Ian Macfarlane (politician)

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The Honourable
Ian Macfarlane
MP
File:Ian Macfarlane 2015.jpg
Minister for Industry and Science
In office
18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015
Prime Minister Tony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by Kim Carr
Succeeded by Christopher Pyne
Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources
In office
26 November 2001 – 3 December 2007
Prime Minister John Howard
Preceded by Nick Minchin
Succeeded by Kim Carr Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
Martin Ferguson Minister for Resources and Energy
Minister for Small Business
In office
30 January 2001 – 26 November 2001
Prime Minister John Howard
Preceded by Peter Reith
Succeeded by Joe Hockey
Member of the Australian Parliament for Groom
Assumed office
3 October 1998
Preceded by Bill Taylor
Personal details
Born (1955-04-05) 5 April 1955 (age 69)
Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia
Political party Liberal National Party
Other political
affiliations
Liberal Party
Spouse(s) Karen
Children Kate and Laura
Residence Toowoomba, Queensland
Occupation Farmer
Website www.ianmacfarlanemp.com

Ian Elgin Macfarlane (born 5 April 1955) is an Australian politician. He was elected as a member of the Australian House of Representatives in October 1998, representing the Division of Groom, Queensland, for the Liberal National Party. Prior to the merger of the Liberal and National parties in Queensland in 2008, Macfarlane was a member of the Liberal Party, and sat in the Liberal party room in Canberra. In December 2015, it was reported that he would be defecting to the National Party.[1] Macfarlane was the Minister for Industry and Science in the Abbott Government from 18 September 2013[2] until 20 September 2015, when he was dropped from cabinet in the reshuffle following Malcolm Turnbull's ascent to the prime ministership.

Background and career

He was born in Kingaroy, Queensland, and was a farmer and president of the Queensland Graingrowers Association before entering politics. He acquired the nickname "Chainsaw" from ABC rural reporter Judy Kennedy due to his raspy voice. He now attributes the moniker to his ability to "cut through red tape",[3] and it was alluded to in his 1998 election campaign through the slogan "The Right Voice for Groom".

In an interview with Four Corners on 9 November 2009, Macfarlane said that his position on global warming had changed "a bit", since he had recognised a greater importance for mankind's contribution.[4] Acting as Climate Change Spokesman for the Coalition in 2009, he spent 5 weeks in negotiations around a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme with Minister for Climate Change Penny Wong,[5] before a leadership spill deposed party leader Malcolm Turnbull and replaced him with Tony Abbott,[6] and the policy was overturned.

As a minister in the Coalition Government under John Howard he held the portfolio of Minister for Small Business from January 2001, before being promoted to the Cabinet role of Industry, Tourism and Resources in November 2001.[7] After the defeat of the Coalition in the 2007 federal election he served in the shadow portfolios of Trade as well as Infrustructure and Water, and was the Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources.[8] With the election of the Abbott Coalition government in September 2013 he was appointed Minister for Industry. He was later sworn in as the Minister for Minister for Industry and Science on 23 December 2014.

Macfarlane was dropped from the new Turnbull Ministry upon the ascension of the Turnbull Government. On 3 December 2015, Macfarlane announced his intention to defect from the Liberal party room to the National party room.[9] The move was later blocked by the Queensland LNP executive.[10]

References

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Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Groom
1998–present
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Small Business
2001
Succeeded by
Joe Hockey
Preceded by Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources
2001–2007
Succeeded by
Kim Carr
as Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
Succeeded by
Martin Ferguson
as Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism
Preceded by
Kim Carr
as Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
Minister for Industry
2013–2015
Succeeded by
Christopher Pyne
as Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science