Biography

Mark Vaile was born in 1956 and grew up in the Manning Valley.

The son of a pharmacist, Mark completed his HSC at Taree High School and further educated himself through the TAFE system.

He has also worked as a farm machinery salesman before going on to own a successful Stock and Station and Real Estate Agency business in Taree.

Mark Vaile put up his hand to run for The Nationals in the electorate of Lyne because he wanted to see regional Australia get its fair share of the nation’s prosperity.

In March 1993 he was elected to the Australian Parliament.

Mark Vaile was Australia's Minister for Trade from July 1999 to September 2006 and was responsible for negotiating Australia's free trade agreements with the United States, Singapore and Thailand. In addition, he led Australia's drive to free up global trade through the World Trade Organization.

He has also held the ministerial portfolios of Transport and Regional Development (twice) and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (1998-1999).

Mark Vaile was elected as Leader of The Nationals in June 2005 and became Deputy Prime Minister following the resignation of former leader John Anderson.

Following the 2007 election Mark resigned as Leader of The Nationals and now sits on the backbench having overseen Australia's golden years.
Mark is married to Wendy and has three daughters Terri, Prue and Sarah.

Whenever Mark does get any spare time,  he likes spending time with his family at his rural property near Taree, as well as venturing out for a game of golf, a water ski along the Manning River, and during the winter, skiing on the slopes.