The Honourable
Mark Furner
MP
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries of Queensland
Assumed office
12 December 2017
PremierAnnastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded byBill Byrne
Minister for Local Government of Queensland
In office
10 February 2017 – 12 December 2017
PremierAnnastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded byJackie Trad
Succeeded byStirling Hinchliffe
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships of Queensland
In office
10 February 2017 – 12 December 2017
PremierAnnastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded byCurtis Pitt
Succeeded byJackie Trad
Senator for Queensland
In office
1 July 2008 – 30 June 2014
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Ferny Grove
Assumed office
31 January 2015
Preceded byDale Shuttleworth
Personal details
Born (1958-04-11) 11 April 1958 (age 65)
Brisbane, Queensland
NationalityAustralian
Political partyAustralian Labor Party
SpouseLorraine Furner
Children3
Alma materQueensland University of Technology
OccupationUnion Official
Websitewww.markfurnermp.com.au

Mark Lionel Furner (born 11 April 1958) is an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of Australian Senate from 2008 to 2014, representing the state of Queensland.[1] Since the 2015 Queensland state election, he has represented Ferny Grove in the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[2]

Early life and education

Furner was born in Brisbane, Queensland and grew up a housing commission development in Chermside. Initially working as a tradesman in the transport industry,[3] he graduated from the Queensland University of Technology with an associate diploma of business with a major in industrial relations.

Between 1989 and 2008 he worked as a union official for the Transport Workers' Union, the Queensland Police Union, and the National Union of Workers. Furner held a range of positions within the Labor Party between 1996 and 2008.[1]

Career

He was elected to the Senate at the 2007 federal election as the third candidate of the Labor Party Senate ticket in Queensland. He was defeated at the 2013 federal election and his term ended on 30 June 2014.[1]

He won the seat of Ferny Grove representing Labor at the 2015 Queensland state election.[4] On 10 February 2017, Furner was appointed to the posts of Minister for Local Government and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships in a Cabinet reshuffle announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.[5]

In December 2017, Furner was sworn in as Queensland's Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries. He retained this portfolio following the swearing in of the Third Palaszczuk Ministry in November 2020.[6]

Personal life

Furner is married to Lorraine and they have three children; Troy, Stacey and Sally.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Former Senator Mark Furner". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Member Details - Hon Mark Furner MP". Queensland Parliament. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b Furner, Mark (2 September 2008). "The Senate: First Speech". Hansard, Parliament of Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Ferny Grove: District Summary". 2015 State General Election. Electoral Commission of Queensland. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Queensland Cabinet reshuffle: Mark Furner to replace Stirling Hinchliffe after resignation". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Who's who in Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's new Queensland Cabinet?". ABC News. Australia. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.

External links

Parliament of Queensland Preceded byDale Shuttleworth Member for Ferny Grove 2015–present Incumbent


Current Ministry of the Queensland Government
Current members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
Categories