Ian Macfarlane (politician)

The Honourable Ian Macfarlane HonFAusIMM
Macfarlane in 2015
Minister for Industry and Science
In office 18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015
Prime Minister	Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Kim Carr
Succeeded by	Christopher Pyne
Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources
In office 26 November 2001 – 3 December 2007
Prime Minister	John Howard
Preceded by	Nick Minchin
Succeeded by	Kim Carr Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Martin Ferguson Minister for Resources and Energy
Minister for Small Business
In office 30 January 2001 – 26 November 2001
Prime Minister	John Howard
Preceded by	Peter Reith
Succeeded by	Joe Hockey
Member of the Australian Parliament for Groom
In office 3 October 1998 – 9 May 2016
Preceded by	Bill Taylor
Succeeded by	John McVeigh
Personal details
Born	(1955-04-05) 5 April 1955 (age 69) Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia
Political party	Liberal (federal) Liberal National (state, 2010–present)
Spouse	Karen
Children	2
Residence(s)	Toowoomba, Queensland
Occupation	Farmer

Ian Elgin Macfarlane HonFAusIMM (born 5 April 1955) is an Australian former politician who was a member of the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2016, representing the Liberal Party. He served as a minister in the Howard and Abbott governments.

Macfarlane was born in Kingaroy, Queensland, and was a farmer before entering politics. He was elected to parliament at the 1998 federal election, representing the Division of Groom. Macfarlane was appointed Minister for Small Business in January 2001. After the 2001 election, he was made Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, a position he held until the Howard government's defeat at the 2007 election. Macfarlane returned to cabinet in 2013 as Minister for Industry (later Industry and Science) in the Abbott government. He lost his position when Malcolm Turnbull became prime minister in September 2015, and retired from politics at the 2016 election. He is currently chief executive of the Queensland Resources Council.