The Hon Gary Hardgrave MP - Conference Speaker

Gary Hardgrave was first elected to the House of Representatives as Member for Moreton, Queensland, in 1996. He was re-elected in 1998, 2001 and 2004.

Mr Hardgrave was appointed as Australia's first Federal Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs on 26 November 2001.

Mr Hardgrave was re-appointed to the Ministry as Australia’s first ever Minister for Vocational and Technical Education in October 2004 - with responsibility for implementing the Prime Minister’s election commitment to establish Australian Technical Colleges. Minister Hardgrave also has responsibility for the Australian Government’s role in vocational and technical education including national arrangements for training and supporting new apprentices.

In addition, Mr Hardgrave has also held the position of Minister Assisting the Prime Minister since October 2003.

Mr Hardgrave worked as a rock 'n' roll DJ on the then top-rating Brisbane radio station, 4IP, in the late 1970s. He switched to television in the 1980s, working on the children's show Wombat before becoming a reporter for four years on Seven's Brisbane-based current affairs show State Affair and for 10 months in the Brisbane bureau of the ABC's 7.30 Report before returning to Channel 7 in 1988.

Between 1989 and 1996, Mr Hardgrave worked as a media adviser to a Qld State Liberal MLA and then as media adviser to Liberal Senator.

In 1995 he graduated from part-time studies at Griffith University (BComm), and was also awarded a Diploma of Market Research by the Market Research Society of Australia (Dip MR) for work completed.

The primary and secondary schools and university Mr Hardgrave attended are all within his electorate of Moreton. He has lived in his electorate for more than 34 years.

Mr Hardgrave has two high school-aged children, Jessica and Ben.