Michael McCormack (Australian politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael McCormack
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McCormack in 2018
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| Deputy Prime Minister of Australia | |
| In office 26 February 2018 – 22 June 2021 |
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| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Barnaby Joyce |
| Succeeded by | Barnaby Joyce |
| Leader of the National Party | |
| In office 26 February 2018 – 21 June 2021 |
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| Deputy | Bridget McKenzie David Littleproud |
| Preceded by | Barnaby Joyce |
| Succeeded by | Barnaby Joyce |
| Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Infrastructure & Transport (Feb. 2018 – Aug. 2018) |
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| In office 26 February 2018 – 22 June 2021 |
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| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Barnaby Joyce |
| Succeeded by | Barnaby Joyce |
| Minister for Veterans' Affairs & Minister for Defence Personnel |
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| In office 20 December 2017 – 5 March 2018 |
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| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Dan Tehan |
| Succeeded by | Darren Chester |
| Minister for Small Business | |
| In office 19 July 2016 – 20 December 2017 |
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| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Kelly O'Dwyer |
| Succeeded by | Craig Laundy (as Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation) |
| Assistant Minister for Defence | |
| In office 18 February 2016 – 19 July 2016 |
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| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Darren Chester |
| Succeeded by | David Fawcett (2018) |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Riverina |
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| Assumed office 21 August 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Kay Hull |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Michael Francis McCormack
2 August 1964 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | National |
| Other political affiliations |
Coalition |
| Spouse |
Catherine McCormack
(m. 1986) |
| Children | 3 |
Michael Francis McCormack (born 2 August 1964) is an Australian politician. He served as the 18th Deputy Prime Minister of Australia from 2018 to 2021. He worked under Prime Ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison.
McCormack was also the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development. Before that, he was Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister for Veterans' Affairs. He has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2010. He represents the area of Division of Riverina in New South Wales. Before becoming a politician, he was a newspaper editor.
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Early Life and Career
Michael McCormack was born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. He was one of five children. His family lived on farms in nearby Marrar and Brucedale. He went to St Michael's Regional High School and Trinity Senior High School.
After school, McCormack started working at The Daily Advertiser. This was the local daily newspaper. By 1991, at age 27, he became the editor. He was known as one of the youngest newspaper editors in Australia. McCormack later left the newspaper. He then started his own media company, MSS Media Services and Solutions.
Political Journey
Before becoming a politician himself, McCormack helped with election campaigns. He was the campaign director for Kay Hull. She was the Nationals MP for the Division of Riverina. This was for the 2004 and 2007 federal elections.
In 2010, Kay Hull decided to retire from politics. McCormack then won the chance to run for her seat. He was elected in the 2010 Australian federal election. This marked the start of his career in the Australian House of Representatives.
Ministerial Roles
After the Coalition won the 2013 election, McCormack took on various government roles. He became a parliamentary secretary, helping the Minister for Finance. Later, he was an Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister. In February 2016, he became Assistant Minister for Defence.
In July 2016, after the 2016 election, McCormack became Minister for Small Business. In this role, he was in charge of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The ABS carried out the 2016 Australian census and the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. McCormack had personal views against same-sex marriage. However, he voted in favor of the law change. This was because his local area voted for it in the survey.
In December 2017, McCormack became Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister for Veterans' Affairs. These roles involved looking after people who had served in the military. In February 2018, he introduced a new law. This law aimed to provide better services for veterans and their families.
McCormack also ran for leadership positions within his party. In 2016, he tried to become the deputy leader of the National Party. He lost by a very small number of votes. In December 2017, he tried again for the deputy leadership. He lost again by just one vote.
Deputy Prime Minister (2018–2021)
In February 2018, the previous leader of the National Party, Barnaby Joyce, resigned. McCormack then ran for the leadership position. He won the vote and became the new leader of the National Party. This also made him the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. He also took over as Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.
After the Coalition won the 2019 federal election, McCormack was re-elected as party leader. In February 2020, Barnaby Joyce challenged him for the leadership, but McCormack kept his position. However, in June 2021, another leadership vote was held. McCormack was defeated by Barnaby Joyce. Joyce then became the new leader and Deputy Prime Minister. McCormack returned to being a regular member of parliament.
Shadow Minister Role
McCormack was re-elected in the 2022 election. In June 2022, he was given a new role by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton. He became the Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific. In this role, he focuses on Australia's relationships and aid with countries in the Pacific region.
Personal Life
Michael McCormack is a Roman Catholic. He married Catherine Shaw in 1986. They have three children together.
In 1995, he became the owner of a large collection of old newspapers. He acquired 900 bound volumes of The Times newspaper. This was reportedly the biggest collection outside of London.
Images for kids
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McCormack in July 2010
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McCormack in 2018
