John Hatton
Encyclopedia
John Edward Hatton AO
(born 29 May 1933) is former Australia
n politician
, and an National Trust of Australia
nominated Australian Living Treasure
. He was the independent member of the New South Wales
State parliament "lower house"
for to the seat of South Coast
from 1973 to 1995. Notably, the allegations about police corruption Hatton raised in Parliament resulted in the Wood Royal Commission. He is currently a social activist in his local community.
, New South Wales
, the son of Harry and Florence Hatton. He was educated at Hammondville Public School, Hurlstone Agricultural High School and Armidale Teachers' College.
of the NSW Shire of Shoalhaven before his entry into state politics. Hatton was the Foundation President and President for 15 years of the Shoalhaven Combined Progress Associations.
Hatton was the member for the New South Wales state lower house seat of South Coast
from 17 November 1973 to 27 February 1995 In 1976 Hatton polled 21,895 of 28,305 formal votes. Shortly after becoming elected Hatton donated a parliamentary pay rise to charity because it hadn't been granted by an independent body. John Hatton was elected as an Independent for this seat for 22 years through the Askin, Willis, Wran, Unsworth, Greiner and Fahey governments to 1995. He used parliamentary privilege to expose organised crime in the Griffith mafia, police corruption and malfeasance within government departments and agencies. In 1994, by 46 votes to 45, he forced the minority Fahey Government to override the Independent Commission Against Corruption to establish a ground-breaking Royal Commission into Police Corruption, the Wood Royal Commission.
[Upper House] at the NSW State Election on Saturday 26 March 2011. His running mate is small business owner and Community Independent Ian Scandrett who is #2 on the ticket. The grouping of candidates will be known as the John Hatton Independents Team.
AO
-Science and technology:* .ao, top-level Internet domain code for Angola* Adaptive optics, an astronomical imaging technology* Arctic oscillation, a climate pattern* The AMSAT-OSCAR satellite naming convention...
(born 29 May 1933) is former Australia
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and an National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
nominated Australian Living Treasure
Australian Living Treasures
Australian Living Treasures are people who have been nominated by the National Trust of Australia. The first list of 100 Living Treasures was published in 1997....
. He was the independent member of the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
State parliament "lower house"
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
for to the seat of South Coast
Electoral district of South Coast
South Coast is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Shelley Hancock of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for South Coast:-Election results:...
from 1973 to 1995. Notably, the allegations about police corruption Hatton raised in Parliament resulted in the Wood Royal Commission. He is currently a social activist in his local community.
Early life
John Hatton was born in HammondvilleHammondville, New South Wales
Hammondville is a suburb, in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Hammondville is located 31 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Liverpool.- History :...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, the son of Harry and Florence Hatton. He was educated at Hammondville Public School, Hurlstone Agricultural High School and Armidale Teachers' College.
Local government
Hatton was the PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the NSW Shire of Shoalhaven before his entry into state politics. Hatton was the Foundation President and President for 15 years of the Shoalhaven Combined Progress Associations.
State parliamentary career
Electoral district of South Coast
South Coast is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Shelley Hancock of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for South Coast:-Election results:...
from 17 November 1973 to 27 February 1995 In 1976 Hatton polled 21,895 of 28,305 formal votes. Shortly after becoming elected Hatton donated a parliamentary pay rise to charity because it hadn't been granted by an independent body. John Hatton was elected as an Independent for this seat for 22 years through the Askin, Willis, Wran, Unsworth, Greiner and Fahey governments to 1995. He used parliamentary privilege to expose organised crime in the Griffith mafia, police corruption and malfeasance within government departments and agencies. In 1994, by 46 votes to 45, he forced the minority Fahey Government to override the Independent Commission Against Corruption to establish a ground-breaking Royal Commission into Police Corruption, the Wood Royal Commission.
Later life
Hatton continues to advocate for his local community. In 2009 he called for a Royal Commission into property and planning corruption in NSW.Return to politics
1 September 2010, John Hatton announced his intent to stand with a team of 21 independents for the New South Wales Legislative CouncilNew South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
[Upper House] at the NSW State Election on Saturday 26 March 2011. His running mate is small business owner and Community Independent Ian Scandrett who is #2 on the ticket. The grouping of candidates will be known as the John Hatton Independents Team.
Honours received
- Officer of Order of Australia, General DivisionOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, 1999. - Churchill Fellow 1989
- Jaycees Australia's Outstanding Young Man of the Year Award, Darwin 1970