Mark Brindal (born 12 May 1948) is a former Australian politician who served in the

South Australian House of Assembly The House of Assembly (also known as the lower house) is one of two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia, the other being the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide. Overview The House of Assem ...

from 1989 to 2006, representing the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

. He was a government minister between 1997 and 2002, under premiers

John Olsen John Wayne Olsen AO (born 7 June 1945) is an Australian politician, diplomat and football commissioner. He was Premier of South Australia between 28 November 1996 and 22 October 2001. He is now President of the Federal Liberal Party, Chairma ...

and

Rob Kerin Robert Gerard Kerin (born 4 January 1954) is a former South Australian politician who was the Premier of South Australia from 22 October 2001 to 5 March 2002, representing the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia. He was ...

Early life

Brindal was born in South Australia and was educated at Enfield Primary School and the

Adelaide Technical High School Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

. He was employed briefly by ''

The Adelaide Advertiser ''The Advertiser'' is a daily Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid format newspaper based in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. First published as a broadsheet named ''The South Australian Advertiser'' on 12 July 1858,

'' before undertaking tertiary study at the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide is a public university, public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. Its main campus in the Adelaide city centre includes many Sa ...

and the

University of South Australia The University of South Australia is a public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1991, it is the successor of the former South Australian Institute of Technology. Its main campuses along North Terrace are ...

.10th National Street Tree Symposium 2009: SA Government (PDF)
/ref> Brindal began a teaching career in 1968, working at Cockburn Primary School and Northfield Primary School, before becoming principal of Cook Primary School in 1975. He was seconded to a professional consultancy in educational disadvantage accruing form isolation in 1979. He rose in this position to rural state coordinator. In 1979 he was appointed as an advisor with the Country Areas Program in South Australia. He subsequently became state coordinator of the program.

Politics

Brindal entered parliament at the 1989 election, successfully running for the seat of Hayward. At the 1993 election he ran again, winning the seat of

Unley Unley is an inner-southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, within the City of Unley. The suburb is the home of the Sturt Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). Unley neighbours Adelaide Park Lands, Fullar ...

. Prior to 1993 it had been held by the Labor Party. The electoral redistribution ahead of the 2002 election had a large effect on Unley, losing several suburbs west of Goodwood Road and gaining several suburbs east of Fullarton Road, changing Unley from a marginal seat to a fairly safe to safe Liberal seat in one stroke. He held portfolios including Minister for Water Resources, Minister for Employment and Training, Minister Assisting for Tourism, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Employment, Minister for Youth, Minister Assisting for Environment and Heritage, Member of the Executive Council, and shadow portfolios for Water Resources, Youth, Employment and Training, and Local Government. '' The Advertiser'' reported in late 2005 of Brindal's homosexual affair with a 24-year-old man, who was alleged to have a "mental incapacity", occurring in Brindal's electoral office several times − after allegations of a blackmail by the man's previous foster carer, the then Liberal leader

was subsequently promptly interviewed by members of the anti-corruption branch. Brindal did not contest Liberal preselection for Unley ahead of the 2006 election, but gained Liberal preselection for the marginal Labor seat of

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

, however he stepped down from Liberal preselection in Adelaide following the revelations of late 2005 and did not contest the election.

Later life

Following his retirement from politics, Brindal has remained as a consultant and commentator. He has completed his Master of Business Administration at the University of Adelaide. He is currently undertaking his PhD at the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine at the University of Adelaide. His research is in the area of the economics of Water Management.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brindal, Mark 1948 births Living people Members of the South Australian House of Assembly Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of South Australia 21st-century Australian politicians Australian gay politicians LGBTQ legislators in Australia University of Adelaide alumni University of South Australia alumni 20th-century Australian politicians