Michael Ferguson (Australian politician)
{{Short description|Australian politician (born 1974)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honourable
| name = Michael Ferguson
| honorific-suffix = MP
| office = 21st Deputy Premier of Tasmania
| premier = Jeremy Rockliff
| term_start = 8 April 2022
| term_end = 14 October 2024
| predecessor = Jeremy Rockliff
| successor = Guy Barnett
| image =
| office1 = Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Bass
| term_start1 = 20 March 2010
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Sue Napier
| successor1 =
| constituency_MP2 = Bass
| parliament2 = Australian
| predecessor2 = Michelle O'Byrne
| successor2 = Jodie Campbell
| term_start2 = 9 October 2004
| term_end2 = 24 November 2007
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1974|3|23}}
| birth_place = Burnie, Tasmania
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Australian
| spouse = Julie
| party = Liberal
| relations =
| children = Eloise, Thomas, James
| residence =
| alma_mater = University of Tasmania
| occupation = Politician
Teacher
| profession =
| religion =
| signature =
| website = http://michaelferguson.com/
| footnotes =
}}
Michael Darrel Joseph Ferguson (born 23 March 1974) is an Australian politician who served as the Deputy Premier of Tasmania from April 2022 to October 2024. He has been a Liberal Party member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly in the Division of Bass since the 2010 state election. Ferguson was appointed to cabinet after his party's victory in the 2014 state election and has served continuously as Minister in a range of portfolios including Finance, Health, Infrastructure, Transport, State Growth and Science and Technology.
Ferguson previously served in federal parliament as a Liberal Party of Australia member in the House of Representatives from 2004 to 2007, representing the federal electorate of Bass.{{Cite Au Parliament|mpid=DYH|name=Mr Michael Ferguson MP|access-date=2022-08-01}} He was defeated at the 2007 federal election.
Background and early career
He was educated at the University of Tasmania, holding degrees in Applied Science and Education.{{cite Tas Parliament |id=ferguson754 |title=Michael Darrel Joseph Ferguson |access-date=26 July 2022}} In the past, his broad community activities include many local tourism and progress associations as well as community radio.{{Citation needed|date=January 2015}} He has worked as a teacher from 1996 to 2002, and a member of the Meander Valley Council. He has received awards including winning the Regional Initiative category for the Young Australian of the Year Awards for Tasmania in 2002, and Tasmanian Young Achiever of the Year (2002) by the National Australia Day Council.{{Citation needed|date=January 2015}}
Before entering politics, he was a teacher in public secondary schools in Northern Tasmania and adviser to Guy Barnett, Liberal Senator for Tasmania.{{Citation needed|date=January 2015}}
Political career
In his parliamentary term in the Commonwealth Parliament Ferguson concentrated on issues such as education, health, family and employment and served on numerous parliamentary and backbench committees. He was the secretary of the Government Education, Science and Training policy committee and is acknowledged as having played a key role in brokering the passage of the Voluntary Student Unionism legislation through the Senate with his (implemented) proposal for a sports infrastructure transition fund.{{Citation needed|date=January 2015}}
Soon after the 2007 election when he failed to be elected, Ferguson was appointed as the CEO of the Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust.{{Citation needed|date=January 2015}}
He was subsequently elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly at the 2010 state election, securing the highest number of primary votes in Bass (1.5 quotas) and the second highest vote in the state. In April 2010 Ferguson was appointed as Shadow Minister for Education and Skills; and Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology.{{Citation needed|date=January 2015}}
Ferguson was re-elected at the 2014 state election, at which the Liberals gained government, and was appointed Minister for Health and Minister for Information Technology and Innovation.{{cite web|url=http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/cabinet/michael_ferguson|publisher=Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet|access-date=14 May 2016|title=Cabinet}}
As Health Minister, Ferguson led a somewhat contentious reform of the Tasmanian health system by merging the previously three health services into one and changing the services delivered at each of the four hospitals in the state.{{cite news|title=Concerns over how State Government's overhaul of the health system will be funded|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/concerns-over-how-state-governments-overhaul-of-the-health-system-will-be-funded/story-fnpp9w4j-1227418793190|publisher=The Mercury|date=29 June 2015}}{{cite news|title=White Paper heralds a turning point for state health system|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/talking-point-white-paper-heralds-a-turning-point-for-state-health-system/story-fnj4f64i-1227434210589|publisher=The Mercury|date=9 July 2015}} He has also taken charge of the redevelopment of the Royal Hobart Hospital to ensure that the much-promised building eventuates.{{cite news|title=Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment plan better value: Tasmanian Government|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-12/private-hobart-hospital-plan-jeopardised-state-finances/5962540|agency=ABC News}}{{cite news|title=State Government unveils new Royal Hobart Hospital plans|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/state-government-unveils-new-royal-hobart-hospital-plans/story-fnj4f7k1-1227154128919|agency=The Mercury}}
His tenure has not been without incident with his appointment of an interim CEO of the merged health service having a side interest in alternative therapies{{cite news|title=Health is in good hands|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/editorial-health-is-in-good-hands/story-fnj4f64i-1227417078794|publisher=The Mercury|date=27 June 2015}} and a series of electrical and computer failures at the ambulance service.{{cite news|title=Ambulance Tasmania systems under review after second communication outage in 24 hours|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-15/second-communication-outage-in-24-hours-for-ambulance-tasmania/6699694|agency=ABC News}} He was removed as Health Minister in 2019 after an increasing number of complaints and mistakes in his portfolio including widespread complaints from medical practiioners{{Cite web |title=Health minister Ferguson dumped in Tasmanian government reshuffle - Pulse+IT |url=https://www.pulseit.news/movers-and-shakers/health-minister-ferguson-dumped-in-tasmanian-government-reshuffle/ |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=www.pulseit.news/ |language=en-AU}}{{Cite news |date=2019-06-30 |title=Tasmanian health staff welcome end to minister's tumultuous tenure |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-01/medical-professional-welcome-removal-of-michael-ferguson/11265642 |access-date=2024-09-18 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} and a damning report from the Tasmanian Auditor-General.{{Cite news |date=2019-05-28 |title=Patient care 'severely compromised', damning report into hospitals finds |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-28/tasmania-auditor-general-hospital-report-ed-care/11156238 |access-date=2024-09-18 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
In January 2020, Premier Will Hodgman resigned and Ferguson was a candidate to succeed him as Premier and Liberal leader but ultimately withdrew from the leadership contest. Treasurer Peter Gutwein was instead elected unopposed as Hodgman's successor. There was speculation that Ferguson would succeed Gutwein as Treasurer{{cite news |url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/6595440/michael-ferguson-tipped-as-new-treasurer/ |title = Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson tipped as new Treasurer |newspaper=The Examiner}} but in the end Premier Gutwein chose to retain the Treasury portfolio.
