About Our Former Deputy Prime Minister

Mark Vaile was first elected to the Australian Parliament in 1993 after serving eight years on Greater Taree City Council, including two terms as Deputy Mayor.

Mark served as Federal Minister for Transport & Regional Development and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, prior to taking up the Trade portfolio in 1999.

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

When he took on the role of Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Mark Vaile confirmed his party would continue to introduce and implement policies aimed at improving the economic and social fabric for the 7-million Australians living in non-metropolitan Australia – The Nationals core constituency.

In September 2006, Mr Vaile moved back into the Ministry of Transport and Regional Services with his Deputy Warren Truss taking on the Trade Portfolio.
Prior to the 2007 Federal Election, Australia was governed by the Coalition Government made up of The Liberal Party of Australia and The Nationals.

Under the Coalition Agreement in Government, the Leader of the Party with the majority of members becomes Prime Minister, while the other assumes the role of Deputy Prime Minister.

In the case of the most recent Federal Coalition Government in Australia, the Liberal Party had more members than The Nationals, and therefore the Liberal Party Leader, The Hon John Howard, held the position of Prime Minister.