Michael Ronaldson

Michael Ronaldson
Member of the Australian Parliament for Ballarat
In office 24 March 1990 – 8 October 2001
Preceded by	John Mildren
Succeeded by	Catherine King
Senator for Victoria
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 July 2005
Personal details
Born	13 February 1954 (1954-02-13) (age 57) Ballarat, Victoria
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Alma mater	University of Melbourne
Occupation	Barrister

Michael John Clyde Ronaldson (born 13 February 1954) is an Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since July 2005, representing the state of Victoria.

Ronaldson was born on 13 February 1954 in Ballarat, Victoria. He was educated at Ballarat College, Ballarat before attending Melbourne University, where he graduated in law. He was a barrister and solicitor before entering politics. He was a member of the Ballarat City Council 1981–87.

A member of the Liberal Party since 1980, Ronaldson was elected to the House of Representatives for the seat of Ballarat in 1990. His grandfather, Archibald Fisken, was the member for Ballarat from 1934 until 1937 [1]. He was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry from 1993 to 1996, being at various times Shadow Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, and Shadow Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training.

When the Howard government was elected in 1996 Ronaldson was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Development. After the 1998 election he left the ministry and was appointed Chief Government Whip.

At the 2001 election Ronaldson retired from the House, and was reported to be in poor health. At the 2004 election, however, he was chosen to head the Liberal Senate ticket in Victoria, displacing Senator Tsebin Tchen, who was seen as a supporter of the former Premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett.^[1]

After the Liberal/National coalition lost government at the 2007 election, Ronaldson was appointed as Shadow Special Minister of State under Brendan Nelson.^[2]

In 2008 he was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet under Malcolm Turnbull, where he continued as Shadow Special Minister of State but was given the extra role of Shadow Cabinet Secretary.^[3]

Ronaldson was re-elected at the 2010 election but was demoted to Shadow Minister for Veteran's Affairs by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.^[4]

References

1. ^ "Ronaldson, the Hon. Michael John Clyde". Parliament of Australia. http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/view_document.aspx?id=12977&table=BIOGS. Retrieved 1 June 2007. 
2. ^ "Nelson announces Opposition frontbench". ABC. 1 June 2007. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/06/2111323.htm. 
3. ^ "Appointment of Shadow Ministry". Malcolm Turnbull. 22 September 2008. http://www.malcolmturnbull.com.au/Pages/Article.aspx?ID=97771. 
4. ^ http://www.aph.gov.au/Library/parl/43/Shadow/index.htm

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by John Mildren	Member for Ballarat 1990–2001	Succeeded by Catherine King

Persondata
Name	Ronaldson, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	13 February 1954
Place of birth	Ballarat, Victoria
Date of death
Place of death