Michael Ronaldson
Encyclopedia
Michael John Clyde Ronaldson (born 13 February 1954) is an Australian politician, has been a Liberal
member of the Australian Senate
since July 2005, representing the state of Victoria
.
Ronaldson was born on 13 February 1954 in Ballarat, Victoria
. He was educated at Ballarat College, Ballarat before attending Melbourne University, where he graduated in law. He was a barrister and solicitor before entering politics. He was a member of the Ballarat City Council 1981–87.
A member of the Liberal Party since 1980, Ronaldson was elected to the House of Representatives
for the seat of Ballarat
in 1990. His grandfather, Archibald Fisken
, was the member for Ballarat from 1934 until 1937 http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/1990/1990repsvic.txt. He was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry from 1993 to 1996, being at various times Shadow Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, and Shadow Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training.
When the Howard
government was elected in 1996 Ronaldson was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Development. After the 1998 election he left the ministry and was appointed Chief Government Whip.
At the 2001 election Ronaldson retired from the House, and was reported to be in poor health. At the 2004 election, however, he was chosen to head the Liberal Senate ticket in Victoria, displacing Senator Tsebin Tchen
, who was seen as a supporter of the former Premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett
.
After the Liberal/National coalition lost government at the 2007 election, Ronaldson was appointed as Shadow Special Minister of State under Brendan Nelson
.
In 2008 he was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet under Malcolm Turnbull
, where he continued as Shadow Special Minister of State but was given the extra role of Shadow Cabinet Secretary.
Ronaldson was re-elected at the 2010 election but was demoted to Shadow Minister for Veteran's Affairs by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
since July 2005, representing the state of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
Ronaldson was born on 13 February 1954 in Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
. He was educated at Ballarat College, Ballarat before attending Melbourne University, where he graduated in law. He was a barrister and solicitor before entering politics. He was a member of the Ballarat City Council 1981–87.
A member of the Liberal Party since 1980, Ronaldson was elected to the House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
for the seat of Ballarat
Division of Ballarat
The Division of Ballarat is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the provincial city of Ballarat....
in 1990. His grandfather, Archibald Fisken
Archibald Fisken
Archibald Clyde Wanliss Fisken CMG, OBE was an Australian politician. His grandson is Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson.-Early life:...
, was the member for Ballarat from 1934 until 1937 http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/1990/1990repsvic.txt. He was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry from 1993 to 1996, being at various times Shadow Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, and Shadow Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training.
When the Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
government was elected in 1996 Ronaldson was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Development. After the 1998 election he left the ministry and was appointed Chief Government Whip.
At the 2001 election Ronaldson retired from the House, and was reported to be in poor health. At the 2004 election, however, he was chosen to head the Liberal Senate ticket in Victoria, displacing Senator Tsebin Tchen
Tsebin Tchen
Tsebin Tchen is a former Liberal member of the Australian Senate from 1999 to 2005, representing the state of Victoria....
, who was seen as a supporter of the former Premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
.
After the Liberal/National coalition lost government at the 2007 election, Ronaldson was appointed as Shadow Special Minister of State under Brendan Nelson
Brendan Nelson
Dr Brendan John Nelson is a former Australian politician and former federal Opposition leader. He served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives from the 1996 federal election until 19 October 2009 as the Liberal member for Bradfield, a northern Sydney seat...
.
In 2008 he was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet under Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2004, and was Leader of the Opposition and parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party from 16 September 2008 to 1 December 2009.Turnbull has represented the Division...
, where he continued as Shadow Special Minister of State but was given the extra role of Shadow Cabinet Secretary.
Ronaldson was re-elected at the 2010 election but was demoted to Shadow Minister for Veteran's Affairs by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.