Mark Furner

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.[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.
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Member for Ferny Grove
2015–present 		Incumbent


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