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Rodney Jon (Rod) Welford (born 30 September 1958) is a former Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1989 to 2009.

Welford entered state parliament as the member for Stafford at the 1989 state election. He switched to the district of Everton at the 1992 state election, which he held until his decision not to stand for re-election at the State election in 2009.

Welford served in a number of portfolios in the Labor governments of Premiers Peter Beattie and Anna Bligh. He was the Minister for Environment & Heritage and Minister for Natural Resources from 1998 to 2001. He was the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice from 2001 to 2005. He was the Minister for Education and Minister for the Arts from 2005 to 2009, as well as the Minister for Training from 2006 to 2009.

Before serving as a State Minister, he had led a Ministerial Review of Sports Funding (1990-91) leading to the creation of the Queensland Academy of Sport and chaired the Government Sustainable Energy Advisory Group (1994-95), a joint government-industry committee, which undertook projects providing the foundation for subsequent government grants programs to subsidise the installation of household solar water heaters and remote area solar power systems.

As a Minister, his focus on active policy development attracted recognition for innovative policy initiatives. For example, while responsible for the environment and natural resources portfolio, he established the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency, took action protect biodiversity and reduce greenhouse emissions by introducing ground-breaking legislation to stem broadscale land clearing, created the first large scale water efficiency program in the nation, legislated to protect environmental health of river systems and forged a historic Regional Forest Agreement between the government, timber industry and conservation movement which secured sustainable timber production while expanding the national park estate by more than 400,000 hectares. He was the Australian State Government representative at the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development in 2000.

Since leaving Parliament, Welford has become an honorary member of the Board of the International River Foundation, patron of the Centre for Research, Innovation and Future Development at St Paul's School and was recently appointed national Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Council of Recyclers (ACOR). ACOR is the peak industry body representing all major recycling and resource recovery companies in Australia.

[edit] Before Parliament

Welford was born in Brisbane. He was a prominent solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and barrister of the High Court of Australia prior to entering parliament. His qualifications are Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours), Bachelor of Laws, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Graduate Diploma in Industrial Relations and a Master of Science (Environmental Management).

Welford has been active in his community as a member of the Royal Lifesaving Society and a branch, state and national medal winner for his Surf Life Saving Club Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park on the Gold Coast. He was the first honorary State Education Officer of the Surf Life Saving Association and Technical Director of the Royal Life Saving Society in the early 1980's. He also worked as a professional lifeguard for the Gold Coast City Council while completing university studies.

He was subsequently the patron of the Albany Creek Junior Rugby League Football Club, the Pine Hills Sports Club and the Mitchelton Senior Citizens Association. He is the sole parent of a daughter who has Down's Syndrome. His personal interests include philosophy, permaculture, environmental design, swimming, surfing and the performing arts.

[edit] External links

Official Biography

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