Michael "Mick" David Gentleman (born 1 August 1955) is an Australian politician and former member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly who represented the electorate of Brindabella for the Labor Party from 2004 to 2008, and again from 2012 to 2024.[2] He was first elected to the assembly in 2004, but lost his seat in the 2008 election.[3] He was re-elected to the Assembly at the 2012,[4] 2016 and 2020 elections, before being defeated at the 2024 election. Gentleman was a Minister in the ACT Government from 2014 until his defeat in 2024.
Early years
Gentleman was born and educated, and has always lived in Canberra, ACT.
Prior to becoming a politician, he worked in the offices of Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating as their security officer. He has also been a motor mechanic, post officer, public servant, real estate agent, small business owner and union organiser.[citation needed]
Gentleman has been involved in motorsports for more than 42 years and was a four-time ACT Rally champion co-driver. He competed in rally at state level, Australia Championship level and in the World Rally Championships.[5]
Political career
Gentleman has served as the Acting Speaker of the Assembly, and chair of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment. He provided more than 30 reports to the Parliament affecting the business, environmental and residential planning of the capital. Gentleman tabled and passed the gross feed-in-tariff for Canberra,[6] bringing the ACT to the forefront in renewable energy incentives.
Gentleman has strongly supported first-responders as Minister for Police and Emergency Services, securing more police officers,[7] paramedics[8] and urban firefighters[9] for the ACT.
As Minister for the Environment, Gentleman led reforms to outlaw destructive yabby traps[10] and oversaw the recovery plan for Namadgi National Park,[11] which was significantly damaged by bushfires in early 2020.[12] Gentleman has been a public advocate for protecting Namadgi National Park from potential damage caused by feral horses.[13][14]
In the final arrangement of the Third Barr ministry, Gentleman was the Manager of Government Business, as well as the Minister for Business, for Fire and Emergency Services, for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety, for Multicultural Affairs, and for Police and Crime Prevention.[15]
Over his career, Gentleman has also held the ministerial portfolios for Planning, for Community Services, for Children and Young People, for Ageing, for Roads and Parking, for Planning and Land Management, for Racing and Gaming, for Environment and Heritage, for Urban Renewal, for Advanced Technology and Space Industries, and for Corrections.
References
- ^ 2012/2013 Annual Returns Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Elections ACT, 29 August 2013.
- ^ "Members of the Eighth ACT Legislative Assembly". ACT Legislative Assembly. 2012. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- ^ "Members of the Sixth ACT Legislative Assembly". ACT Legislative Assembly. 2008. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
- ^ "ACT Legislative Assembly election – Final results". Elections ACT. Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- ^ "Mick Gentleman rally profile".
- ^ "Electricity Feed-in (Renewable Energy Premium) Bill 2008". ACT Legislation Register. ACT Government. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
- ^ ACT Government; PositionTitle=Director; SectionName=Corporate Management; Corporate=Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (30 May 2019). "More police and a new approach for ACT Policing". Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ ACT Government; PositionTitle=Director; SectionName=Corporate Management; Corporate=Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (13 July 2020). "Investing in ACT paramedics". Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ ACT Government; PositionTitle=Director; SectionName=Corporate Management; Corporate=Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (25 June 2020). "More firefighters for Canberra". Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ ACT Government; PositionTitle=Director; SectionName=Corporate Management; Corporate=Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (15 July 2020). "Swap your old yabby trap for a free wild-life friendly net". Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ ACT Government; PositionTitle=Director; SectionName=Corporate Management; Corporate=Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (9 April 2020). "Long-term bushfire recovery plan to heal Namadgi". Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Directorate, ACT Government; PositionTitle=Manager; SectionName=Coordination and Revenue; Corporate=Environment and Planning (9 April 2020). "Orroral Valley Fire Impact Report". Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate - Environment. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Bushnell, Ian. "ACT steps up surveillance after wild horses found inside Namadgi National Park". About Regional. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- ^ "ACT environment minister shows why he's a Gentleman". Reclaim Kosci. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- ^ "Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Ministerial Appointment 2023 (No 1) | HTML view". www.legislation.act.gov.au. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
Notes
- ^ As Minister for Business and Better Regulation.
- ^ As Minister for Business, Arts and Creative Industries.
- ^ a b As Minister for Police and Emergency Services.
- ^ a b As Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services.
- ^ As Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety.
- ^ As Minister for Skills, Training and Industrial Relations.
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