Mark Speakman

Mark Raymond Speakman SC, MP (born 6 November 1959), an Australian politician, is the New South Wales Attorney General since January 2017[1] and the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence in the second Berejiklian ministry since April 2019.[2][3][4] Speakman is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Cronulla for the Liberal Party since 2011.[5]

The Honourable Mark Speakman SC MP
Leader of the House
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 May 2020
Premier	Gladys Berejiklian
Preceded by	Andrew Constance
Attorney General of New South Wales
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 January 2017
Premier	Gladys Berejiklian
Preceded by	Gabrielle Upton
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 April 2019
Premier	Gladys Berejiklian
Preceded by	Pru Goward (as Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault)
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Cronulla
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 March 2011
Preceded by	Malcolm Kerr
Majority	21.4 points (2015)
Minister for the Environment
In office 2 April 2015 – 30 January 2017
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	Rob Stokes
Succeeded by	Gabrielle Upton
Minister for Heritage
In office 2 April 2015 – 30 January 2017
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	Rob Stokes
Succeeded by	Gabrielle Upton
Assistant Minister for Planning
In office 2 April 2015 – 30 January 2017
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	Rob Stokes
Succeeded by	portfolio abolished
Personal details
Born	6 November 1959 Sydney, New South Wales
Political party	Liberal Party
Alma mater	University of Sydney University of Cambridge
Profession	Barrister

He has previously served as the Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Heritage, and the Assistant Minister for Planning between April 2015 and January 2017 in the second Baird government.[6]

Early years and background

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, where he graduated with a master's degree. A practising lawyer, he was appointed to the bar in 1991, and was made senior counsel in 2004.[7]

Political career

Preselected in November 2010, following announcement that the sitting member Malcolm Kerr would retire, Speakman overcame a challenge from Stephen Mutch, a former member for Cook.[8] 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.[9] Speakman's main opponent was Stefanie Jones, representing Labor. Premier O'Farrell considered immediately elevating Speakman to the ministry following the 2011 election;[10] however he was not appointed to the ministry until April 2015 when, following the 2015 state election, he was appointed as the Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Heritage, and the Assistant Minister for Planning in the second Baird ministry.[6]

Following the resignation of Mike Baird as Premier,[11] Gladys Berejiklian was elected as Liberal leader and sworn in as Premier.[12][13][14] The First Berejiklian ministry was subsequently formed with Speakman sworn in as the Attorney General of NSW with effect from 30 January 2017.[1] 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.[15] In September 2018, Speakman reportedly broke Victor Dominello's arm in an office arm wrestling match.[16][17]

See also

• Second Baird ministry
• First Berejiklian ministry
• Second Berejiklian ministry

References

1. "Refreshed NSW cabinet sworn in". Sky News. Australia. AAP. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
2. "Government Notices (30)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 2 April 2019. p. 1088-1090. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
3. "Premier announces new Cabinet" (Press release). Premier of New South Wales. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
4. Han, Sophie (2 April 2019). "Berejiklian's new massive cabinet sworn in amid peals of laughter". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
5. "Mr Mark Raymond Speakman, SC MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
6. 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.
7. "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.
8. Robins, Brian (15 November 2010). "NSW moderates make seat gains". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
9. Green, Antony (4 April 2011). "Cronulla". NSW Votes 2011. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
10. Salusinszky, Imre (4 April 2011). "O'Farrell vows to tackle PM on carbon tax". The Australian. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
11. 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.
12. "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.
13. "Ministers". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
14. Clennell, Andrew (26 January 2017). "Premier Gladys Berejiklian plans major reshuffle for cabinet". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
15. 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.
16. McGowan, Michael (5 July 2019), Australian politician broke bone in arm wrestle with state attorney general, The United Kingdom: The Guardian, retrieved 10 July 2019
17. Clennel, Andrew (4 July 2019), Victor Dominello’s arm broken during arm-wrestle with Attorney-General, Australia: The Australian, retrieved 10 July 2019

External links

• Mark Speakman SC – Tenth Floor Chambers