Introduction
Mark Raymond Speakman SC MP (born 6 November 1959), an Australian politician, is the Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Heritage, and the Assistant Minister for Planning since April 2015 in the second Baird government. Speakman is also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Cronulla for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2011.
Early years and background
Speakman attended government schools in Caringbah before studying law and economics at The University of Sydney and then Cambridge University where he graduated with a master's degree. A practising lawyer, he was appointed to the bar in 1991, and was made senior counsel in 2004.
Political career
Preselected in November 2010, following announcement that the sitting member Malcolm Kerr would retire, Speakman overcame a challenge from Stephen Mutch, a former member for Cook. At the 2011 state election, Speakman was elected with a swing of 9.4 per cent and won the seat with 75.5 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis. Speakman's main opponent was Stefanie Jones, representing Labor. Premier O'Farrell considered immediately elevating Speakman to the ministry following the 2011 election; however he was not appointed to the ministry until April 2015 when, following the 2015 state election, he was appointed as the Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Heritage, and the Assistant Minister for Planning in the second Baird ministry.