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{{Short description|Australian politician (born 1970)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{for-multi|the Georgia Commissioner of Labor|Mark Butler (Georgia politician)|the member of the New York State Assembly|Marc W. Butler}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox MP
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name = Mark Butler
| name = Mark Butler
| honorific-suffix = [[Australian House of Representatives|MP]]
| honorific-suffix = [[Australian House of Representatives|MP]]
| image = Mark Butler 2016.jpg
| image = Mark Butler 2016.jpg
|office1 = [[Minister for Climate Change (Australia)|Minister for Climate Change]]
| office = [[Minister for Health and Aged Care]]
|term_start1 = 1 July 2013
| term_start = 1 June 2022
|term_end1 = 18 September 2013
| term_end =
|primeminister1 = [[Kevin Rudd]]
| primeminister = [[Anthony Albanese]]
|predecessor1 = [[Greg Combet]]
| predecessor = [[Greg Hunt]]
| successor1 = ''Office abolished''
| successor =
|office2 = [[Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Australia)|Minister for the Environment and Water]]
| office1 = [[Leader of the House (Australia)|Deputy Leader of the House]]
|term_start2 = 1 July 2013
| term_start1 = 1 June 2022
|term_end2 = 18 September 2013
| term_end1 =
|primeminister2 = [[Kevin Rudd]]
| primeminister1 = [[Anthony Albanese]]
|predecessor2 = [[Tony Burke]]
| leader1 = [[Tony Burke]]
| successor2 = [[Greg Hunt]]
| predecessor1 = [[David Gillespie (Australian politician)|David Gillespie]]
| successor1 =
|office3 = [[Minister for Social Inclusion (Australia)|Minister for Social Inclusion]]
| office2 = [[Australian Labor Party National Executive#National Presidents|National President of the]] [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]]
|primeminister3 = [[Julia Gillard]]<br>[[Kevin Rudd]]
| term_start2 = 17 June 2015
|term_start3 = 14 December 2011
| term_end2 = 18 June 2018
|successor3 = ''[[Minister for Social Inclusion (Australia)|Office Abolished]]''
|predecessor3 = [[Tanya Plibersek]]
| predecessor2 = [[Jenny McAllister]]
| successor2 = [[Wayne Swan]]{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Cabinet Positions|titlestyle=background-color:#eee}}
|term_end3 = 1 July 2013
|office4 = [[Minister for Mental Health and Ageing (Australia)|Minister for Mental Health and Ageing]]
| office3 = [[Minister for Climate Change (Australia)|Minister for Climate Change]]
| term_start3 = 1 July 2013
|primeminister4 = [[Julia Gillard]]<br>[[Kevin Rudd]]
|term_start4 = 12 September 2010
| term_end3 = 18 September 2013
|predecessor4 = [[Nicola Roxon]]
| primeminister3 = [[Kevin Rudd]]
| predecessor3 = [[Greg Combet]]
|term_end4 = 1 July 2013
| successor3 = ''Office abolished''
|successor4 = [[Jacinta Collins]]
| office4 = [[Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Australia)|Minister for the Environment and Water]]
| constituency_MP5 = [[Division of Port Adelaide|Port Adelaide]]
| term_start4 = 1 July 2013
| parliament5 = Australian
| term_end4 = 18 September 2013
| majority5 =
| predecessor5 = [[Rod Sawford]]
| primeminister4 = [[Kevin Rudd]]
| predecessor4 = [[Tony Burke]]
| successor5 =
| successor4 = [[Greg Hunt]]
| term_start5 = 24 November 2007
| office5 = [[Minister for Social Inclusion (Australia)|Minister for Social Inclusion]]
| term_end5 =
| primeminister5 = [[Julia Gillard]]<br />[[Kevin Rudd]]
| office = [[Australian Labor Party National Executive#National Presidents|National President of the<br/>Australian Labor Party]]
| term_start5 = 14 December 2011
| term_start = 17 June 2015
| successor5 = ''[[Minister for Social Inclusion (Australia)|Office Abolished]]''
| term_end =18 June 2018
| predecessor = [[Jenny McAllister]]
| predecessor5 = [[Tanya Plibersek]]
| term_end5 = 1 July 2013
| successor =[[Wayne Swan]]
| office6 = [[Minister for Mental Health and Ageing (Australia)|Minister for Mental Health and Ageing]]
| birth_name = Mark Christopher Butler
| primeminister6 = [[Julia Gillard]]<br />[[Kevin Rudd]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1970|7|8}}
| term_start6 = 12 September 2010
| birth_place = [[Canberra]], [[Australian Capital Territory]], Australia
| predecessor6 = [[Nicola Roxon]]
| death_date =
| term_end6 = 1 July 2013
| death_place =
| successor6 = [[Jacinta Collins]]{{Collapsed infobox section end|Cabinet Positions|titlestyle=background-color:#eee}}
| nationality = Australian
| constituency_MP7 = [[Division of Hindmarsh|Hindmarsh]]
| spouse =
| parliament7 = Australian
| party = [[Australian Labor Party]]
| relations =
| majority7 =
| predecessor7 = [[Steve Georganas]]
| children = 2
| successor7 =
| residence =
| term_start7 = 18 May 2019
| alma_mater = [[University of Adelaide]]<br/>[[Deakin University]]
| occupation =
| term_end7 =
| constituency_MP8 = [[Division of Port Adelaide|Port Adelaide]]
| profession = [[Trade unionist]]<br/>politician
| parliament8 = Australian
| religion =
| predecessor8 = [[Rod Sawford]]
| signature =
| successor8 = ''Division abolished''
| website =
| term_start8 = 24 November 2007
| footnotes =
| term_end8 = 18 May 2019
| birth_name = Mark Christopher Butler
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|7|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Canberra, Australian Capital Territory]], Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Australian Labor Party]]
| residence =
| alma_mater = [[University of Adelaide]]<br />[[Deakin University]]
| occupation = [[Trade unionist]]
| profession =
| religion =
| signature =
| website = {{URL|https://www.markbutler.net.au}}
| footnotes =
| caption = Butler in 2016
}}
}}
'''Mark Christopher Butler''' (born 8 July 1970) is an [[Politics of Australia|Australian politician]] and a member of the [[Australian Labor Party]], representing the electoral division of [[Division of Port Adelaide|Port Adelaide]] in the [[Parliament of Australia|Commonwealth Parliament]] since 2007.
'''Mark Christopher Butler''' (born 8 July 1970) is an Australian politician. He is a member of the [[Australian Labor Party]] (ALP) and has served in the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] since 2007. He was a minister in the [[Gillard government|Gillard]] and [[Rudd government (2013)|Rudd governments]] and also served as [[Australian Labor Party National Executive|national president of the ALP]] from 2015 to 2018.


