Mark Vaile
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Mark Anthony James Vaile (born 18 April 1956), Australian politician, has been a National Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1993, representing the Division of Lyne, New South Wales. He was born in Sydney, New South Wales and worked as a farm machinery retailer and stock and station and real estate agent before entering politics. He was a member of the Greater Taree City Council 1985-93. He is expected to become leader of the Nationals and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia following the resignation in June 2005 of John Anderson [1] (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15703128-2,00.html).
Vaile was Assistant National Party Whip 1994-96 and National Party Whip 1996-97. In 1997 he was appointed Minister for Transport and Regional Development, and in 1998 he became Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. In July 1999, following the resignation of Tim Fischer and the election of John Anderson as National Party leader, he was elected the party's Deputy Leader and became Minister for Trade.
Vaile is generally regarded as a competent ministerial performer and will succeed Anderson as National Party when Anderson quits politics. His most difficult challenge has been the negotiation of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which has been opposed by some traditional National Party constituencies such as the sugar industry.