Mike Horan

Horan entered politics at the 1991 by-election.[3] He replaced property developer and Toowoomba Mayor Clive Berghofer, who had previously held the seat for the National Party until the state's electoral laws were amended to prevent simultaneous service in state parliamentary and local government authority positions.[4] Mike Horan served as Health Minister in the Borbidge Government 1996–98

Horan was made leader of the National Party and Opposition from 2 March 2001 until 4 February 2003 after Rob Borbidge's retirement from politics.[1] He was replaced as leader by Lawrence Springborg after he failed to gain ground on Peter Beattie.[5] Horan became the first leader of his party who did not become Premier since Ted Maher (served 1936-41 when the party was then called the Country Party).

He became a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland in 2008 and served in the Queensland Parliament as Shadow Attorney-General, Shadow Minister for Justice and Racing, Shadow Minister for Open Government between 30 September 2008 and 5 April 2009.[1] On 6 April 2009, he was appointed to the position of Opposition Whip.[6]

Horan stood down at the 2012 state election.

Prior to entering parliament, Horan was employed as the General Manager of the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland and General Manager of the Toowoomba Greyhound Racing Club.[1]

Horan captained the Australian Universities rugby union team, and played for the Parramatta Eels rugby league team in Sydney from 1968 to 1970, before moving to Gympie, Queensland to run a dairy farm.[7]

Horan is married with two sons and a daughter.[3] His son, Tim Horan, is a former Australian rugby union footballer.[3][8]