Bob Such
Encyclopedia
Robert Bruce "Bob" Such Australia
n politician, is the member for the seat of Fisher
in the South Australian House of Assembly
, as an independent
since 2000, and as member of the Liberal Party
member from the 1989 election
to 2000.
Such grew up in Hawthorndene, South Australia and attended Coromandel Valley Primary School and Goodwood Boys Technical High School. Before entering politics, Such was a Teacher/Lecturer and Researcher in the fields of politics, economics and the environment, at what is now the University of South Australia. His first job at the age of 14 was working on a farm at Alford on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula. Before and during the early stages of his role in Parliament, Such was also a Councillor for the City of Mitcham.
During his time with the Liberal Party Such took on several high profile portfolios. He was the Shadow Minister for Further Education, Employment and Youth Affairs (May 1992- December 1993) and when the Government was elected in 1993, became the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education and the Minister for Youth Affairs (December 1993- December 1996). In 1996 the premier Dean Brown
deposed by John Olsen
in a coup and Such was moved to the back bench.
In 2000 Such began to voice discontent with the Liberal Government, notably the contrast between its 'obsession with money' and spending on dubious projects. Meanwhile, Such allowed membership of his local party branch to wane leaving his preselection for Fisher susceptible a takeover bid. When former Federal MP Susan Jeanes
announced her intention to challenge for preselection, Such quit the Liberal Party disgruntled at the lack of support from his parliamentary colleagues. .
Bob Such retained the seat as an Independent in the 2002 election
on a primary vote of 33.5 percent, with a final two party margin of 12.1 percent against the Jeanes after receiving Labor
preferences. The Liberals had placed Bob Such in fifth place on the ticket, behind the Labor candidate. After the election Labor was one MP short of a majority with three elected Independent MPs holding the balance of power. As Peter Lewis
had backed Labor, the electorate responded with a preference for a Rann government on the grounds of stability. The Kerin government ended when Parliament resumed in March 2002 when Peter Lewis chose to support a Labor government.
After becoming an Independent, Bob Such was elected to the position of Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees between February 2002 and April 2005 and the Speaker
of the House of Assembly from April 2005 to April 2006.
While not voting to put the Rann Government in office, this Labor Government during 2002-2006 cultivated the support of Bob Such, often described as a "small-l" liberal independent, who served as Deputy Speaker before taking on the Speaker's role for the remainder of the term following Peter Lewis' departure from the position.
The collapse of the Liberal vote at the 2006 state election
saw Bob Such face a Labor rather than Liberal candidate on the two party preferred vote. Dr Such received a primary vote of 45.2 percent, an increase of 11.7 percent. His primary vote was 18.8 percent more than Labor, and 26.7 percent more than the Liberals. He holds the seat with a margin of 16.7 percent. His margin was practically unchanged at the 2010 election, on 16.6 percent.
Such has been a Member of many parliamentary committees, including the Environment, Resources and Development Committee, Social Development Committee, and the Economic and Finance Committee. He is a member of numerous community and school groups, including several focused on the environment, e.g. the Nature Conservation Society of SA Inc., the Nature Foundation SA Inc., and the Parklands Preservation Society.
Such gained a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economics and Politics and a PhD from Flinders University in Environmental Politics, a Diploma of Teaching from what is now the University of South Australia and a Diploma of Education from the University of Adelaide. He has completed part of a law degree.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician, is the member for the seat of Fisher
Electoral district of Fisher
Fisher is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after James Fisher, a colonial politician and the first mayor of Adelaide...
in the South Australian House of Assembly
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
, as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
since 2000, and as member of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member from the 1989 election
South Australian state election, 1989
State elections were held in Australia on November 25, 1989. All 47 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Premier of South Australia John Bannon defeated the Liberal Party of Australia led by Leader of the Opposition John...
to 2000.
Such grew up in Hawthorndene, South Australia and attended Coromandel Valley Primary School and Goodwood Boys Technical High School. Before entering politics, Such was a Teacher/Lecturer and Researcher in the fields of politics, economics and the environment, at what is now the University of South Australia. His first job at the age of 14 was working on a farm at Alford on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula. Before and during the early stages of his role in Parliament, Such was also a Councillor for the City of Mitcham.
