Michael Ferguson (Australian politician)

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The Honourable

Michael Ferguson

MHA
Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Bass
Assumed office
20 March 2010
Preceded bySue Napier
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Bass
In office
9 October 2004 – 24 November 2007
Preceded byMichelle O'Byrne
Succeeded byJodie Campbell
Personal details
Born (1974-03-23) 23 March 1974 (age 47)
Burnie, Tasmania
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Julie
ChildrenEloise, Thomas, James
Alma materUniversity of Tasmania
OccupationPolitician
Teacher
Websitehttp://michaelferguson.com/

Michael Darrel Joseph Ferguson (born 23 March 1974) is an Australian politician. He was a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Australian House of Representatives from 2004 to 2007, representing the electorate of Bass. He was defeated at the 2007 federal election, and subsequently switched to state politics, winning election to the corresponding Tasmanian House of Assembly electorate at the 2010 state election.

Background and early career[]

He was educated at the University of Tasmania, holding degrees in Applied Science and Education.[citation needed] In the past, his broad community activities include many local tourism and progress associations as well as community radio.[citation needed] He has worked as a teacher from 1996 to 2002, and a member of the Meander Valley Council. He has received awards including winning the Regional Initiative category for the Young Australian of the Year Awards for Tasmania in 2002, and Tasmanian Young Achiever of the Year (2002) by the National Australia Day Council.[citation needed]

Before entering politics, he was a teacher in public secondary schools in Northern Tasmania and adviser to Guy Barnett, Liberal Senator for Tasmania.[citation needed]

Political career[]

In his first parliamentary term Ferguson concentrated on issues such as education, health, family and employment and served on numerous parliamentary and backbench committees. He was the secretary of the Government Education, Science and Training policy committee and is acknowledged as having played a key role in brokering the passage of the Voluntary Student Unionism legislation through a hostile senate with his (implemented) proposal for a sports infrastructure transition fund.[citation needed]

Soon after the 2007 election Ferguson was appointed as the CEO of the Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust.[citation needed]

He was subsequently elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly at the 2010 state election, securing the highest number of primary votes in Bass (1.5 quotas) and the second highest vote in the state. In April 2010 Ferguson was appointed as Shadow Minister for Education and Skills; and Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology.[citation needed]

Ferguson was re-elected at the 2014 state election, at which the Liberals gained government, and was appointed Minister for Health and Minister for Information Technology and Innovation.[1]

As Health Minister, Ferguson has led an ambitious and somewhat contentious reform of the Tasmanian health system by merging the previously three health services into one and changing the services delivered at each of the four hospitals in the state.[2][3] He has also taken charge of the redevelopment of the Royal Hobart Hospital to ensure that the much-promised building eventuates.[4][5]

His tenure has not been without incident with his appointment of an interim CEO of the merged health service having a side interest in alternative therapies[6] and a series of electrical and computer failures at the ambulance service.[7]

In January 2020, Premier Will Hodgman resigned and Ferguson was a candidate to succeed him as Premier and Liberal leader but ultimately withdrew from the leadership contest. Treasurer Peter Gutwein was instead elected unopposed as Hodgman's successor. There was speculation that Ferguson would succeed Gutwein as Treasurer [8] but in the end Premier Gutwein chose to retain the Treasury portfolio.

Political views[]

Ferguson has been described as a "conservative" Liberal.[9]

Ferguson voted against the bill to legalise same-sex marriage in 2017. He is opposed to abortion.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ "Cabinet". Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Concerns over how State Government's overhaul of the health system will be funded". The Mercury. 29 June 2015.
  3. ^ "White Paper heralds a turning point for state health system". The Mercury. 9 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment plan better value: Tasmanian Government". ABC News.
  5. ^ "State Government unveils new Royal Hobart Hospital plans". The Mercury.
  6. ^ "Health is in good hands". The Mercury. 27 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Ambulance Tasmania systems under review after second communication outage in 24 hours". ABC News.
  8. ^ https://www.examiner.com.au/story/6595440/michael-ferguson-tipped-as-new-treasurer/
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Baker, Emily (17 January 2020). "Who are Tasmanian premiership candidates Peter Gutwein and Michael Ferguson?". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2021.

External links[]

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Michelle O'Byrne 		Member for Bass
2004–2007 		Succeeded by
Jodie Campbell
Retrieved from ""