Mark McArdle

Mark McArdle MP
Deputy Leader of the Opposition of Queensland
In office 7 December 2007 – 2009
Preceded by	Bruce Flegg
Succeeded by	Lawrence Springborg
Member of the Queensland Parliament for Caloundra
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 February 2004
Preceded by	Joan Sheldon
Personal details
Born	21 December 1956 (1956-12-21) (age 54)
Political party	Liberal National Party
Spouse(s)	Judy McArdle

Mark Francis McArdle (born 21 December 1956) is an Australian politician and the Shadow Minister for Health. He has been a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly since 2004, representing the electorate of Caloundra.

McArdle has been the Shadow Health Minister since 12 August 2008. He was previously the state Liberal leader and the deputy opposition leader. McArdle was installed as a compromise candidate in December 2007 after a deadlock in the caucus between supporters of former leader Bruce Flegg and challenger Tim Nicholls. He had previously served as deputy leader under Flegg from 2006 to 2007. He was made Deputy Leader of the Liberal National Party after the Queensland Liberal Party merged with the Queensland National Party. After the 2009 Queensland Election Mark McArdle left his position as Deputy, alongside Leader Lawrence Springborg. Days later, John Paul Langbroek was elected Leader with Lawrence Springborg as Deputy Leader.

Following the party leadership change, McArdle remained in his position as Shadow Minister for Health.

Parliamentary career

Mark McArdle has had many Parliamentary Positions including; Liberal Shadow Minister for Justice, State Development & Innovation, Emergency services, Seniors and Local Government. Shadow Attorney General. Liberal Party Whip, from March 2004 until September 2005. Shadow Minister for Justice, Shadow Attorney General from September 2005 till the present. McArdle has had many party positions including; Chairman Fisher FEC, Chairman Fisher Business Branch, Member of Peter Slipper’s Campaign Committee, and a Member of Liberal Party State Executive.^[1]

2006 Election

Prior to the 2006 Election, McArdle came under sustained criticism from the Labor Party and local media for his role in the collapse of mortgage schemes run by Boyce Garrick Lawyers. Premier Peter Beattie claimed that his role in the collapse made him unfit for such a leadership position. McArdle responded by pointing out that he was cleared of any fault in the collapse by the Queensland Law Society in 2001.^[2]

In the 2006 Queensland election, McArdle was returned as the Member for Caloundra, taking a 2.6% swing in his favour, and increasing his margin to 3.9%.^[3] Following electoral redistributions in 2008 prior to the 2009 state election, McArdle's margin was reduced to 1.9%.^[4]

References

1. ^ Mark McArdle Biography | Queensland Parliament
2. ^ "Former firm's failed schemes haunt McArdle". http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3695736&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=. Retrieved 2006-08-15. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ "ABC 2006 Queensland Election Results". http://abc.net.au/elections/qld/2006/results/calo.htm. Retrieved 2006-09-13. 
4. ^ "ABC 2009 Queensland Election". http://www.abc.net.au/elections/qld/2009/guide/calo.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-16. 

External links

• Liberal National Party of Queensland

Persondata
Name	Macardle, Mark
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	21 December 1956
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death