About Mark
Mark was elected to Federal Parliament in 2007 representing the electorate of Port Adelaide. In 2009, Mark was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health and in 2010 was appointed Minister for Mental Health and Ageing. On 14 December 2011, he was appointed as Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister for Social Inclusion and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform. On 4 February 2013, Mark was also appointed as Minister for Housing and Homelessness, while retaining the portfolios of Mental Health and Ageing and Social Inclusion.
Mark holds a First Class Honours Law degree, an Arts degree and a Masters degree in International Relations.
Before entering Parliament, Mark worked for 15 years in the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) including 11 years as State Secretary. During that time, Mark served as a member of several government and private sector boards.
In 1997, Mark was elected President of the ALP in South Australia, and has been a Member of the ALP National Executive and National Executive Committee since 2000.
Mark was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2003 for services to trade unionism.
Mark lives in Woodville Park with his wife and two children, and is a keen supporter of AFL team, Port Power.
Parliamentary Service
Elected to the House of Representatives for Port Adelaide, South Australia in 2007.
Ministerial appointments
Minister for Housing and Homelessness 4.2.13 to current
Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform 14.12.11 to current
Minister for Mental Health & Ageing 14.09.10 to current
Parliamentary Secretary for Health from 9.6.09 to 14.9.10
Committee Service
House of Representatives Standing:
Legal and Constitutional Affairs from 19.2.08 to 15.6.09.
Joint Statutory:
Public Accounts and Audit from 18.2.08 to 15.6.09;
Public Works from 18.2.08 to 15.6.09;
Parliamentary Library from 18.2.08.
Party positions
Delegate, ALP State Conference (SA) from 1993.
Delegate, ALP National Conference from 1998.
President, ALP (SA) 1997-98.
Member, ALP National Executive from 2000.
Personal
Born 1970, Canberra, ACT.
Married.
Qualifications and occupation before entering federal Parliament
BA, LLB(Hons)(Adel).
MIntRel (Deakin).
Union official 1992-2007.
Honours
Awarded Centenary Medal, 2003.
