Bob Quinn is an Australian Liberal Party politician and leader of the Liberal Party in the Parliament of Queensland.
Quinn was a schoolteacher before entering politics. He entered Parliament in 1989 winning the seat of Robina on the Gold Coast.
In 1995 the National-Liberal coalition won power in Queensland under Rob Borbidge. Quinn became Minister for Education . The government was defeated in 1998 and the Liberals' coalition with the Nationals ended. Dr David Watson took over the Liberal Leadership from Joan Sheldon and Quinn became Deputy Leader of the Party.
In 2001 the Australian Labor Party led by Peter Beattie inflicted a massive defeat on the reformed Coalition, with the Liberal Party winning only three seats in the 89-member Parliament. Watson resigned and with Joan Sheldon being the only other Liberal MP, Quinn became leader of the Liberals by default.
The Liberals subsequently negotiated a new coalition agreement with the Nationals and their new Leader, Lawrence Springborg. As leader of the junior party, Quinn became Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Treasurer. He forged a close working relationship with Springborg and made efforts to repair the relationship between the two parties. During the 2004 election campaign, Quinn worked closely with Springborg (being criticised by Liberals for holding too subsidiary a position to him) and lifted Liberal Party representation to five seats. The Coalition still suffered a massive defeat, however, and when the Coalition agreement automatically expired following the election loss, the two parties opted not to renew it.
This meant that the Liberals lost their status as members of the Official Opposition (this place being taken by the National Party alone). Nevertheless, the Liberals continued to refer to their party spokespersons on various issues as Shadow Ministers.
After the election, Quinn has gained some prominence in the wake of failures of the Government-owned electricity corporation in South-East Queensland, Energex . He and his party have rejected as impractical suggestions from Lawrence Springborg that the two conservative parties merge into one organisation.
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Last updated: 08-12-2005 09:55:12
