Michael Yabsley

Who is Michael Yabsley?

Michael Robert Yabsley is a former Australian politician. He was a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Bligh from 1984 to 1988 and Vaucluse from 1988 to 1994.

Yabsley was born in Lismore, and attended private schools in the area. He attended the Australian National University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in political science. He went on to work as a public relations manager for the Livestock and Grain Producers Association. On 5 November 1983, he married Susan Clatworthy, with whom he would have two children.

Yabsley was a candidate for the 1980 federal election for Fraser for the Liberal Party, but was defeated by Labor's Ken Fry. In 1984, Yabsley defeated Labor MP Fred Miller to win the seat of Bligh for the Liberal Party. However, in 1988 he was defeated by Independent candidate Clover Moore. The death of Ray Aston, the Liberal member for Vaucluse, allowed Yabsley to re-enter parliament; he was elected unopposed in the by-election. He was immediately made Minister for Corrective Services, and in 1991 was promoted to Minister for State Development and Tourism. He left the ministry in 1992 and resigned from parliament in 1994.