# Mark Birrell

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Australian politician

**Mark Alexander Birrell** [AM](/source/Member_of_the_Order_of_Australia) (born 7 February 1958) is a company director and a former [Cabinet Minister](/source/Cabinet_Minister) in the Australian state of [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(Australia)).

## Early life

Birrell was born in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne) and was educated at [Trinity Grammar](/source/Trinity_Grammar_School_(Victoria)). He studied at [Monash University](/source/Monash_University) obtaining a [Bachelor of Economics](/source/Bachelor_of_Economics) and a [Bachelor of Laws](/source/Bachelor_of_Laws).[1] While studying, Birrell worked for [Senator](/source/Australian_Senate) [Alan Missen](/source/Alan_Missen) and also served terms as president of the Victorian and federal [Young Liberals](/source/Young_Liberals_(Australia)).[2] He was admitted to practice as a [barrister](/source/Barrister) and [solicitor](/source/Solicitor) in 1983.[3]

## Politics

When long serving [MP](/source/Member_of_Parliament) [William Campbell](/source/Bill_Campbell_(Victorian_politician)) resigned his safe [Legislative Council](/source/Victorian_Legislative_Council) seat of [East Yarra Province](/source/East_Yarra_Province) in 1983, Birrell won Liberal preselection and succeeded him as its member.[4] He was "Victoria’s youngest MP and one of the youngest-ever in Australia."[5] Two years later he entered the [shadow Cabinet](/source/Shadow_Cabinet) as shadow Health Minister.[4]

Birrell became the Leader of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Council from 1988 and in 1992 he became the Government Leader of the Upper House, a position he would hold through to 1999.[6] During this period he served as [Minister for Conservation and Environment](/source/Minister_for_the_Environment_(Victoria)),[4] creating the [Yarra Ranges National Park](/source/Yarra_Ranges_National_Park), pioneering laws for coastal protection in the State, overseeing [Albert Park's](/source/Albert_Park_and_Lake) revitalisation, and handling key stakeholder issues.[1]

During the first term of the [Kennett](/source/Jeff_Kennett) government he also served as the Minister for [Major Projects](/source/Minister_for_Major_Projects_(Victoria)).[4] He was responsible for the 'Agenda 21' infrastructure projects like the new [Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre](/source/Melbourne_Convention_%26_Exhibition_Centre), [Melbourne Museum](/source/Melbourne_Museum), [City Circle tram](/source/City_Circle_tram), [Docklands](/source/Melbourne_Docklands) and the [Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre](/source/Melbourne_Sports_%26_Aquatic_Centre), along with the full restoration of the Old Treasury Building and the [Regent Theatre](/source/Regent_Theatre%2C_Melbourne).[7] After the [1996 election](/source/1996_Victorian_state_election) he swapped his Ministerial portfolios for the Industry, Science and Technology portfolio. As minister he oversaw the State's first "Science, Engineering and Technology policy," legislating for 7-day shop trading, and overseeing a successful investment attraction program.[3]

After the defeat of the Kennett Government at the [1999 election](/source/1999_Victorian_state_election), Birrell continued as Liberal Upper House leader and served as shadow Minister for Industry, Science and Technology.[6] Widespread media commentary called for him to switch to the lower house and take the Leadership of the Victorian Liberal Party as his predecessor [Sir Rupert Hamer](/source/Sir_Rupert_Hamer) had done.[8] However, Birrell decided to leave Parliament and return to private enterprise after the [2002 election](/source/2002_Victorian_state_election).[3]

## In private enterprise

Birrell is currently the a non-executive director of [Transurban](/source/Transurban) and serves on the Management Board of the [International Organisation of Employers](https://www.ioe-emp.org/about-us/our-governance). He is the President of the [Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry](/source/Australian_Chamber_of_Commerce_and_Industry). Recently he retired as the independent chairman of [Australia Post Super Scheme (APSS)](https://www.apss.com.au/home/), a fund with 30,000 members.[9]

Birrell was made a Fellow of the [Australian Institute of Company Directors](/source/Australian_Institute_of_Company_Directors) in 2007 and a Companion of [Engineers Australia](/source/Engineers_Australia) in 2014.

Birrell was chairman of the [Port of Melbourne Corporation](/source/Port_of_Melbourne_Corporation) until November 2016. The Andrews Government embarked on a “privatisation drive”[10] in its first term, with Birrell overseeing the sale of the Port of Melbourne for $9.7 billion.[11] Birrell reflects on this as “….an example of a Labor government wanting to recycle capital from one large asset into other assets. And it was a very good example of public policy working, regardless of the political party in power.”[12] The proceeds of the sale were injected back into Victorian infrastructure projects, including the [Level Crossing Removal Project](/source/Level_Crossing_Removal_Project).

Birrell was the founding chairman of [Infrastructure Partnerships Australia](/source/Infrastructure_Partnerships_Australia), the nation's peak infrastructure body.[13] This not-for-profit organisation undertakes research and policy advocacy on social and economic infrastructure.

Other board roles included being an independent non-executive chairman of the [Australian Payments Council](/source/Australian_Payments_Council), the strategic coordination body for the Australian payments industry, also serving on the board of [Australia Post](/source/Australia_Post),[14] including as deputy Chairman, and Chairman of [Regis Healthcare Limited](https://www.regis.com.au/investor-information/) and Evans and Peck Limited.

