Mark Butler has been a Labor Member in the Federal Parliament since 2007 and is the federal Minister for Health and Aged Care. He served as the Member for Port Adelaide from 2007 – 2019 and after a federal redistribution, which saw the abolition of the seat of Port Adelaide, he was elected as the Member for Hindmarsh in 2019.

Mark served as Minister for Ageing and Australia’s first Minister for Mental Health in the Gillard Government. He has also held the ministries of Housing, Homelessness, Social Inclusion, Climate Change, Water and the Environment.

Before Mark was elected to parliament, he worked for some of the most disadvantaged people in the community as an official with United Voice for over 15 years, including 11 years as State Secretary.

In 2003 he was awarded the Centenary Medal for services to trade unionism.

In 2013 Mark was awarded the Alzheimer’s Disease International Award for Outstanding Global Contribution to the Fight Against Dementia.

Mark served as President of the South Australian Branch of the ALP from 1997- 1998 and as a member of the ALP National Executive from 2000 to 2014. He served as Labor’s National President from 2015-2018; he is currently the Senior Vice President.

Mark is the author of Advanced Australia - The Politics of Ageing, published in 2015; and Climate Wars, published in 2017.

Following the election of the Albanese Labor government in May 2022, Mark was appointed as Minister for Health and Aged Care.

Mark holds a First Class Honours Law degree, an Arts degree and a Master’s degree in International Relations. He lives in West Lakes, and has three children. He is a keen supporter of Port Adelaide Football Club.