Butler studied arts and law at the [[University of Adelaide]] and international relations at [[Deakin University]]. Prior to entering parliament he was the South Australian secretary of the [[Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union]] (LHMU). He was elected to the seat of [[Division of Port Adelaide|Port Adelaide]] at the [[2007 Australian federal election|2007 federal election]], later switching to [[Division of Hindmarsh|Hindmarsh]] in 2019. Butler was made a [[parliamentary secretary]] in 2009, becoming a minister after the [[2010 Australian federal election|2010 election]] and winning promotion to [[Cabinet of Australia|cabinet]] the following year. He subsequently held the portfolios of [[Minister for Mental Health and Ageing (Australia)|Minister for Mental Health and Ageing]] (2010–2013), [[Minister for Social Inclusion (Australia)|Social Inclusion]] (2011–2013), [[Minister for Housing and Homelessness|Housing and Homelessness]] (2013), [[Minister for the Environment (Australia)|Environment and Water]] (2013), and [[Minister for Climate Change (Australia)|Climate Change]] (2013).
Before entering parliament, Butler was the South Australian secretary of the [[United Voice|Liquour, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU)]].


After the ALP's defeat at the [[2013 Australian federal election|2013 election]], Butler was a member of [[Shadow Cabinet of Australia|shadow cabinet]] under opposition leaders [[Bill Shorten]] and [[Anthony Albanese]]. He is a senior member of the [[Labor Left]] faction and was elected to a three-year term as national president in 2015.
Butler served as [[Minister for Climate Change (Australia)|Minister for Climate Change]] and [[Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Australia)|Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Water]] in the [[Second Rudd Ministry]]. At the change of government following the [[Australian federal election, 2013|2013 Federal Election]] he became [[Shadow Cabinet|Shadow Minister]] for Environment, Climate Change and Water, and after the [[Australian federal election, 2016|2016 Federal Election]] the Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy.


After the ALP's win at the [[2022 Australian federal election]], Butler has held the portfolio of [[Minister for Health and Aged Care]] and is the Deputy Leader of the House.<ref name=aph />
In July 2018, a Labor factional deal saw Butler move to the seat of [[Division of Hindmarsh|Hindmarsh]] for the next federal election due to the abolition of his seat of Port Adelaide in a federal redistribution. The redistributed Hindmarsh absorbed most of Port Adelaide's former territory. The member for Hindmarsh, [[Steve Georganas]], will move to the seat of [[Division of Adelaide|Adelaide]] in place of retiring MP [[Kate Ellis]].