On 8 April 2022, after Gutwein resigned as Premier, deputy party leader Jeremy Rockliff became party leader, and Ferguson was elected as deputy party premier to replace Rockliff. Ferguson was sworn in as Deputy Premier of Tasmania that afternoon.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-08/jeremy-rockliff-michael-ferguson-announced/100972930|title=Jeremy Rockliff, Michael Ferguson announced as Tasmania's leadership team|work=ABC News|date=8 April 2022|author=Alexandra Humphries}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/08/jeremy-rockliff-becomes-tasmanias-47th-premier-after-being-elected-as-state-liberal-leader|title=Jeremy Rockliff becomes Tasmania's 47th premier after being elected as state Liberal leader|work=The Guardian|date=8 April 2022}} Ferguson was also sworn in as Minister for Infrastructure and Treasurer however significant problems with the construction of new 'Spirit of Tasmania' ferries, including production delays and cost blow-outs and ongoing arguments with the ferry management Board and the port authority, and bungled re-design of the port to accommodate the new ferries and subsequent claims of misleading Parliament resulted in his resignation as Minister for Infrastructure.{{Cite news |date=2024-08-26 |title='I truly tried to keep the project on track': Ferguson resigns over Spirit of Tasmania debacle |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-26/tas-michael-ferguson-resigns-over-spirit-of-tas-debacle/104269586 |access-date=2024-09-18 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite news |date=2024-08-26 |title=Michael Ferguson Resigns as Infrastructure Minister |url=https://tasmaniantimes.com/2024/08/michael-ferguson-resigns-as-infrastructure-minister/ |access-date=2024-09-18 |work=Tasmanian Times}} He continued to hold the position of Deputy Premier and State Treasurer.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-27 |title=Rockliff confident in Ferguson as treasurer after infrastructure exit |url=https://pulsetasmania.com.au/news/rockliff-confident-in-ferguson-as-treasurer-after-infrastructure-exit/ |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=Pulse Tasmania |language=en-AU}} Anticipating a successful no confidence motion in the Tasmanian Parliament the following day, Ferguson resigned from the Cabinet on the 14th of October 2024, but will remain a backbencher.{{Cite news |date=2024-10-14 |title=Tasmania's deputy premier resigns from cabinet ahead of no-confidence motion |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-14/tasmanian-michael-ferguson-resigns-press-conference/104471386 |access-date=2024-10-14 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
Political views
Ferguson has been described as a "conservative" Liberal, and is opposed to same-sex marriage and abortion.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-18/analysis-tas-premier-michael-ferguson-and-peter-gutwein/11877604 |title=Who are Tasmanian premiership candidates Peter Gutwein and Michael Ferguson? |work=ABC News |date=17 January 2020 |access-date=28 March 2021 |author=Baker, Emily |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408023748/https://amp.abc.net.au/article/11877604/ |archive-date=8 April 2020 |url-status=live}} In 2018, he criticised the Tasmanian Greens and the Labor Party for their reforms to make birth certificates gender-optional, citing it as a social experiment on children that Tasmanian parents would be "disgusted" by.{{cite web |last1=Whitson |first1=Rhiana |title=Tasmania poised to become first state to have gender optional on birth certificates |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-21/tasmania-may-become-first-state-with-optional-gender/10517106 |website=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=21 November 2018 |access-date=7 March 2023}}
Ferguson opposed the 2023 Voice to Parliament.{{cite news |last=Massola |first=James |date=1 September 2023 |title=Small states' premiers speak out on Voice as Minns, Andrews hang back |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/small-states-premiers-speak-out-on-voice-as-minns-andrews-hang-back-20230831-p5e0u8.html |url-access=registration |access-date=1 September 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.michaelferguson.com/ Michael Ferguson – official site]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20200308072527/https://cliffordcraig.org.au/ Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust]
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{{succession box | title=Member for Bass | before=Michelle O'Byrne | after=Jodie Campbell | years=2004–2007}}
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{{s-bef|before=Jeremy Rockliff}}
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Premier of Tasmania|years=2022–present}}
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{{Australian deputy premiers}}
{{Australian Treasurers}}
{{Cabinet of Tasmania}}
{{TasCurrentMHAs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferguson, Michael}}
Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Tasmania
Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Bass
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives
Category:Members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Category:Deputy premiers of Tasmania
Category:Treasurers of Tasmania