 1996–98 Coalition Ministry of Rob Borbidge.

During the 2015 election campaign Mulherin announced his retirement citing family and health reasons but will remain as Deputy Opposition Leader until polling day.^[2] Even though he will be remaining as deputy ALP leader, his retirement means he will not become Deputy Premier if his party wins the election.

Personal life

He is married with three children.

References