Andrew McNamara

For the American sportscaster, see Andy McNamara.

Andrew McNamara (centre), Hervey Bay Deputy Mayor Mick Kruger (left) and Queensland Deputy Premier Anna Bligh (right) at the Urangan Boat Harbour in May 2007

Andrew Ian McNamara (born 19 August 1959) is an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2009, representing the district of Hervey Bay. He served as Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation from 2007 to 2009, under the premiership of Anna Bligh.

Peak oil

Peak Oil is the point or timeframe at which the maximum global petroleum production rate is reached. This will have long term significant effects on transport and planning issues.^[1]

In February 2005, McNamara came to national prominence as the first mainstream Australian politician to speak out on the issue of Peak Oil.^[2][3]

McNamara was the Chair of the Queensland Government's Oil Vulnerability Taskforce.^[4] The Taskforce report, "Queensland's Vulnerability to Rising Oil Prices," also known as the McNamara Report was commissioned in 2005 and is the first of its kind to be commissioned by any government in the world.^[5] McNamara is also the Foundation Patron of the Australian Society for the Study of Peak Oil.

Climate change

Andrew McNamara was a member of Australia's delegation to the Bali Climate Change Conference in December 2007. Other members of the delegation included Kevin Rudd, Peter Garrett, Penny Wong and Simon Crean.

McNamara has also established a Climate Change Council with a number of prominent environmentalists and business leaders including Tim Flannery and Ian Lowe.

Anti-whaling

Andrew McNamara has been a strong opponent of whaling, particularly Japanese whaling in Australian waters.

Hervey Bay

Andrew McNamara represented the seat of Hervey Bay. Hervey Bay is one of the fastest growing areas in Australia. The area's principal industry is tourism, in particular whale watching.

Seeking a fourth term, McNamara was defeated in the 2009 election by former Hervey Bay Mayor Ted Sorensen.

Significant speeches

• First Speech in the Queensland Parliament, 3 April 2001
• Speech in Queensland Parliament on Peak Oil, 22 February 2005
• Speech in Queensland Parliament against Whaling, 6 February 2007
• Speech in Queensland Parliament against Whaling, 22 May 2007
• Speech in Queensland Parliament on Clean Coal Technology, 7 June 2007

References

1. ^ "Wartime Mentality Needed". Courier Mail. 2007-09-15. http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22419398-3102,00.html. 
2. ^ "Running On Empty". Sydney Morning Herald. 2005-04-02. http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Running-on-empty/2005/04/01/1112302233942.html. 
3. ^ "Australian Politician Goes on record about Peak Oil and Gas". Global Public Media. 2005-02-22. http://www.globalpublicmedia.com/lectures/360. 
4. ^ "New task force to tackle oil woes". ABC. 2005-05-20. http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200505/1373249.htm?widebay. 
5. ^ "New Queensland Sustainability Minister on the future with less oil". Global Public Media. 2007-09-19. http://globalpublicmedia.com/new_queensland_sustainability_minister_on_the_future_with_less_oil. 

External links

• Andrew McNamara interviews and speeches on Global Public Media
• Australian Society for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas
• Andrew McNamara personal home page

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Name	Macnamara, Andrew
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Date of birth	19 August 1959
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