Vaile was born in Sydney and worked as a farm machinery retailer and stock and station and real-estate agent before entering politics.

Labor had taken a large first-count lead which it held for most of the night, but Vaile won after Liberal preferences flowed overwhelmingly to him.

There was also much criticism of the adoption of a US-style technological protection measures – particularly as the High Court of Australia was considering the matter of Stevens v Sony.

There was also controversy over the evergreening of pharmaceutical drug patents and access to essential medicines under the US–Australia Free Trade Agreement.

He also faced the difficult task of placating his back bench, with Queensland Senator Barnaby Joyce having crossed the floor on more than one occasion.

On 24 September 2006 he switched portfolios with deputy Nationals leader Warren Truss and became Minister for Transport and Regional Services.

Following the coalition's defeat at the 2007 federal election, Vaile resigned his position as Nationals leader and moved to the backbench.

[7] The ensuing by-election was won by independent Rob Oakeshott, the former state member for Port Macquarie and a former Vaile staffer.