Mark Speakman

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Not to be confused with Mark Speckman.

The Honourable
Mark Speakman
SC MP
Speakman in 2015
Leader of the Opposition in New South Wales
Assumed office
21 April 2023
PremierChris Minns
DeputyNatalie Ward
Preceded byChris Minns
Leader of the Liberal Party in New South Wales
Assumed office
21 April 2023
DeputyNatalie Ward
Preceded byDominic Perrottet
Attorney General of New South Wales
In office
30 January 2017 – 28 March 2023
PremierGladys Berejiklian
Dominic Perrottet
Preceded byGabrielle Upton
Succeeded byMichael Daley
Leader of the House
In office
8 May 2020 – 21 December 2022
PremierGladys Berejiklian
Dominic Perrottet
Preceded byAndrew Constance
Succeeded byAlister Henskens
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
In office
2 April 2019 – 21 December 2021 (2021-12-21)
PremierGladys Berejiklian
Dominic Perrottet
Preceded byPru Goward
Succeeded byNatalie Ward
Minister for the Environment
In office
2 April 2015 – 30 January 2017
PremierMike Baird
Preceded byRob Stokes
Succeeded byGabrielle Upton
Minister for Heritage
In office
2 April 2015 – 30 January 2017
PremierMike Baird
Preceded byRob Stokes
Succeeded byGabrielle Upton
Assistant Minister for Planning
In office
2 April 2015 – 30 January 2017
PremierMike Baird
Preceded byRob Stokes
Succeeded byportfolio abolished
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Cronulla
Assumed office
26 March 2011
Preceded byMalcolm Kerr
Personal details
Born (1959-11-06) 6 November 1959 (age 64)
Sydney, New South Wales
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLiberal
Other political
affiliations		Conservative (UK)[a]
ResidenceWoolooware[2]
Education
Alma mater
ProfessionBarrister
  1. ^ During his time at the University of Cambridge, Speakman became a member of the Cambridge University Conservative Association (CUCA).[1]

Mark Raymond Speakman SC, MP (born 6 November 1959) is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly since 2011, representing Cronulla for the Liberal Party.[3] On 21 April 2023, he became the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Party in New South Wales.

Between April 2015 and January 2017, he was the Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Heritage, and the Assistant Minister for Planning in the second Baird government,[4] and the Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence in the Berejiklian and Perrottet ministries.

He was the New South Wales Attorney General from January 2017 until the defeat of the state Coalition government at the March 2023 state election.[5] He was a member of the second Berejiklian ministry from April 2019 until April 2023, and the first line-up of the Perrottet ministry.[6][7][8][9]

Early years and background[edit]

Speakman attended government schools in Caringbah, including Caringbah High School, before studying law and economics at the University of Sydney and then the University of Cambridge, from which he graduated with a master's degree. A practising lawyer, he was called to the bar in 1991, and was made senior counsel in 2004.[10]

Political career[edit]

Speakman was a member of the Cronulla branch of the Young Liberals. During his time in the United Kingdom, he paid £6 to become a life member of the Cambridge University Conservative Association (CACA).[1]

Preselected in November 2010, following the announcement that the sitting member, Malcolm Kerr, would retire, Speakman overcame a challenge from Stephen Mutch, a former member for the federal seat of Cook and former state member of the Legislative Council.[11] Speakman had challenged Mutch for the Cook preselection prior to the 1998 federal election, but withdrew from the contest when former state deputy Liberal leader, Bruce Baird, became the compromise candidate.[12]

At the 2011 state election, Speakman was elected with a swing of 9.4 points and won the seat with 75.5 per cent of the vote on a two-party-preferred basis.[13] Speakman's main opponent was Stefanie Jones, representing Labor. Premier O'Farrell considered elevating Speakman to the ministry following the election,[14][dead link] but he was not made a minister until April 2015 when, following the 2015 state election, he was appointed as Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Heritage, and the Assistant Minister for Planning in the second Baird ministry.[4]