From 2002-2012 Birrell was the National Leader of the Infrastructure Group and special counsel at [Minter Ellison](/source/MinterEllison).

## Not-for-profit sector

Volunteer roles include being Chairman of [VicHealth](/source/Victorian_Health_Promotion_Foundation) (2012–14) and positions as a trustee of both the [Melbourne Cricket Ground](/source/Melbourne_Cricket_Ground) (1992–96), the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust (1995–99) and the [Canterbury Girls' Secondary College](https://www.cgsc.vic.edu.au/) School Council 2004-06).[3][15]

He has been active in the chamber of commerce movement, including as President of the [Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry](https://www.victorianchamber.com.au/) (2013–16). He is the current President of the [Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry](https://acci.com.au/).

## Honours

Birrell was appointed a Member of the [Order of Australia](/source/Order_of_Australia) in the [2021 Queen's Birthday Honours](/source/2021_Queen's_Birthday_Honours_(Australia)),[16][17] recognised for "significant service to the infrastructure sector, and to business."

In 2014 he was awarded [Monash University's](/source/Monash_University) highest honour, receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Laws[1] for "his contributions to the policy and infrastructure sectors."

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_1-2) ["Political pioneer receives honorary doctorate"](https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/political-pioneer-receives-honorary-doctorate). *Monash University*. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["History: Former Office Bearers"](https://www.youngliberal.org.au/history). Young Liberals. Retrieved 30 March 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pbio_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pbio_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-pbio_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-pbio_3-3) ["Birrell, Mark Alexander"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125425/http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/re-member/bioregfull.cfm?mid=905). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2010.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_bot:_original_URL_status_unknown))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-parl_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-parl_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-parl_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-parl_4-3) ["Mark Alexander Birrell"](https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/mark-birrell/). *Members of Parliament*. [Parliament of Victoria](/source/Parliament_of_Victoria). Retrieved 5 August 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Haynes, John; Archibald, J. F. (31 May 1983). ["People"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1312369871/view?partId=nla.obj-1312469392#page/n51/mode/1up). *The Bulletin*. Sydney, N.S.W. p. 52. Retrieved 5 August 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_6-1) ["Mark Alexander Birrell"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230423140418/https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/people-in-parliament/re-member/details/24/1028). *Re-Member: a database of all Victorian MPs since 1851*. [Parliament of Victoria](/source/Parliament_of_Victoria). Archived from [the original](https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/people-in-parliament/re-member/details/24/1028) on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [*Agenda 21: Major Civic Projects for Melbourne : the Victorian Government's Agenda for Revitalising Victoria*](https://books.google.com/books?id=yKI1NQAACAAJ). Office of Major Projects, Victoria. 1993.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Whinnett, Ellen (2012). *Premier's State*. Steve Bracks (1st ed.). Melbourne: Melbourne University Publishing. p. 191. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-522-86079-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-522-86079-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Empowering members with more choices and services"](https://www.apss.com.au/FormBuilder/_Resource/_module/o2kiGb-Igk-UCb_7ijDDKA/file/Beacon_Powering_your_super/APSS_Member_Announcement_26_March_2021.pdf) (PDF). 26 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Dailytelegraph.com.au | Subscribe to The Daily Telegraph for exclusive stories"](https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fqueens-birthday-honours-mark-birrells-determination-to-help-build-the-future%2Fnews-story%2Fed73c6a710d36a9ea2804a6f5dc04fbb&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=e179a2ad8610c5dc1153c7b7cd4abe0c-1623619807). *www.dailytelegraph.com.au*. Retrieved 13 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Port of Melbourne lease sold to consortium for $9.7b"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-19/port-of-melbourne-sold-to-lonsdale-consortium/7857328). *www.abc.net.au*. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Dailytelegraph.com.au | Subscribe to The Daily Telegraph for exclusive stories"](https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fqueens-birthday-honours-mark-birrells-determination-to-help-build-the-future%2Fnews-story%2Fed73c6a710d36a9ea2804a6f5dc04fbb&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=183aa7232afc3422dc4dfc572d29dff9-1623620222). *www.dailytelegraph.com.au*. Retrieved 13 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Our Patrons - Infrastructure Partnerships Australia"](https://infrastructure.org.au/our-patrons/). *IPA*. Retrieved 9 August 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Board of directors"](http://www.auspost.com.au/annualreport2009/corpGov/board-of-directors.html). [Australia Post](/source/Australia_Post). Retrieved 2 February 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-lgfocus.com.au_15-0)** ["Infrastructure Australia"](https://www.lgfocus.com.au/editions/2008-06/infrastructure-australia.php). *lgfocus.com.au*. Retrieved 2 February 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SMH_2021_16-0)** ["Queen's Birthday 2021 Honours - the full list"](https://www.smh.com.au/national/queen-s-birthday-2021-honours-the-full-list-20210613-p580pa.html). *Sydney Morning Herald*. Nine Entertainment Co. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["The Honourable Mark Alexander Birrell"](https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2008635). *It's An Honour*. Retrieved 13 June 2021.

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF People Victorian Parliament

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mark Birrell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Birrell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Birrell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.