Michael Ferguson | |
|---|---|
| 21st Deputy Premier of Tasmania | |
| Assumed office 8 April 2022 | |
| Premier | Jeremy Rockliff |
| Preceded by | Jeremy Rockliff |
| Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Bass | |
| Assumed office 20 March 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Sue Napier |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Bass | |
| In office 9 October 2004 – 24 November 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Michelle O'Byrne |
| Succeeded by | Jodie Campbell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 March 1974 Burnie, Tasmania |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Julie |
| Children | Eloise, Thomas, James |
| Alma mater | University of Tasmania |
| Occupation | Politician Teacher |
| Website | http://michaelferguson.com/ |
Michael Darrel Joseph Ferguson (born 23 March 1974) is an Australian politician who is currently the Deputy Premier of Tasmania since April 2022. He has been a Liberal Party member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly in the Division of Bass since the 2010 state election. Ferguson was appointed to cabinet after his party's victory in the 2014 state election and has served continuously as Minister in a range of portfolios including Finance, Health, Infrastructure, Transport, State Growth and Science and Technology. He is also the Leader of the House.
Ferguson previously served in federal parliament as a Liberal Party of Australia member in the House of Representatives from 2004 to 2007, representing the federal electorate of Bass.[1] He was defeated at the 2007 federal election.
Background and early career[edit]
He was educated at the University of Tasmania, holding degrees in Applied Science and Education.[2] 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[edit]
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,[2] 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.[3]
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.[4][5] He has also taken charge of the redevelopment of the Royal Hobart Hospital to ensure that the much-promised building eventuates.[6][7]
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[8] and a series of electrical and computer failures at the ambulance service.[9]
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[10] but in the end Premier Gutwein chose to retain the Treasury portfolio.
On 8 April 2022, after Gutwein resigned as Premier, deputy party leader Jeremy Rockliff became party leader, and Ferguson was elected as deputy party premier to replace Rockliff. Ferguson was sworn in as Deputy Premier of Tasmania that afternoon.[2][11][12]
Political views[edit]
Ferguson has been described as a "conservative" Liberal, and is opposed to same-sex marriage and abortion.[13] In 2018, he criticised the Tasmanian Greens and the Labor Party for their reforms to make birth certificates gender-optional, citing it as a social experiment on children that Tasmanian parents would be "disgusted" by.[14]
Ferguson opposed the 2023 Voice to Parliament.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ "Mr Michael Ferguson MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "Michael Darrel Joseph Ferguson". Members of the Parliament of Tasmania. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Cabinet". Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ "Concerns over how State Government's overhaul of the health system will be funded". The Mercury. 29 June 2015.
- ^ "White Paper heralds a turning point for state health system". The Mercury. 9 July 2015.
- ^ "Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment plan better value: Tasmanian Government". ABC News.
- ^ "State Government unveils new Royal Hobart Hospital plans". The Mercury.
- ^ "Health is in good hands". The Mercury. 27 June 2015.
- ^ "Ambulance Tasmania systems under review after second communication outage in 24 hours". ABC News.
- ^ "Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson tipped as new Treasurer". The Examiner.
- ^ Alexandra Humphries (8 April 2022). "Jeremy Rockliff, Michael Ferguson announced as Tasmania's leadership team". ABC News.
- ^ "Jeremy Rockliff becomes Tasmania's 47th premier after being elected as state Liberal leader". The Guardian. 8 April 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Whitson, Rhiana (21 November 2018). "Tasmania poised to become first state to have gender optional on birth certificates". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ Massola, James (1 September 2023). "Small states' premiers speak out on Voice as Minns, Andrews hang back". Retrieved 1 September 2023.
External links[edit]
Current Treasurers of Australia | |
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