Senators
Senator The Hon. Ron Boswell
Senator for Queensland
Biography
Ron Boswell was first elected to the Senate as The Nationals representative for Queensland in 1983. He has been re-elected at every election contested since, most recently at the 2007 Federal election.
‘Bozzie’, as he’s affectionately known, held the position of Leader of The Nationals in the Senate from 1990 until 2007. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minster for Transport and Regional Services from 1999 to 2003, and held various positions in the Shadow Ministry from 1988 to 1994.
In February 1998, Ron was chosen as The Nationals representative to the Constitutional Convention and was a leading figure in the ‘no’ vote campaign for the 1999 referendum on whether Australia should become a republic. He remains a staunch supporter of Australia’s constitutional monarchy and.
A manufacturer’s agent in his own small business before entering parliament, Senator Boswell has been an active campaigner for rural, small business, social conservative and family causes. Over 23 years Senate service, Senator Boswell has championed a raft of legislative changes for these constituencies.
Senator Boswell’s achievements for Queensland include:
- Helping secure $5 billion of telecommunications infrastructure and services for regional communities and the $2 billion perpetual rural telecommunications fund.
- Protecting local small businesses such as newsagencies, taxi operators, hoteliers and pharmacies from full deregulation.
- Campaigning for the establishment of an ethanol industry through flexible volumetric targets for biofuel use and excise relief.
- Helping secure a range of structural adjustment packages for the sugar, dairy, tobacco and fishing industries.
- Implementation of a Mandatory Code of Conduct for transactions in the horticulture industry.
- A Parliamentary inquiry into the retail sector which led to the creation of a Retail Industry Code of Conduct and industry Ombudsman.
- Changes to the Trade Practices Act to prohibit mergers or takeovers that substantially reduce competition in a market; to allow collective bargaining by farmers and small business; and to protect small business from misuse of market power and unconscionable conduct.
- Providing a conservative voice on social issues.
