Hon. Mark Birrell Profile
Mark Birrell is a Melbourne solicitor, consultant and a former senior Cabinet Minister. He was Leader of the Victorian Upper House, both in Government and in Opposition, from 1988 to 2001. Mark had 17 years of experience on the Parliamentary front-bench.
Mark Birrell is 45 years of age and is married with 2 children. His hobbies include photography.
He holds a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws from Monash University, and was admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor in 1983. In 1999 he was made a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. He is also a member of such bodies as the Australian Institute of Company Directors and AusBiotech.
Mr. Birrell was Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council from 1992 through to1999. He was the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology between 1996-1999 (introducing the State's first Science, Engineering and Technology policy; legislating for 7-day shop trading; and overseeing a successful investment attraction program).
From 1992-1996 he was: Minister for Major Projects (responsible for Agenda 21 infrastructure projects like the Exhibition Centre, Museum, City Circle tram, the Regent Theatre, Docklands, Beacon Cove and the Sports and Aquatic Centre). At this time he was also the Minister for Conservation and Environment (creating the Yarra Ranges National Park; pioneering laws for coastal protection; overseeing Albert Park’s revitalisation; and handling key stakeholder issues).
Between 1996 and 2002 Mr. Birrell served as a member of the national board of the Centenary of Federation, which organised the major programs and events for the 2001 anniversary.
He has previously served as a Board member of the Committee for Melbourne, a Director of the Australian Institute of Political Science and a Director of the Playbox Theatre. Mark worked as a Trustee of both the Melbourne Cricket Ground (from 1992-1996) and the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust (1995-1999). He was also the Editor of The Australian States, a book published by Longman Cheshire.
Mr. Birrell began his Parliamentary career in 1983 when he was elected to the Legislative Council seat of East Yarra Province making him then, at 25, Australia's youngest MP. He was re-elected in 1985, 1992 and 1999. He retired in 2002.
He was State President of the Young Liberal Movement in 1980 and Federal President in 1982. He was also a member of the Federal and State Executives of the Liberal Party. He joined the Liberal Party in 1974, at the age of 16, when he was a year 12 student.
Parliament Click here to see a series of photographs taken during a session of the Victorian Parliament (in 2001) with Mark Birrell and other members of the Legislative Council. As the primary purpose for this web site to be established was to provide information for interested tertiary and secondary students, feedback is welcome. Please send an email.
Electorate From 1983 to 2002 Mark Birrell held the seat of East Yarra - a long established metropolitan Upper House electorate that includes the Districts of Box Hill, Burwood, Hawthorn and Kew. It covers 83 square kilometers of metropolitan Melbourne. The electorate features a beautiful natural environment, including Yarra Bend Park, Wattle Park and Gardiners Creek Reserve, Victoria's best government and private schools, Swinburne University of Technology, the largest campus of Deakin University, several hospitals, magnificent heritage buildings, business headquarters, a range of local sporting facilities, together with commercial and shopping precincts such as Camberwell Junction. Further information can be obtained over the internet: Liberal Party, State Parliament, City of Boroondara or the Victorian Electoral Commission. Back to Mark Birrell's homepage