Mike Reynolds (politician)
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Mike Reynolds MP (born September 16, 1946 (age 60)) is the current Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly (Australia).
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[edit] Biography
Mike Reynolds AM MP has been the Labor Member for Townsville in the Queensland State Parliament since 1998. He is currently the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly which is the only Chamber in the Queensland Parliament.
Before being elected (10 October 2006) as Speaker by the 52nd Parliament he was the inaugural Minister for Child Safety (2004-2006) with Ministerial responsibilities for adoptions, child protection services, foster/kinship carers etc.
Prior to the Child Safety portfolio Mr Reynolds was the Minister for Emergency Services and Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland (2001-2004). In Mr. Reynolds' first Parliamentary term he held the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier in North Queensland.
Prior to election to Parliament, Mr Reynolds held the positions of Director, Northern Australia Social Research Institute and Director, Centre for Social and Welfare Research, both at James Cook University. He was also Visiting Professor of Local Government Studies at the University of Canberra. From 1990 to 1996 he was Chairman of the Townsville Port Authority.
Mike Reynolds' local government service has included 16 years as a member of the Townsville City Council. During this time he was Deputy Mayor of Townsville (from 1976-1980), then Mayor of Townsville (from 1980-1989). Mr Reynolds was a member of the State Executive of the Local Government Association of Queensland from 1983-1989 and was granted membership of the Order of Australia in 1985 for service to local government and community.
Mr Reynolds also acted as Chair of the Queensland Ministerial Advisory Committee on Child Care, 1991-92, was a member of the Queensland Pacific Technology Program Committee in the Premiers Department, 1991-92 and as Chairman of the ACT Vocational Training Authority, 1992 - 1995.
He is a member of many local community organisations. Mr Reynolds has lived in Townsville most of his life and he graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) from James Cook University in 1978. Mr Reynolds' active interest in politics began in the mid 1960s and he is interested in all sport, particularly rugby league, cricket, tennis and rugby union.
Mr Reynolds is the co-author of the following books - The Great Divide: A Comparative Social Profile of Northern and Southern Australia (with D Lavery, 1997); Achieving Local Ownership of National Goals for the Coastal Zone (with L Cutts and D Osborn, 1993); Education and Training for Local Government Employees in Queensland (with V Valentine, 1992). He is also a contributor to the following books: "Local Government and the Challenge of Devolution in Australia" in Decentralization Towards Democratization and Development, (edited by RP Guzman and MA Reforma, 1993); "Recognising the Role of Local Government" in What Should Government Do? (edited by P Coaldrake and JR Nethercote, 1989).
Source: Official Website (with permission)
[edit] The Speaker
After a general election and at the beginning of the first parliamentary sitting day, a Member is elected by secret ballot to the position of Speaker. Normally, the Government's nominee is successful, since the Government controls the numbers in the House.
The office of Speaker is an ancient one dating back to the early English Parliaments in the 14th century. Unlike the Speaker of the British House of Commons, the Speaker of the Queensland Parliament does not resign from his/her political party and is still required to contest elections.
As the chief presiding officer of the Parliament, the Speaker chairs the debates and enforces the rules (known as Standing Orders) to ensure orderly conduct in the Chamber. In both instances, the Speaker is expected to demonstrate impartiality. However, the Speaker may participate in debates and in a tied voting situation has a casting vote.
The Speaker enjoys considerable powers within a parliamentary jurisdiction and can issue by-election writs, warrants for parliamentary privilege offenders and, if necessary, have brought before the bar of the Parliament such offenders for rebuke or sentence.
Administratively, the Speaker has control of the Parliamentary Service and is responsible for the Parliament's policies, budget, services and administration.
Source: Parliamentary website (public domain document)
It is tradition that the Speaker wears a gown and wig however when there is a Australian Labor Party Government this particular tradition is no longer observed. Mike Reynolds has pledged to continue this convention[1].
[edit] Key figures in the Queensland Parliament
The Speaker (the Honourable Mike Reynolds AM MP) is the Member of Parliament elected by the House to preside over sittings of the Legislative Assembly and to maintain orderly proceedings. The Speaker is supported in his role by officers of the Parliamentary Service, including the Clerk of the Parliament, the Sergeant at Arms and Hansard reporters.
Other key figures in the Parliament are:
The Premier (the Honourable Peter Beattie MP);
The Leader of Government Business in the House (the Honourable Robert Schwarten MP);
The Leader of the Nationals / Opposition (Jeff Seeney MP);
The Leader of the Liberal Party (Bruce Flegg MP);
Leader of One Nation (Rosa Lee Long MP);
Government Cabinet Members (Ministers)
Opposition Shadow Ministry
Source: Parliamentary website (public domain document)
[edit] External links
Reynolds won his fourth term in office, at a state election held on Saturday, 9 September 2006 with a 9.5% primary vote swing towards him.
