Minister for Social Inclusion

The Hon Mark Butler MP was sworn in as Minister for Social Inclusion on 14 December 2011. Minister Butler is also the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Heath Reform.

Mark was elected to Federal Parliament in 2007 representing the electorate of Port Adelaide. In 2009 he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health and in September 2010, he was appointed the Minister for Mental Health.

Before entering Parliament, Mark worked for 15 years in the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (now United Voice) - including 11 years as State Secretary – representing thousands of workers within aged care, and many other sectors.

Mark was a Member of the South Australian Social Inclusion Board during its major review of the South Australian mental health system and served on a number of other Boards in areas including tourism, gambling and vocational training.

In 1997, Mark was elected as the youngest ever President of the ALP in South Australia, and has been a Member of the ALP National Executive and National Executive Committee since 2000.

He holds a First Class Honours Law degree, an Arts degree and a Masters degree in International Relations and was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2002 for services to trade unionism.

Mark lives in Woodville Park with his wife and two children, and is a keen supporter of AFL team, Port Power.