Michael was first elected to the House of Assembly in 1972 at the age of 22.

Michael was Government Whip in 1974 and held that position until 1976 when he was elected to Cabinet.

Between 1976 and 1980 he was Minister for Child Care and Welfare; Minister Assisting the Premier; Minister for Mines, National Parks and Wildlife, Lands and the Tasmanian Government Insurance Office and Government Printer's Office.

From 1980 – 1986 Michael was Chairman of the Parliamentary Labor Party.

From 1986 – 1989 Michael was Shadow Minister for Main Roads and Shadow Minister for Mines.

From 1989 – 1992 he was Speaker of the House of Assembly.

From 1992 – 1998 he was Shadow Minister for Tourism, Local Government and Licensing.

He is a former member of the National Executive of the Australian Labor Party.

Michael is the current Speaker of the House of Assembly, a position he has held since 1998.

Michael is married to Kim Polley (Mayor, Northern Midlands Council). They have three children, Timothy, Roderick and Isabel.

Interests include travel, antiques, political history and gardening.

Michael was educated by the Sisters of St. Joseph and has participated in his church and particularly supporting church welfare organisations throughout his life.

Larger image

Lyons was named after Joseph Aloysius (1879-1939) and Dame Enid Lyons (1897-1981). Joseph Lyons was Prime Minister of Australia (1932-1939). Dame Enid was the first woman elected to the House of Representatives in 1943 and the first woman to reach Cabinet rank as Vice-President of the Executive Council in 1949.

Lyons has an area of approximately 40 604 sq km and is the largest division in Tasmania covering most of the State from the west to the east coasts and from Beaconsfield township in the north to New Norfolk and the Tasman Peninsula region in the south. The main towns include Beaconsfield, Brighton, Campbell Town, Deloraine, Evandale, Exeter, Fingal, Longford, Midway Point, New Norfolk, Oatlands, Perth, Queenstown, Rosebery, Richmond, St Helens, Swansea, Sheffield, Sorell, Triabunna and Westbury.

Products and industries of the area cover fishing, forestry, wool, cattle (dairy and beef), fruit, wine, hydro-power generation, mining and tourism.