Jeff Seeney

Jeffrey William Seeney (born 2 February 1957 in Brisbane, Queensland) was the Leader of the Queensland National Party (thus Leader of the Opposition of Queensland) from September 2006 to January 2008, and is Member for the seat of Callide in the state parliament of Queensland. Seeney was elected to parliament at the 1998 state election and appointed leader of the Opposition on 18 September 2006 but was defeated by former Leader Lawrence Springborg on 21 January 2008. Seeney was the former Chairman of the Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO).

As the deputy leader of the state opposition, Seeney's portfolios included State Development, Small Business, Information Technology and Innovation, Industrial Relations, Water and Energy. [cite news
author =
url = http://www.qld.nationals.org.au/ourTeam/state/seeney.asp
title = State Members Mr Jeff Seeney MP
publisher = Queensland National Party
date = 2006
accessdate = 2006-09-18]

Seeney received a certificate in Rural Business Management from QUT.

Leadership

Following the coalition's loss at the 2006 state election, standing leader Lawrence Springborg relinquished leadership of the opposition and the Queensland National Party. On 18 September 2006 Jeff Seeney was endorsed as the new state National Party leader, with Maroochydore representative Fiona Simpson as his deputy. [cite news
author = Steven Wardill and Rosemary Odgers
url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20431025-5005961,00.html
title = Seeney takes National Party reins
publisher = Herald Sun
date = 18 September 2006
accessdate = 2006-09-18] Disputes have been reported between the pair regarding the allocation of office space and staff. [cite news
author = Steven Wardill
url = http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21722821-3102,00.html
title = Squabble shatters Nats unity
publisher = Courier Mail
date = 14 May 2007
accessdate = 2007-05-14]

Following his election as leader, the former National member for Callide, [http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/qld/summer/200609/s1746447.htm the Hon. Di McCauley resigned from the party.]

On 31 January 2007 Bruce Flegg, the Leader of the National's Coalition Party the Liberals, committed to allowing Jeff Seeney to take the premiership regardless of which party won the most seats. [cite news|url = http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21145652-3102,00.html
title = Let Nats Govern
publisher = Courier Mail
date = 31 January 2007]

Members of Seeney's party, the Nationals, have been highly critical of Bruce Flegg. [http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22045263-3102,00.html] However a recent opinion poll also showed that Seeney himself had the lowest satisfaction rating of any Queensland Opposition Leader in 14 years despite favouring quite well as the preferred Premier in comparison with his predecessors.

Shortly before his own retirement, Labor Premier Beattie predicted that former Opposition Leader, Lawrence Springborg, would be drafted back into the leadership of the Nationals. However Springborg continues to rule out any leadership intentions and there is no mood for change within the Nationals. [http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22460547-952,00.html]

Seeney has also publicly called for his coalition partner,the Liberals to sort out their leadership issue. [cite news|url = http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/23/1986152.htm
title = Liberal leadership speculation frustrates Seeney
publisher = ABC
date = 23 July 2007]

Political career

Jeff Seeney served on the Monto shire council from 1992 to 1998, serving as the Deputy Mayor for the last four years. During this time, he worked on the National Party's State Central Council from 1991 to 1998. Seeney was elected Deputy leadership of the National Party alongside leader Lawrence Springborg in February 2003, and since December 1999 has served in the Shadow Ministry. [cite news
author = Antony Green
url = http://www.abc.net.au/elections/qld/2006/guide/call.htm
title = Queensland Election, 2006
publisher = ABC News
date = 7 September 2006
accessdate = 2006-09-18]

After Deputy Fiona Simpson withdrew her support for Seeney, he announced a partyroom challenge to take place on Monday, with former leader Lawrence Springborg the front runner. There are also increasing talks of a merger to form a single 'non-Labor force' in Queensland. [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23074761-5013945,00.html Bring on challenge, says Seeney | The Australian ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/legislativeAssembly/documents/memberBio/SeeneyJeffrey.htm Official Biography]