Mike Horan (politician)

Mike Horan
Leader of the Opposition of Queensland
Leader of the Queensland National Party
In office
2 March 2001 – 4 February 2003
Deputy Vaughan Johnson
Preceded by Rob Borbidge
Succeeded by Lawrence Springborg
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Justice
In office
30 September 2008 – 5 April 2009
Leader Lawrence Springborg
Preceded by Stuart Copeland
Succeeded by Lawrence Springborg
Shadow Minister for Food Security and Agriculture
In office
12 August 2008 – 30 September 2008
Leader Lawrence Springborg
Preceded by New Position
Succeeded by Ray Hopper
Shadow Minister for Fisheries
In office
8 March 2004 – 30 September 2008
Leader Lawrence Springborg
Jeff Seeney
Preceded by Position Vacated
Succeeded by Ray Hopper
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries
In office
8 March 2004 – 12 August 2008
Leader Lawrence Springborg
Jeff Seeney
Preceded by Marc Rowell
Succeeded by Position Vacant
Shadow Minister for State Development and Small Business
In office
9 February 2003 – 8 March 2004
Leader Lawrence Springborg
Preceded by Vaughan Johnson
Succeeded by Howard Hobbs
Shadow Treasurer of Queensland
In office
2 March 2001 – 9 February 2003
Leader Himself
Preceded by David Watson
Succeeded by Jeff Seeney
Shadow Minister for Police and Corrective Services of Queensland
In office
26 February 1999 – 2 March 2001
Leader Rob Borbidge
Preceded by Allan Grice
Succeeded by Jeff Seeney
Shadow Minister for State Development, Trade and Rural Communities of Queensland
In office
2 July 1998 – 26 February 1999
Leader Rob Borbidge
Preceded by Peter Beattie
Succeeded by Doug Slack
Deputy Leader of the
Queensland National Party
In office
17 February 1998 – 26 February 1999
Leader Rob Borbidge
Preceded by Kev Lingard
Succeeded by Lawrence Springborg
Minister for Health of Queensland
In office
26 February 1996 – 26 June 1998
Premier Rob Borbidge
Preceded by Peter Beattie
Succeeded by Wendy Edmond
Shadow Minister for Health
In office
5 November 1992 – 19 February 1996
Leader Rob Borbidge
Preceded by Di McCauley
Succeeded by Wendy Edmond
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Toowoomba South
In office
18 May 1991 – 24 March 2012
Preceded by Clive Berghofer
Succeeded by John McVeigh
Personal details
Born
Michael James Horan

1 July 1944
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Political party Liberal National Party
Other political
affiliations
National Party
Spouse Helen Horan
Relations Tim Horan (son), Matthew Horan (son), Emma Campbell (Daughter)
Alma mater University of Queensland
Occupation General Manager, Farmer

Michael James Horan, AM (born 1 July 1944) is a former Australian politician who represented the seat of Toowoomba South in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 18 May 1991 to 24 March 2012. Originally he was a member of the National Party of Australia, but follow its merger he is now a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland until his retirement.

Early life

Prior to entering parliament, Horan was employed as the General Manager of the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland and General Manager of the Toowoomba Greyhound Racing Club.

Political career

Horan entered politics at the 1991 Toowoomba South by-election. He replaced property developer and Toowoomba Mayor Clive Berghofer, who had previously held the seat for the National Party until the state's electoral laws were amended to prevent simultaneous service in state parliamentary and local government authority positions.

Government Minister (1996–98)

Horan served as Health Minister in the Borbidge Government 1996–98, and as Deputy Nationals leader between 1998 and 1999.

Opposition Leader (2001–03)

Horan was made leader of the National Party and Opposition on 2 March 2001 until after Rob Borbidge's retirement from politics. He defeated his successor as deputy leader Lawrence Springborg by 6 votes to 5 with Borbidge not voting.

He was replaced as leader by Springborg on 4 February 2003 after he failed to gain ground on Peter Beattie.

Horan became the first leader of his party who did not become Premier since Ted Maher (served 1936-41 when the party was then called the Country Party).

Post Leadership (2003–12)

He became a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland in 2008 and served in the Queensland Parliament as Shadow Attorney-General, Shadow Minister for Justice and Racing, Shadow Minister for Open Government between 30 September 2008 and 5 April 2009. On 6 April 2009, he was appointed to the position of Opposition Whip.

Horan stood down at the 2012 state election.

Personal life

Horan captained the Australian Universities rugby union team, and played for the Parramatta Eels rugby league team in Sydney from 1968 to 1970, before moving to Gympie, Queensland to run a dairy farm.

Horan is married with two sons and a daughter. His son, Tim Horan, is a former Australian rugby union footballer.