From Daily Escape

Chris Marshall
Prime Minister of Australia Member for Forde
Term of office 8 October 2007 - present
Political party	Liberal Democratic Party of Australia
Preceded by	Malcolm Hawke
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	18 January 1959 (age 48)
Spouse	Annita Marshall (née van Iersel)
Profession	Lawyer, politician
Religion	Catholicism
Languages	English, Bahasa Indonesia, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, German

Key Dates

• December 1, 1984: Marshall elected as Member for Forde
• 11 July 1987: 1987 Federal Election; Liberal Democrats push the Liberals/Nationals out of Opposition to Third Party status. Marshall appointed to the Opposition Frontbench, Shadow Minister of Trade
• 1988: Marshall mounts unsuccessful leadership challenge against Robert Snedden
• 1989: Marshall backs Malcolm Hawke againstr Snedden, Hawke successful, and appoints Marshall Shadow Minister of Foriegn Affairs
• 24 March 1990: 1990 Federal Election; Liberal Democrats under Hawke defeat the Australian Labor Party (led by Bob Hughes). Marshall commissioned as Minister of Foreign Affairs
• 13 March 1993: 1993 Federal Election; Liberal Democrats gain control of the Senate, Marshall becomes Minister of Defence
• 2 March 1996: 1996 Federal Election; Liberal Democrat majority in House of Reps falls to a 15 seat majority, Marshall becomes Treasurer
• September 2005: Marshall elected Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party
• October 2007:
  • Corruption inquiry finds evidence of massive cash political donations to Prime Minister Malcolm Hawke.
  • PM's explaination fails to satisfy inquiry. Other witnesses from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
  • Marshall calls for leadershiop ballot
  • Hawke advises Governor General to dismiss Marshall, the Governor General refused.
• 8 October 2007: Marshall wins leadership ballot overwhelmingly
  • Tony Abbott informed the Prime Minister of the result. In the normal course of events, Hawke would have been required to resign as Prime Minister, and advise the Governor-General that Marshall was in position for form a government. Instead, Malcolm Hawke took a revolver from his desk drawer, and shot himself in the head. As Deputy Prime Minister, Marshall became Acting-Prime Minister. He advised the Governor General that he had the confidence of both Houses of Parliament, and could form a government. At 4:25pm, Governor General Major General Michael Jeffery commissioned Marshall as Prime Minister of Australia.