== Early life ==
== Early life and education ==
Butler was born in [[Canberra]] on 8 July 1970 to Lindsay Nicholson, who worked on the campaign for [[Bob Hawke]] and [[Paul Keating]], and David Butler, a Vietnam conscript.<ref name="TheAdvertiser">{{cite web|title=How far can former Adelaide union boss Mark Butler go in the Australian Labor Party?|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/how-far-can-former-adelaide-union-boss-mark-butler-go-in-the-australian-labor-party/news-story/ddbebcceaa80e019ae86017533db6e21|date=19 June 2015|accessdate=7 January 2017|work=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]}}</ref> He is the great-great-grandson and great-grandson respectively of conservative [[Premier of South Australia|Premiers]] of South Australia, [[Richard Butler (Australian politician)|Sir Richard B. Butler]] and [[Richard Layton Butler|Sir Richard L. Butler]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.hawkerbritton.com/images/data/Mark%20Butler%20(October%2013).pdf|title = Hawker Britton profile: Hon Mark Butler MP|date = October 2013|access-date = 20 January 2016|website = Hawker Britton}}</ref>
Mark Christopher Butler was born in [[Canberra]] on 8 July 1970,<ref name=aph>{{cite news|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=HWK|title=Hon Mark Butler MP|publisher=Parliament of Australia|accessdate=1 March 2022}}</ref> the son of Lindsay Nicholson and David Butler. His mother was a peace and anti-nuclear activist and campaigned to elect the [[Hawke government|Hawke]] and [[Keating government]]s.<ref name="eccleston">{{cite web|title=How far can former Adelaide union boss Mark Butler go in the Australian Labor Party?|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/how-far-can-former-adelaide-union-boss-mark-butler-go-in-the-australian-labor-party/news-story/ddbebcceaa80e019ae86017533db6e21|date=19 June 2015|access-date=7 January 2017|work=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]| url-access=subscription|first=Roy|last=Eccleston}}</ref> His father, a public servant and [[Australian involvement in the Vietnam War|Vietnam war conscript]], was the grandson of conservative South Australian premier [[Richard Layton Butler]] and the great-grandson of conservative South Australian premier [[Richard Butler (Australian politician)|Richard Butler]], but was not politically active himself.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pedigrees and politics and right to rule - or not|first=Paul|last=Starick|newspaper=The Advertiser|date=22 July 2018}}</ref>


Butler was educated at [[Unley High School]] in [[Netherby, South Australia]], completing his senior year in 1986, and then attended the [[University of Adelaide]], where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in [[Jurisprudence]] and a [[Bachelor of Laws]] with [[First Class Honours]].<ref name="TheAdvertiser" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2013/12/20/labors-frontbench-too-is-a-mostly-private-school-affair/|title=Labor's frontbench, too, is a mostly private affair|work=[[Crikey]]|date=20 December 2013|accessdate=7 January 2017}}</ref> He later completed a [[Master of International Affairs|Master of International Relations]] degree at [[Deakin University]].<ref name=":0" />
Butler's parents divorced when he was five years old, after which he and his brother moved to [[Adelaide]] with their mother.<ref name=eccleston/> He attended [[Unley High School]], taking a gap year in Italy before enrolling at the [[University of Adelaide]].<ref name=eccleston/> He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in [[Jurisprudence]] and a [[Bachelor of Laws]] with [[first class honours]].<ref name="eccleston" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2013/12/20/labors-frontbench-too-is-a-mostly-private-school-affair/|title=Labor's frontbench, too, is a mostly private affair|work=[[Crikey]]|date=20 December 2013|access-date=7 January 2017}}</ref> While at university he worked as a [[paralegal]] at Duncan Basheer Hannon (DBH).<ref name=eccleston/> He was short-listed for a [[Rhodes Scholar]]ship,<ref name=eccleston/> and later completed a [[Master of International Affairs|Master of International Relations]] degree at [[Deakin University]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.hawkerbritton.com/images/data/Mark%20Butler%20(October%2013).pdf|title = Hawker Britton profile: Hon Mark Butler MP|date = October 2013|access-date = 20 January 2016|website = Hawker Britton}}</ref>


