THE HON IAN MACFARLANE MP
Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources

The Political

Ian Macfarlane was first elected to represent the Queensland seat of Groom in October 1998. Appointed Minister for Small Business in January 2001, Ian embarked on an Australia-wide series of roundtables, visiting almost 40 regional centres to discuss business issues and the changing tax system.
Ian was re-elected as the Member for Groom in November 2001 and became the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, a Cabinet position.

In his first year as Minister, Ian has:

• Produced a 10 year $4.2 billion plan to secure the future of Australia's car industry;
• Made reform of Australia's energy market a national issue by initiating the Parer Review;
• Instigated reform of the fuel industry, launching a new Petroleum Industry Framework and reviving work on a national oil code;
• Advanced reforms to the taxation of venture capital funds and oil and gas assets to encourage greater investment in Australia;
• Secured the investment in Australia of major resource projects such as the Methanex and $125m HIsmelt developments;
• Awarded more than $20m to innovative Australian companies through the BIF and COMET programs;
• Supported the decision for Australia to join the US$200 billion Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter project, opening huge opportunities for local electronics and aerospace firms;
• Launched 3 new industry Action Agendas
• Initiated an inquiry into investment in mineral and petroleum exploration
• Closed 8 years of negotiation to ensure the corporatisation of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Authority.

The Personal

Ian is married to Karen with two daughters, Kate and Laura, and two demanding beagles. They live in Toowoomba, Australia's largest provincial inland city.

Ian attended Brisbane Grammar before entering the University of Queensland on a Commonwealth Scholarship. 18 months and a lot of rugby union later, he left the Engineering Faculty to return to farming. For the next 20 years Ian farmed peanuts, sorghum and wheat in Queensland’s Burnett region.

Before entering federal politics, Ian was one of the country’s most active agripoliticans. He was President of the Queensland Graingrowers Association for seven years, President of the Grains Council of Australia for two years and simultaneously held executive positions on the Queensland and National Farmers Federations.

The practical farming tendencies still run deep. His nickname "Chainsaw" now reflects Ian’s direct approach to "cutting through" the red tape to get things done for Australian industry on a political level.
Ian was Chairman of the Giddy Goanna program, a Meals on Wheels volunteer, an active school P&C member and was voted Toowoomba's Australia Day Citizen of the Year in 1998. He remains an avid rugby fan.