Senator Ian Macdonald is a Senator based in North Queensland with his office in Townsville and is currently the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader of the Opposition, Northern Australia.

He is the former Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation and a former Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government. He has also been Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment.

Senator Macdonald previously Chaired the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission, was a member of the Senate Standing Committee on the Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts and a member of the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport. He was also a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Treaties.

Prior to entering politics Senator Macdonald was a lawyer with offices in Ayr, Bowen and Airlie beach and for 11 years was an elected Councillor on the Burdekin Shire Council.

As Fisheries Minister Senator Macdonald chaired a meeting of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation on illegal fishing in 2005.

Early in 2007, he was appointed to the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce which inter alia follows up on many intitatives rasied during the Northern Australia Forum which he initiated when Minister for Regional Services.

Senator Macdonald has lead the Liberal Party Senate Team at elections in 1990, 1996, 2001 and 2007.

Prior to his election, Senator Macdonald held many senior positions in the Liberal Party organisation in Queensland and has been involved in a wide range of sporting, community and business organisations in North Queensland.

He lives in Ayr in the Burdekin region of North Queensland with his wife of 30 years, Lesley.