Rob Borbidge

Robert Edward Borbidge, (born August 12, 1954), Australian politician, is the former premier of the state of Queensland, and former leader of the Queensland branch of the National Party.

Borbidge was born in the town of Ararat in Victoria in 1954. He became involved with the National Party at a young age, and in the 1980 elections, he was elected as the state member for the seat of Surfers Paradise. On December 10, 1991, he was elected leader of the state National Party. With the assistance of state Liberal Party leader Joan Sheldon, he formed a minority government which lasted from February 19, 1996 to June 26, 1998.

When the National Party lost power to a minority government led by Labor leader Peter Beattie, Borbidge returned to the position of Opposition Leader. After Beattie's government secured a landslide re-election victory at the 2001 state election, Borbidge vacated the National Party leadership and created controversy when he immediately resigned from parliament, forcing a by-election in his seat. Voter backlash at having to return to the polls so quickly resulted in the election of an independent member in the traditionally safe National seat.