The Honourable
Mark Buttigieg
MLC
Default
Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations, Work Health and Safety, and Multiculturalism
Assumed office
26 April 2023[1]
MinisterSophie Cotsis (Industrial Relations, Work Health and Safety)
Steve Kamper (Multiculturalism)
Opposition Whip in the New South Wales Legislative Council
In office
2 July 2019 – 28 March 2023
Preceded byShaoquett Moselmane
Succeeded byChris Rath
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
Assumed office
23 March 2019
Member of Sutherland Shire Council
for C Ward
In office
13 September 2008 – 7 September 2012
Preceded byScott Docherty
Succeeded byPeter Scaysbrook
Personal details
Born (1966-06-11) 11 June 1966 (age 57)
Sydney, Australia
Political partyLabor Party
SpouseAnna Lignou[2]
Children1 (Gerard)[2]
OccupationTrade unionist, electrician
Websitewww.markbuttigieg.com.au

Mark Robert Buttigieg (born 11 June 1966) is an Australian politician and trade unionist, currently serving Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations, Work Health and Safety, and Multiculturalism in the Labor Government of New South Wales. He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council at the 2019 New South Wales state election.

Early life

Buttigieg was born in Sydney to Maltese parents Victor and Carmen who immigrated to Australia from Malta in the 1950s.[3]

At fifteen, Mark began an electrical apprenticeship with Sydney County Council and later became an electrical systems operator then training manager for Energy Australia.[2][4] He has a certificate in electrical engineering and an electrical trade certificate. He also holds an arts degree in political science and an economics degree with first-class honours.[5]

Politics

Buttigieg stood for the Labor Party in the Division of Cook at the 2004 and 2007 federal elections.[4][6] In 2008, he was elected as a councillor on the Sutherland Shire Council, representing C Ward and serving a single term. He did not seek re-election in 2012.[7]

He later moved to Kyeemagh[8] and became Secretary of the Rockdale branch of the Labor Party.[9] He also worked as an organiser for the Electrical Trades Union of Australia (ETU)[10]

In 2015, Buttigieg criticised calls from Kogarah MP, Chris Minns to reduce union influence in the Labor Party.[9] In 2016, Buttigieg sought Labor preselection for the federal seat of Barton.[8] Ultimately, Linda Burney was preselected and won the seat.

He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council at the 2019 New South Wales state election.[10] He was appointed Opposition Legislative Council Whip and as Deputy Chair of the Selection of Bills Committee on 2 July 2019. In 2021, he was appointed as Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Issues. He served in these roles until the 2023 election.[2]

Following the election of the Minns government, Buttigieg was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations, Work Health and Safety, and Multiculturalism.

On 19 October 2023, Buttigieg signed an open letter which condemned attacks against Israeli and Palestinian civilians during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Minns Labor Government Parliamentary Secretaries announced | NSW Government". Department of Premier and Cabinet. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Hon. Mark Robert Buttigieg, MLC". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  3. ^ "About". Mark Buttigieg MLC. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Cook". Australia Votes 2007. ABC. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  5. ^ Green, Antony (26 September 2023). "Cook - Federal Election 2007 - ABC". www.abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Cook". Australia Votes 2004. ABC. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Historical list of mayors and councillors" (PDF). Sutherland Shire Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  8. ^ a b Trembath, Murray (12 February 2016). "Mark Buttigieg cites 'runs on board' in Barton bid". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b Patty, Anna (28 May 2015). "Backlash grows over ALP's Chris Minns' anti-union push". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  10. ^ a b Stewart, Selby; Coleman, Oscar (15 April 2019). "Leyonhjelm fails in NSW Upper House bid, Animal Justice Party claims seat". ABC News. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  11. ^ "'Catastrophic crisis': NSW politicians release open letter supporting Palestinian communities". ABC News. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
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