The Minister for Housing: Biography
The Honourable Robert Schwarten MP - Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology and Member for Rockhampton
Robert Schwarten has been Queensland's Minister for Public Works and Housing since 29 June 1998. The Minister also has responsibility for the Information and Communication Technology portfolio.
Mr Schwarten was elected as the Labor Member for Rockhampton in July 1995. He previously represented the city in another seat from 1989 to 1992 and served as a Councillor on the Rockhampton City Council from 1985 to 1991.
After leaving school he worked in the building industry for his father, a Rockhampton building contractor.
He trained as a teacher and worked in a number of schools in regional Queensland. He also served as an official of the Queensland Teachers' Union and as a Policy Adviser to former Deputy Premier, Tom Burns.
Prior to becoming a Minister in the Queensland Government, Mr Schwarten served as a Shadow Minister in a number of portfolios and during the Goss Government was a member of a variety of Ministerial Advisory Committees.
Mr Schwarten was born in 1954.
He and his wife Judy live in Rockhampton and have two sons.
His interests include fishing, gardening - especially native plants, animal welfare, carpentry and Queensland political history.
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology.
Last updated 22 April 2008
Other languages