Butler was active in [[Student activism|student politics]] while at university and became friends with future South Australian Labor Party leaders including [[Penny Wong]] and [[Jay Weatherill]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Freakish powers of a formidable operator|url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/freakish-powers-of-a-formidable-operator/2007/12/07/1196813021299.html?page=fullpage|website = The Sydney Morning Herald|date = 8 December 2007}}</ref>
Butler was active in [[Student activism|student politics]] while at university.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Freakish powers of a formidable operator|url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/freakish-powers-of-a-formidable-operator/2007/12/07/1196813021299.html?page=fullpage|website = The Sydney Morning Herald|date = 8 December 2007}}</ref> He was a housemate of future state MP [[Patrick Conlon (politician)|Patrick Conlon]] and developed friendships with future premier [[Jay Weatherill]] and future federal minister [[Penny Wong]]; he and Weatherill were best man at each other's weddings.<ref name=eccleston/>


== Trade union career ==
== Trade union career ==
In 1996 Butler became the Secretary of the South Australian branch of the [[United Voice|Liquour, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU),]] and in 1997 he was elected the youngest-ever President of the Labor Party in South Australia.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = Political fixers – Mark Butler|url = http://www.thepowerindex.com.au/political-fixers/mark-butler|website = The Power Index|access-date = 20 January 2016|date = 26 July 2011|last = Barry|first = Paul|deadurl = yes|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923062346/http://www.thepowerindex.com.au/political-fixers/mark-butler|archivedate = 23 September 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref>
In 1992, Butler joined the [[Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union]] (LHMU) as a legal officer through his connections with Conlon. He made appearances before industrial tribunals, "pushing for cleaners and hospital workers to get better pay".<ref name=eccleston/> In 1996 he was elected state secretary of the LHMU,<ref name=barry>{{Cite web|title = Political fixers – Mark Butler|url = http://www.thepowerindex.com.au/political-fixers/mark-butler|website = The Power Index|access-date = 20 January 2016|date = 26 July 2011|last = Barry|first = Paul|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923062346/http://www.thepowerindex.com.au/political-fixers/mark-butler|archive-date = 23 September 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref> winning by a single vote.<ref name=eccleston/>


Butler was a key figure in the [[National Left (Australia)|Labor Left]] faction. He developed a close working relationship with his NSW counterpart [[Anthony Albanese]] and represented the faction on the ALP National Executive since 2000.<ref name=":1" /> He would later serve as Albanese's campaign manager in the [[Australian Labor Party leadership spill, October 2013|October 2013 election]] for the Federal ALP Leadership.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Labor leader pair make their pitch to party faithful|url = http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labor-leader-pair-make-their-pitch-to-party-faithful-20130924-2uciw.html|website = The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date = 20 January 2016|date = 25 September 2013|last = Kenny|first = Mark}}</ref>
Butler developed a close working relationship with his NSW counterpart [[Anthony Albanese]].<ref name="barry" /> He would later be Albanese's campaign manager in the [[Australian Labor Party leadership spill, October 2013|October 2013 election]] for the Federal ALP Leadership.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Labor leader pair make their pitch to party faithful|url = http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labor-leader-pair-make-their-pitch-to-party-faithful-20130924-2uciw.html|website = The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date = 20 January 2016|date = 25 September 2013|last = Kenny|first = Mark}}</ref> He was also noted for his constructive relationship with the [[Labor Right]] faction in South Australia, particularly then-secretary of the [[Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association]], [[Don Farrell]].<ref name="barry" />

Butler was also noted for his constructive relationship with the [[Labor Right]] faction in South Australia, particularly then-Secretary of the [[Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association]], [[Don Farrell]].<ref name=":1" />


==Political career==
==Political career==
Butler joined the ALP at a young age and became a delegate to state conference in South Australia in 1993.<ref name=aph/> At the age of 23, he was a candidate for ALP [[preselection]] in the seat of [[Electoral district of Ross Smith|Ross Smith]] prior to the [[1993 South Australian state election]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127248311|title=7 to vie for Labor seat|newspaper=Canberra Times|date=18 September 1993}}</ref> He subsequently was preselected for the seat of [[Electoral district of Hanson|Hanson]] prior to the [[1997 South Australian state election|1997 state election]], but resigned to become state secretary of the LHMU.<ref name=eccleston/> Butler served as state president of the [[Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch)]] from 1997 to 1998,<ref name=aph/> the youngest president in the party's history.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/qanda/mark-butler/10640512|title=Mark Butler|work=Q&A|publisher=ABC|accessdate=3 March 2022}}</ref> He was elected as a delegate to [[Australian Labor Party National Conference|national conference]] in 1998 and elected to the [[Australian Labor Party National Executive|national executive]] in 2000,<ref name=aph/> representing the Left faction.<ref name=barry/>
Butler was elected as the Labor member for the electoral division of [[Division of Port Adelaide|Port Adelaide]] at the [[Australian federal election, 2007|2007 Federal Election]].


