17 Facts About Denis Napthine

Denis Vincent Napthine was born on 6 March 1952 and is an Australian former politician and veterinarian who served as the 47th premier of Victoria from 2013 to 2014.

Denis Napthine held office as the leader of the Victorian division of the Liberal Party of Australia and was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the district of Portland from 1988 to 2002, before transferring to that of South-West Coast from 2002 to 2015.

Denis Napthine was elected leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party on 6 March 2013 following the resignation of Ted Baillieu and was sworn in as premier on the same day.

Denis Napthine's party lost the Victorian state election on 29 November 2014 and he announced he would step down as leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, with Matthew Guy being elected his successor on 4 December.

Denis Napthine spent his early school years at Winchelsea State School before attending Chanel College, a Catholic boys' school in Lovely Banks near Geelong.

Denis Napthine later completed a master's degree in business administration from Deakin University.

Denis Napthine was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1988 as member for the country seat of Portland.

Denis Napthine was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health in 1992 and then promoted to Minister for Youth and Community Services in 1996 in Jeff Kennett's Liberal government, a position he held from 1996 to 1999.

Denis Napthine had briefly served as Deputy Liberal Leader, having been elected to the position just shortly before Kennett stood down as Liberal Leader.

At this election, Denis Napthine ran in South-West Coast, essentially a reconfigured version of Portland.

Denis Napthine was re-elected in November 2006 with an increased margin.

Denis Napthine served as the Minister for Ports, Racing, Regional Cities and Major Projects.

On 28 November 2013 Australian media reported that Denis Napthine had 'secretly assisted' Shaw to draft a Private Member's Bill to change state abortion legislation which Denis Napthine voted against in 2008.

Denis Napthine refuted the allegations and stated his Government had no plans to change abortion laws, nor would he support any such change.

On 29 November 2014, after the Victorian state election, Denis Napthine conceded defeat to Labor led by Daniel Andrews.

Denis Napthine stated that he intended to serve a full parliamentary term despite losing the Premiership, however on 31 August 2015 he announced his resignation from the Victorian Parliament, which triggered a by-election in his electorate of South-West Coast.

Denis Napthine gave money for John Pesutto's legal case with Moira Deeming.