Mark Vaile

The Honourable Mark Vaile
Mark Vaile
12th Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
In office 6 July 2005 – 3 December 2007
Prime Minister	John Howard
Preceded by	John Anderson
Succeeded by	Julia Gillard
Member of the Australian Parliament for Lyne
In office 13 March 1993 – 30 July 2008
Preceded by	Bruce Cowan
Succeeded by	Rob Oakeshott
Personal details
Born	18 April 1956 (1956-04-18) (age 55) Sydney
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.

Early life

Vaile was born in Sydney 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 (100-acre) rural property outside Taree, New South Wales.^[1]

Parliamentary career

Vaile was a member of the Australian House of Representatives between March 1993 and July 2008, 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 were 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 also faced the difficult task of placating his back bench, with Queensland Senator Barnaby Joyce having crossed the floor on more than one occasion.

On 24 September 2006 he switched portfolios with deputy Nationals leader Warren Truss and became 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. Vaile subsequently resigned his position as Nationals leader, and moved to the backbench.^[3]

Vaile announced his resignation from Parliament on 19 July 2008, which triggered a Lyne by-election.^[4] His resignation was made effective on 30 July 2008.^[5]

Post-parliament career

In September 2008, Vaile confirmed that he had been appointed to the board of Virgin Blue.^[6] Mark is also Non-Executive Chairman of Aston Resources Limited (ASX:ATZ) http://astonresources.com and Non–Executive Director & Chairman of CBD Energy Limited (ASX:CBD) www.cbdenergy.com.au

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} "Vaile takes over Nationals". AAP/Fairfax Digital. 23 June 2005. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/vaile-takes-over-nationals/2005/06/23/1119321850644.html. Retrieved 16 August 2007. 
2. ^ "Deputy PM back at work". Manning River Times. 8 November 2005. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070312081541/http://taree.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&category=general+news&story_id=436850&y=2005&m=11. Retrieved 16 August 2007. 
3. ^ "New Shock As Vaile Quits". SMH/Fairfax Digital. 26 November 2007. http://www.smh.com.au/news/federal-election-2007/new-shock-as-vaile-quits/2007/11/26/1196036785226.html. Retrieved 26 November 2007. 
4. ^ Mark Vaile (2008). Vaile steps down from Politics. Retrieved 19 July 2008.
5. ^ Stoner will not stand for Lyne
6. ^ "Mark Vaile lands seat on Virgin Blue board". The Australian (News Limited). 23 September 2008. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24386674-23349,00.html. Retrieved 23 October 2008. 

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 1997–99	Succeeded by John Anderson
Preceded by John Anderson	Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 1998–99	Succeeded by Warren Truss
Preceded by Tim Fischer	Minister for Trade 1999–2006
Preceded by Warren Truss	Minister for Transport and Regional Services 2006–07	Succeeded by Anthony Albanese
Preceded by John Anderson	Deputy Prime Minister of Australia 2005–07	Succeeded by Julia Gillard
Party political offices
Preceded by John Anderson	Leader of the National Party of Australia 2005–07	Succeeded by Warren Truss
Preceded by John Anderson	Deputy Leader of the National Party of Australia 1999–2005	Succeeded by Warren Truss
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Bruce Cowan	Member for Lyne 1993–2008	Succeeded by Rob Oakeshott

Persondata
Name	Vaile, Mark Anthony James
Alternative names
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