===Government (2007–2013)===
In a 2009 [[First Rudd Ministry]] reshuffle, Butler was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health. On 14 September 2010, he was sworn in as [[Minister for Mental Health and Ageing (Australia)|Minister for Mental Health and Ageing]] in the [[Second Gillard Ministry]]. On 12 September 2011 he was given the additional responsibility of Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform. On 14 December 2011, Butler's ministry was renamed Mental Health and Aged Care, and he became a member of Cabinet.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-12/gillard-announces-cabinet-reshuffle/3726500 |author=Thompson, Jenny |title=Gillard unveils expanded Cabinet |date=12 December 2001 |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia |accessdate=11 July 2013 }}</ref>
[[File:Mark Butler.jpg|thumb|upright|Butler in 2013]]
Butler was elected as the Labor member for the electoral division of [[Division of Port Adelaide|Port Adelaide]] at the [[2007 Australian federal election|2007 federal election]].<ref name=aph/>


In a 2009 [[First Rudd Ministry]] reshuffle, Butler was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health. On 14 September 2010, he was sworn in as [[Minister for Mental Health and Ageing (Australia)|Minister for Mental Health and Ageing]] in the [[Second Gillard Ministry]]. On 12 September 2011 he was given the additional responsibility of Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform. On 14 December 2011, Butler's ministry was renamed Mental Health and Aged Care, and he became a member of Cabinet.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-12/gillard-announces-cabinet-reshuffle/3726500 |author=Thompson, Jenny |title=Gillard unveils expanded Cabinet |date=12 December 2001 |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia |access-date=11 July 2013 }}</ref>

===Opposition (2013–2022)===
[[File:2014-09-21 Mark Butler Peoples Climate March Melbourne 600 0445.JPG|thumb|left|Butler at the People's Climate March in Melbourne in 2014]]
After the 2013 election, [[Bill Shorten]] named Butler as the Shadow Minister for the Environment.
After the 2013 election, [[Bill Shorten]] named Butler as the Shadow Minister for the Environment.


On 17 June 2015, Butler was elected National President of the Australian Labor Party and was succeeded by [[Wayne Swan]] on 18 June 2018, becoming Senior Vice-President to Swan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mark Butler named new national president of Labor Party|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-17/mark-butler-named-new-national-president-of-labor-party/6553702|work=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC Australia]]|date=17 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/wayne-swan-elected-labor-national-president/news-story/674719c42d1eea54ef8dccf01b900841|title=Wayne Swan elected Labor national president|last=Brown|first=Greg|date=18 June 2018|work=The Australian|access-date=18 June 2018}}</ref><ref>[https://indaily.com.au/news/2018/06/18/south-australian-butler-loses-labor-presidency/ South Australian Butler loses Labor presidency] ''InDaily'', 18 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.</ref>
On 17 June 2015, Butler was elected National President of the Australian Labor Party and was succeeded by [[Wayne Swan]] on 18 June 2018, becoming senior vice-president to Swan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mark Butler named national president of Australian Labor Party|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-17/mark-butler-named-new-national-president-of-labor-party/6553702|work=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC Australia]]|date=17 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/wayne-swan-elected-labor-national-president/news-story/674719c42d1eea54ef8dccf01b900841|title=Wayne Swan elected Labor national president|last=Brown|first=Greg|date=18 June 2018|work=The Australian|access-date=18 June 2018}}</ref><ref>[https://indaily.com.au/news/2018/06/18/south-australian-butler-loses-labor-presidency/ South Australian Butler loses Labor presidency] ''InDaily'', 18 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.</ref>
[[File:Shadow Environment Minister Mark Butler MP addresses members of the Labor Party and the community on climate change.jpg|thumb|Butler in 2014 addressing a community meeting. [[Andrew Giles]] (behind Butler) and [[Kelvin Thomson]] (first seated on left) are also in attendance.]]
In a [[Shadow Cabinet]] reshuffle on 28 January 2021, Butler was moved from shadow Climate Change spokesperson to shadow spokesperson for Health.<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-28/labor-mark-butler-albanese-joel-fitzgibbon-climate-change/13097682] ''ABC News'', 28 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.</ref>

