10 Facts About Gary Hardgrave

Gary Hardgrave was a minister in the Howard government from 2001 to 2007, and later served as Administrator of Norfolk Island from 2014 to 2017.

Gary Hardgrave initially ran for election to the Queensland state seat of Sunnybank in the 1992 election, but lost.

Gary Hardgrave contested the Division of Moreton successfully at the 1996 federal election against Labor incumbent Garrie Gibson, going on to retain the seat in 1998,2001 and 2004.

Gary Hardgrave served as Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs from 2001 to 2004, Minister for Vocational and Technical Education between October 2004 to early 2007 and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister from 7 October 2003 to 30 January 2007.

On 23 January 2007, Gary Hardgrave was axed from the ministry and returned to the backbench.

Gary Hardgrave lost his seat to Graham Perrett in the 2007 election.

In March 2008, Gary Hardgrave returned to media and corporate activities.

Since leaving Parliament, Gary Hardgrave graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors' course and served on a variety of company and community boards including Brisbane Airport Corporation and TAFE Queensland.

Gary Hardgrave's term commenced on 1 July 2014, and he was Administrator when Norfolk Island lost its self-governing status.

Gary Hardgrave later went on to host a 'Sky After Dark' political opinion show on conservative television station Sky News Australia, where he is a regular critic of among other things, Labor Party MPs and action on climate change.