Following the resignation of Mike Baird as Premier,[15] Gladys Berejiklian was elected as Liberal leader and sworn in as Premier.[16][17][18] The First Berejiklian ministry was subsequently formed with Speakman sworn in as the Attorney General of NSW with effect from 30 January 2017.[5] Following the 2019 state election Speakman was appointed as the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence in addition to his responsibilities as NSW Attorney General in the second Berejiklian ministry with effect from 2 April 2019;[19] a title subsequently amended as the Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence in May 2021. In the second arrangement of the Perrottet ministry, he retained the portfolio title of Attorney General.[6]

In September 2018, Speakman reportedly broke Victor Dominello's arm in an office arm wrestling match.[20][21]

In April 2023, after the Liberal Party’s defeat in the 2023 New South Wales state election, he was elected as Leader of the Liberal Party and hence Leader of the Opposition. On 9 June 2023, Speakman was granted retention of The Honourable title by the Governor for life, for having served as a Member of the Executive Council for more than three years.[22]

Political views[edit]

Despite some initial concerns, Speakman supports the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, but at the same time stated that he would not campaign for it.[23] He supports the use of quotas to increase female representation in the Liberal Party room.[1]

Personal life[edit]

Speakman has a pet dog named Lucy, a rescue dog who has her own Instagram account.[24]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c https://www.afr.com/politics/nsw-opposition-leader-mark-speakman-i-m-not-really-a-head-kicker-20230519-p5d9mm
  2. ^ a b c https://nswliberal.org.au/mark-speakman/meet-mark
  3. ^ "Mr Mark Raymond Speakman, SC MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  4. ^ a b Hasham, Nicole (3 April 2015). "Premier Mike Baird's new NSW cabinet sworn in: Gladys Berejiklian and Gabrielle Upton first female Treasurer and Attorney-General". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Refreshed NSW cabinet sworn in". Sky News. Australia. AAP. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Parliament, Ministerial, Courts and Police (662)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 21 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Government Notices (30)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 2 April 2019. p. 1088-1090. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Premier announces new Cabinet" (Press release). Premier of New South Wales. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  9. ^ Han, Sophie (2 April 2019). "Berejiklian's new massive cabinet sworn in amid peals of laughter". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  10. ^ "Lawyer is keen to give back". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. Fairfax Media. 26 February 2011. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  11. ^ Robins, Brian (15 November 2010). "NSW moderates make seat gains". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  12. ^ "Subscribe to The Australian | Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps". Archived from the original on 14 July 2021.
  13. ^ Green, Antony (4 April 2011). "Cronulla". NSW Votes 2011. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  14. ^ Salusinszky, Imre (4 April 2011). "O'Farrell vows to tackle PM on carbon tax". The Australian. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  15. ^ Jacques, Owen (19 January 2017). "Baird resigns: NSW Premier to quit top job and Parliament". The Satellite. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  16. ^ "Swearing-In of The Honourable Gladys Berejiklian MP, the 45th Premier of New South Wales, and The Honourable John Barilaro MP, Deputy Premier". Vice Regal Program. Governor of New South Wales. 23 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  17. ^ "Ministers". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  18. ^ Clennell, Andrew (26 January 2017). "Premier Gladys Berejiklian plans major reshuffle for cabinet". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  19. ^ Sas, Nick (31 March 2019). "Gladys Berejiklian says Liberal Party has no women problem as re-elected NSW Premier shuffles Cabinet". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  20. ^ McGowan, Michael (5 July 2019). "Australian politician broke bone in arm wrestle with state attorney general". The Guardian. United Kingdom. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  21. ^ Clennell, Andrew (4 July 2019). "Victor Dominello's arm broken during arm-wrestle with Attorney-General". The Australian. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  22. ^ "Parliament, Ministerial, Courts and Police" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (254): 0940. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  23. ^ https://amp.abc.net.au/article/102722388
  24. ^ Loomes, Phoebe (21 April 2023). "Who is NSW opposition leader Mark Speakman?". PerthNow. Retrieved 10 October 2023.


External links[edit]

 

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Cronulla
2011–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Attorney General
2017–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded byas Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence
2019–2021 		Succeeded byas Minister for Minister for Women's Safety
and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence
Preceded by Minister for the Environment
2015–2017 		Succeeded by
Minister for Heritage
2015–2017
Assistant Minister for Planning
2015–2017 		Succeeded by
portfolio abolished
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