13 Facts About Michael Wooldridge

Michael Richard Lewis Wooldridge was born on 7 November 1956 and is an Australian doctor, company director, and former politician.

Michael Wooldridge served as deputy leader of the Liberal Party from 1993 to 1994, under John Hewson.

Michael Wooldridge represented the Liberals in the House of Representatives as the member for Chisholm and Casey.

Michael Wooldridge attended Scotch College, Melbourne, and Monash University's medical school, from where he graduated in 1981.

Michael Wooldridge was 36 years old when he became deputy opposition leader, becoming the youngest person to hold the position.

Hewson lost to Alexander Downer while Wooldridge withdrew at the last minute as it became clear he did not have the numbers to beat Downer's running mate Peter Costello.

In 1996, the Liberal and National Parties were elected to Government and Michael Wooldridge served as Minister for Health and Family Services from 1996 to 1998 and Minister for Health and Aged Care from 1998 up to his retirement in 2001.

Michael Wooldridge was forced to make a public apology to the President of the Australian Medical Association at the time, Kerryn Phelps in 2001 for publicly claiming she had no medical qualifications.

Michael Wooldridge was criticised for appointing Pat Clear, a former executive of Glaxo-Wellcome Australia who had recently retired as head of Medicines Australia to the committee of the PBAC, prompting the immediate resignation of the Chair of the committee, Emeritus Professor Don Birkett, and leading to the refusal of five of the other committee members to be reappointed.

Michael Wooldridge has served on the Boards of Resonance Health Ltd, Dia-b Tech Limited and a Director of CogState Ltd.

Michael Wooldridge is currently Chairman of Neurosciences Australia, Healthsource Australia, the CRC for Mental Health and the Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre.

Michael Wooldridge is Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne.

Michael Wooldridge has served on the board of the anti-wind energy activism organisation, the Waubra Foundation, along with other prominent anti-wind energy activists, including Sarah Laurie, Peter Mitchell, and Kathy Russell.