Biography

Parliamentary service

Michael O’Brien was elected to the Parliament of Victoria as the Member for Malvern in November 2006 and was immediately appointed to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Gaming.

You can read Michael’s maiden (first) parliamentary speech here.

Michael added the Consumer Affairs portfolio to his Shadow Ministerial responsibilities in August 2007.

In November 2009, Michael was also appointed Shadow Minister for Energy & Resources, Exports & Trade, and Infrastructure & Public-Private Partnerships.

Michael was re-elected in 2010 and appointed as the Minister for Energy & Resources, Minister for Gaming and Minister for Consumer Affairs.

On 13 March 2013 Michael was appointed Treasurer of Victoria.

Education and prior experience

Michael was educated at Marcellin College, Bulleen and the University of Melbourne where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours).

Michael undertook his articled clerkship at Molomby & Molomby (now Middletons) and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia.  Following completion of articles, Michael practised as a lawyer specialising in industrial and employment law with Deacons (now Norton Rose).

In 1999 Michael was appointed to the personal staff of the then-Federal Treasurer, the Hon. Peter Costello, for whom he was legal counsel and senior adviser until 2004.  In that role Michael advised on competition and corporate law, market regulation, microeconomic reform and various taxation matters.

In 2004, Michael signed the Roll of Counsel of the Victorian Bar and established a busy practice with a focus on commercial law, trade practices, insurance and corporate law.  As a barrister Michael also lectured in trade practices and undertook pro bono work.

Personal

Michael was born in Dublin, Ireland in August 1971.  Michael lives in his Malvern electorate with his wife and their two children. He follows the Carlton Football Club.