===Government (2022–present)===
At the 21 May 2022 election, Butler was elected for Labor in the expanded seat of [[Division of Hindmarsh|Hindmarsh]], which included most of the area of the former seat of [[Division of Port Adelaide|Port Adelaide]], which had been abolished as part of the 2018 boundary redistribution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal-redistribution-2018/sa/|title=2017-18 Federal Redistribution - South Australia|work=ABC Elections|date=10 September 2022}}</ref>

In the incoming [[Albanese ministry]] Butler was appointed as [[Minister for Health and Aged Care]].<ref name=aph />

In May 2023 the Department for Health and Aged Care proposed a wide-ranging ban on [[e-cigarettes]] ("vapes"); Butler said "I want vaping to return to the purpose that we were told it was invented for, that is a therapeutic product to help long-term smokers quit."<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/02/world/australia/australia-vape-ban.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare|work=New York Times|date=2 May 2023|title=Australia Aims to 'Stamp Out' Vaping With Sweeping Regulations}}</ref>

==Other activities==
In 2023, Butler delivered the [[Hugh Stretton Oration]] at the University of Adelaide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hugh Stretton Oration |website=Stretton Institute |url=https://www.adelaide.edu.au/stretton/policy-engagement/hugh-stretton-oration#2022-australia-fair-is-the-playing-field-fair-for-women-and-girls-natasha-stott-despoja-ao |access-date=3 December 2024}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Butler has two children from a previous marriage and one from his second marriage.<ref>{{cite news|title=Butler did it|date=12 September 2010|work=Sunday Mail}}</ref> In 2021, he married former SBS, BBC World News and ABC journalist [[Daniela Ritorto]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/tony-abbott-heading-to-sa-for-blitzkrieg-tour/news-story/dadf07a863cebc2d4018682c4b6b0674|title=SPINNERS ON THE MOVE|date=7 February 2020|work=AdelaideNow|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>
Butler has two children. He supports the [[Port Adelaide Football Club]].<ref>[http://www.alp.org.au/mark_butler Mark Butler profile: ALP]</ref> He is married to Daniela Ritorto, media manager for the coal seam gas mining company Santos.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aston |first1=Joe |title=Santos set for Bill Shorten |url=https://www.afr.com/brand/rear-window/santos-set-for-bill-shorten-20190214-h1b9n0 |website=Australian Financial Review |accessdate=11/3/2019}}</ref>

{{as of|2024}} he lives in [[Grange, South Australia|Grange]], a beachside suburb of Adelaide in [[South Australia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The private interests of Mark Butler MP |url=https://openpolitics.au/47/mark-butler |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=openpolitics.au |language=en}}</ref> Butler supports the [[Port Adelaide Football Club]],<ref>[http://www.alp.org.au/mark_butler Mark Butler profile: ALP]</ref> and is a [[Pescetarianism|pescetarian]].<ref>[https://www.theage.com.au/cbd/fake-turnbull-steals-the-show-but-the-real-malcolm-s-not-laughing-20220623-p5aw5g.html "Fake Turnbull steals the show, but the real Malcolm’s not laughing"]. theage.com.au. Retrieved 15 July 2022.</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 100: Line 136:
* [[Second Gillard ministry]]
* [[Second Gillard ministry]]
* [[Second Rudd ministry]]
* [[Second Rudd ministry]]
* [[Albanese ministry]]


==References==
==References==
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{{s-par|au}}
{{s-par|au}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Rod Sawford]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Rod Sawford]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Division of Port Adelaide|Member for Port Adelaide]]|years=2007–present}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for [[Division of Port Adelaide|Port Adelaide]]|years=2007–2019}}
{{s-non|reason=Division abolished}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Steve Georganas]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for [[Division of Hindmarsh|Hindmarsh]]|years=2019–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-off}}
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[[Category:Australian people of English descent]]
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[[Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Port Adelaide]]
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[[Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Hindmarsh]]
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Latest revision as of 03:36, 3 December 2024

For the Georgia Commissioner of Labor, see Mark Butler (Georgia politician). For the member of the New York State Assembly, see Marc W. Butler.