During his time with the Liberal Party Such took on several high profile portfolios. He was the Shadow Minister for Further Education, Employment and Youth Affairs (May 1992- December 1993) and when the Government was elected in 1993, became the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education and the Minister for Youth Affairs (December 1993- December 1996). In 1996 the premier Dean Brown
Dean Brown
Dean Craig Brown, AO was the Liberal Premier of South Australia between 14 December 1993 and 28 November 1996, and Deputy Premier of South Australia between 22 October 2001 and 5 March 2002 to Rob Kerin.-Political career:...
deposed by John Olsen
John Olsen
John Wayne Olsen, AO was Premier of South Australia between 28 November 1996 and 22 October 2001.-Parliament:Olsen was a member of the Liberal Party and Member of Parliament for more than 20 years...
in a coup and Such was moved to the back bench.
In 2000 Such began to voice discontent with the Liberal Government, notably the contrast between its 'obsession with money' and spending on dubious projects. Meanwhile, Such allowed membership of his local party branch to wane leaving his preselection for Fisher susceptible a takeover bid. When former Federal MP Susan Jeanes
Susan Jeanes
Susan Barbara Jeanes was an Australian Liberal Party Member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Kingston from 1996 to 1998. She won the seat from Gordon Bilney in the 1996 general election where the Liberal party took power from the Labor party...
announced her intention to challenge for preselection, Such quit the Liberal Party disgruntled at the lack of support from his parliamentary colleagues. .
Bob Such retained the seat as an Independent in the 2002 election
South Australian legislative election, 2002
State elections were held in South Australia on 9 February 2002. All 47 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Premier of South Australia Rob Kerin was defeated by the Australian Labor Party led by Leader of the...
on a primary vote of 33.5 percent, with a final two party margin of 12.1 percent against the Jeanes after receiving Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
preferences. The Liberals had placed Bob Such in fifth place on the ticket, behind the Labor candidate. After the election Labor was one MP short of a majority with three elected Independent MPs holding the balance of power. As Peter Lewis
Peter Lewis (politician)
Ivan Peter Lewis is an Australian politician. Lewis was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly between 1979 and 2006 in the electorates of Hammond, Ridley, Murray-Mallee and Mallee. Between 1979 and 2000 he was in the House as a Liberal member. From 2000 until 2006 he served as an...
had backed Labor, the electorate responded with a preference for a Rann government on the grounds of stability. The Kerin government ended when Parliament resumed in March 2002 when Peter Lewis chose to support a Labor government.
After becoming an Independent, Bob Such was elected to the position of Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees between February 2002 and April 2005 and the Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the House of Assembly from April 2005 to April 2006.
While not voting to put the Rann Government in office, this Labor Government during 2002-2006 cultivated the support of Bob Such, often described as a "small-l" liberal independent, who served as Deputy Speaker before taking on the Speaker's role for the remainder of the term following Peter Lewis' departure from the position.
The collapse of the Liberal vote at the 2006 state election
South Australian legislative election, 2006
The state election for the 51st Parliament of South Australia was held in the Australian state of South Australia on 18 March 2006, and was conducted by the independent State Electoral Office.-House of Assembly:...
saw Bob Such face a Labor rather than Liberal candidate on the two party preferred vote. Dr Such received a primary vote of 45.2 percent, an increase of 11.7 percent. His primary vote was 18.8 percent more than Labor, and 26.7 percent more than the Liberals. He holds the seat with a margin of 16.7 percent. His margin was practically unchanged at the 2010 election, on 16.6 percent.
Such has been a Member of many parliamentary committees, including the Environment, Resources and Development Committee, Social Development Committee, and the Economic and Finance Committee. He is a member of numerous community and school groups, including several focused on the environment, e.g. the Nature Conservation Society of SA Inc., the Nature Foundation SA Inc., and the Parklands Preservation Society.
Such gained a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economics and Politics and a PhD from Flinders University in Environmental Politics, a Diploma of Teaching from what is now the University of South Australia and a Diploma of Education from the University of Adelaide. He has completed part of a law degree.