John Devereux
Encyclopedia
John Robert Devereux was an Australian Labor Party
, and later independent, Senator for Tasmania from 1987 to 1996.
He was first nominated to fill the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Don Grimes
in April 1987. However, his nomination was rejected by a tied vote in the Tasmanian Parliament
. As one Tasmanian Minister argued: "we can choose only a person who is a member of the same party ... but we are not bound to accept the nomination of the party concerned". Following a double dissolution of the Commonwealth Parliament, he was elected at the election of 11 July 1987.
From 24 to 27 January 1994, thirty protesters from the Tasmanian Wilderness Society
(TWS) blockaded Riveaux Road in the Picton Valley in Tasmania to prevent logging of woodland. The then Tasmanian Premier, Ray Groom
, and Tasmanian Forestry Commission Chief, Bob Gordon, claimed that the adjacent wilderness forests were not old-growth, but re-growth, because a wildfire went through the area approximately 100 years ago. At the blockade, Senator Devereux announced his resignation from the ALP in protest against its policies on forest issues.
Devereux served out the rest of his term, from 1994 until 1996, as an independent Senator.
He lives in Tasmania with his wife Glynis. His three children, all married, also live in Tasmania. He is currently the CEO of the Tasmanian Pacing Club.
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...
, and later independent, Senator for Tasmania from 1987 to 1996.
He was first nominated to fill the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Don Grimes
Don Grimes
Donald James "Don" Grimes AO is an Australian former politician. He was a minister in the Labor government of Bob Hawke.-Biography:...
in April 1987. However, his nomination was rejected by a tied vote in the Tasmanian Parliament
Parliament of Tasmania
The Parliament of Tasmania consists of the Tasmanian Legislative Council, Tasmanian House of Assembly and the Monarch represented by the Governor of Tasmania....
. As one Tasmanian Minister argued: "we can choose only a person who is a member of the same party ... but we are not bound to accept the nomination of the party concerned". Following a double dissolution of the Commonwealth Parliament, he was elected at the election of 11 July 1987.
From 24 to 27 January 1994, thirty protesters from the Tasmanian Wilderness Society
The Wilderness Society (Australia)
The Wilderness Society is an Australian, community-based, not-for-profit non-governmental environmental advocacy organisation. Its purpose is to protect, promote and restore wilderness and natural processes across Australia for the survival and ongoing evolution of life on Earth.It is a...
(TWS) blockaded Riveaux Road in the Picton Valley in Tasmania to prevent logging of woodland. The then Tasmanian Premier, Ray Groom
Ray Groom
Raymond John "Ray" Groom, AO is a lawyer and former Australian sportsman and politician, representing the Liberal Party in the Federal Parliament 1975–84 and the Tasmanian Parliament 1986–2001. He was a Federal and state minister for a total of 13 years...
, and Tasmanian Forestry Commission Chief, Bob Gordon, claimed that the adjacent wilderness forests were not old-growth, but re-growth, because a wildfire went through the area approximately 100 years ago. At the blockade, Senator Devereux announced his resignation from the ALP in protest against its policies on forest issues.
Devereux served out the rest of his term, from 1994 until 1996, as an independent Senator.
He lives in Tasmania with his wife Glynis. His three children, all married, also live in Tasmania. He is currently the CEO of the Tasmanian Pacing Club.