The Honourable
Mark Butler
MP
Butler in 2016
Minister for Health and Aged Care
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 June 2022
Prime MinisterAnthony Albanese
Preceded byGreg Hunt
Deputy Leader of the House
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 June 2022
Prime MinisterAnthony Albanese
LeaderTony Burke
Preceded byDavid Gillespie
National President of the Labor Party
In office
17 June 2015 – 18 June 2018
Preceded byJenny McAllister
Succeeded byWayne Swan
Cabinet Positions
Minister for Climate Change
In office
1 July 2013 – 18 September 2013
Prime MinisterKevin Rudd
Preceded byGreg Combet
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Minister for the Environment and Water
In office
1 July 2013 – 18 September 2013
Prime MinisterKevin Rudd
Preceded byTony Burke
Succeeded byGreg Hunt
Minister for Social Inclusion
In office
14 December 2011 – 1 July 2013
Prime MinisterJulia Gillard
Kevin Rudd
Preceded byTanya Plibersek
Succeeded byOffice Abolished
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
In office
12 September 2010 – 1 July 2013
Prime MinisterJulia Gillard
Kevin Rudd
Preceded byNicola Roxon
Succeeded byJacinta Collins
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Hindmarsh
Incumbent
Assumed office
18 May 2019
Preceded bySteve Georganas
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Port Adelaide
In office
24 November 2007 – 18 May 2019
Preceded byRod Sawford
Succeeded byDivision abolished
Personal details
Born
Mark Christopher Butler

(1970-07-08) 8 July 1970 (age 54)
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Political partyAustralian Labor Party
Alma materUniversity of Adelaide
Deakin University
OccupationTrade unionist
Websitewww.markbutler.net.au

Mark Christopher Butler (born 8 July 1970) is an Australian politician. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has served in the House of Representatives since 2007. He was a minister in the Gillard and Rudd governments and also served as national president of the ALP from 2015 to 2018.

Butler studied arts and law at the University of Adelaide and international relations at Deakin University. Prior to entering parliament he was the South Australian secretary of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU). He was elected to the seat of Port Adelaide at the 2007 federal election, later switching to Hindmarsh in 2019. Butler was made a parliamentary secretary in 2009, becoming a minister after the 2010 election and winning promotion to cabinet the following year. He subsequently held the portfolios of Minister for Mental Health and Ageing (2010–2013), Social Inclusion (2011–2013), Housing and Homelessness (2013), Environment and Water (2013), and Climate Change (2013).

After the ALP's defeat at the 2013 election, Butler was a member of shadow cabinet under opposition leaders Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese. He is a senior member of the Labor Left faction and was elected to a three-year term as national president in 2015.

After the ALP's win at the 2022 Australian federal election, Butler has held the portfolio of Minister for Health and Aged Care and is the Deputy Leader of the House.[1]

Early life and education

[edit]

Mark Christopher Butler was born in Canberra on 8 July 1970,[1] the son of Lindsay Nicholson and David Butler. His mother was a peace and anti-nuclear activist and campaigned to elect the Hawke and Keating governments.[2] His father, a public servant and Vietnam war conscript, was the grandson of conservative South Australian premier Richard Layton Butler and the great-grandson of conservative South Australian premier Richard Butler, but was not politically active himself.[3]

Butler's parents divorced when he was five years old, after which he and his brother moved to Adelaide with their mother.[2] He attended Unley High School, taking a gap year in Italy before enrolling at the University of Adelaide.[2] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence and a Bachelor of Laws with first class honours.[2][4] While at university he worked as a paralegal at Duncan Basheer Hannon (DBH).[2] He was short-listed for a Rhodes Scholarship,[2] and later completed a Master of International Relations degree at Deakin University.[5]

Butler was active in student politics while at university.[6] He was a housemate of future state MP Patrick Conlon and developed friendships with future premier Jay Weatherill and future federal minister Penny Wong; he and Weatherill were best man at each other's weddings.[2]

Trade union career

[edit]

In 1992, Butler joined the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union (LHMU) as a legal officer through his connections with Conlon. He made appearances before industrial tribunals, "pushing for cleaners and hospital workers to get better pay".[2] In 1996 he was elected state secretary of the LHMU,[7] winning by a single vote.[2]

Butler developed a close working relationship with his NSW counterpart Anthony Albanese.[7] He would later be Albanese's campaign manager in the October 2013 election for the Federal ALP Leadership.[8] He was also noted for his constructive relationship with the Labor Right faction in South Australia, particularly then-secretary of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, Don Farrell.[7]

Political career

[edit]

Butler joined the ALP at a young age and became a delegate to state conference in South Australia in 1993.[1] At the age of 23, he was a candidate for ALP preselection in the seat of Ross Smith prior to the 1993 South Australian state election.[9] He subsequently was preselected for the seat of Hanson prior to the 1997 state election, but resigned to become state secretary of the LHMU.[2] Butler served as state president of the Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch) from 1997 to 1998,[1] the youngest president in the party's history.[10] He was elected as a delegate to national conference in 1998 and elected to the national executive in 2000,[1] representing the Left faction.[7]

Government (2007–2013)

[edit]
Butler in 2013

Butler was elected as the Labor member for the electoral division of Port Adelaide at the 2007 federal election.[1]

In a 2009 First Rudd Ministry reshuffle, Butler was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health. On 14 September 2010, he was sworn in as Minister for Mental Health and Ageing in the Second Gillard Ministry. On 12 September 2011 he was given the additional responsibility of Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform. On 14 December 2011, Butler's ministry was renamed Mental Health and Aged Care, and he became a member of Cabinet.[11]

Opposition (2013–2022)

[edit]
Butler at the People's Climate March in Melbourne in 2014

After the 2013 election, Bill Shorten named Butler as the Shadow Minister for the Environment.

On 17 June 2015, Butler was elected National President of the Australian Labor Party and was succeeded by Wayne Swan on 18 June 2018, becoming senior vice-president to Swan.[12][13][14]

Butler in 2014 addressing a community meeting. Andrew Giles (behind Butler) and Kelvin Thomson (first seated on left) are also in attendance.

In a Shadow Cabinet reshuffle on 28 January 2021, Butler was moved from shadow Climate Change spokesperson to shadow spokesperson for Health.[15]

Government (2022–present)

[edit]

At the 21 May 2022 election, Butler was elected for Labor in the expanded seat of Hindmarsh, which included most of the area of the former seat of Port Adelaide, which had been abolished as part of the 2018 boundary redistribution.[16]

In the incoming Albanese ministry Butler was appointed as Minister for Health and Aged Care.[1]

In May 2023 the Department for Health and Aged Care proposed a wide-ranging ban on e-cigarettes ("vapes"); Butler said "I want vaping to return to the purpose that we were told it was invented for, that is a therapeutic product to help long-term smokers quit."[17]

Other activities

[edit]

In 2023, Butler delivered the Hugh Stretton Oration at the University of Adelaide.[18]

Personal life

[edit]

Butler has two children from a previous marriage and one from his second marriage.[19] In 2021, he married former SBS, BBC World News and ABC journalist Daniela Ritorto.[20]

As of 2024 he lives in Grange, a beachside suburb of Adelaide in South Australia.[21] Butler supports the Port Adelaide Football Club,[22] and is a pescetarian.[23]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Hon Mark Butler MP". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Eccleston, Roy (19 June 2015). "How far can former Adelaide union boss Mark Butler go in the Australian Labor Party?". The Advertiser. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  3. ^ Starick, Paul (22 July 2018). "Pedigrees and politics and right to rule - or not". The Advertiser.
  4. ^ "Labor's frontbench, too, is a mostly private affair". Crikey. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Hawker Britton profile: Hon Mark Butler MP" (PDF). Hawker Britton. October 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Freakish powers of a formidable operator". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 December 2007.
  7. ^ a b c d Barry, Paul (26 July 2011). "Political fixers – Mark Butler". The Power Index. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  8. ^ Kenny, Mark (25 September 2013). "Labor leader pair make their pitch to party faithful". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  9. ^ "7 to vie for Labor seat". Canberra Times. 18 September 1993.
  10. ^ "Mark Butler". Q&A. ABC. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  11. ^ Thompson, Jenny (12 December 2001). "Gillard unveils expanded Cabinet". Australia: ABC News. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  12. ^ "Mark Butler named national president of Australian Labor Party". ABC Australia. 17 June 2015.
  13. ^ Brown, Greg (18 June 2018). "Wayne Swan elected Labor national president". The Australian. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  14. ^ South Australian Butler loses Labor presidency InDaily, 18 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  15. ^ [1] ABC News, 28 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  16. ^ "2017-18 Federal Redistribution - South Australia". ABC Elections. 10 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Australia Aims to 'Stamp Out' Vaping With Sweeping Regulations". New York Times. 2 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Hugh Stretton Oration". Stretton Institute. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  19. ^ "Butler did it". Sunday Mail. 12 September 2010.
  20. ^ "SPINNERS ON THE MOVE". AdelaideNow. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  21. ^ "The private interests of Mark Butler MP". openpolitics.au. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  22. ^ Mark Butler profile: ALP
  23. ^ "Fake Turnbull steals the show, but the real Malcolm’s not laughing". theage.com.au. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
[edit]
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Port Adelaide
2007–2019 		Division abolished
Preceded by Member for Hindmarsh
2019–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
2010–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Social Inclusion
2011–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Environment and Water
2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Climate Change
2013 		Office abolished
Preceded by Minister for Health and Aged Care
2022–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by National President of the Australian Labor Party
2015–2018 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Senior Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party
2018–present 		Incumbent
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