Jon Stanhope
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Ronald Stanhope (born 29 April 1951) is a former Australian politician who was Labor
Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
from 2001 to 2011. Stanhope represented the Ginninderra electorate
in the ACT Legislative Assembly
from 1998 until 2011. He resigned as Chief Minister on 12 May 2011 and as a member of the ACT Legislative Assembly on 16 May 2011. Stanhope is the only ACT Chief Minister to have governed with a majority in the ACT assembly.
. One of nine children of schoolteacher parents, much of his junior education was spent at one-teacher schools in country NSW. He attended Mullumbimby Public School and Bega High School before coming to Canberra to undertake studies at the Australian National University
, graduating as a Bachelor of Laws.
Between 1979 and 1987, Stanhope held a range of community roles including:
Between 1987 and 1991, Stanhope was Secretary of the House of Representatives
Standing Committee
on Legal and Constitutional Affairs; and between 1991 and 1993, Deputy administrator and official secretary of Norfolk Island. From 1993 to 1996, Stanhope worked as Senior Adviser and Chief of Staff for the Federal Attorney-General
, Michael Lavarch
, and between 1996 and 1998, advised the then Federal Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley
on native title.
representing the Ginninderra electorate
at the 1998 ACT general election
and was immediately elected Opposition Leader by the Labor caucus.
At the 2001 ACT general election
, Stanhope defeated the Liberal
government of Gary Humphries
, although with a hung parliament
, and was elected Chief Minister. In the lead-up to the election, Stanhope played a major role in the Bruce Stadium affair that led to the resignation of the former Chief Minister, Kate Carnell
.
On 13 January 2003, Stanhope helped rescue a helicopter pilot who had crashed in a dam during a firefighting operation. Stanhope, who was in a second helicopter with crew and the ACT head of the bushfire services, Peter Lucas-Smith, had responded to the stricken pilot's Mayday
call. The man had suffered serious head injuries and was taken to the Canberra Hospital in a critical condition. After the rescue Stanhope praised the emergency services: "It provided to me a very stark awareness of the enormous risks that many in our community take, the extent to which so many people put their lives on their line to ensure the protection of our communities".
Canberra was hit by bushfires in January 2003
. Four people died and 500 houses were destroyed. Stanhope faced a no-confidence motion in the Assembly from the Liberal opposition, which if passed meant he would have been forced to resign as Chief Minister. Instead, the motion was downgraded to a censure motion by the combined vote of the ALP and the Democrats and passed in the Assembly. The coronial inquest into the bushfire was released in mid-December 2006, and found significant bureaucratic failings contributed to the devastation, although it also claimed shortcomings at a political level.
At the 2004 ACT general election
, Stanhope led the Labor Party to win sufficient seats to form a majority government, the first such government in the Territory's history.
As Chief Minister, he introduced a Human Rights Act
, in 2004, the first jurisdiction in Australia to do so. In 2005, Stanhope published the confidential draft of the Federal Anti-Terrorism Bill 2005 on his website. Citing concerns about the removal of basic human rights, Stanhope later refused to sign a revised version of the legislation, becoming the only state or territory leader to do so.
In June 2006 Stanhope came under fire over the 2006–07 ACT Budget
which was crafted to address ongoing budget deficits. The budget included massive rate rises, across the board fee hikes, a change in the ACT's emergency services management and the proposed closure of 38 schools and colleges through consolidation. The budget outcome led to ratings agency Standard & Poor's
having to add qualification before reaffirming the ACT's AAA credit rating. Additionally the decision regarding distribution of the education budget prompted outcry in one Australian newspaper, with the Sydney-based Daily Telegraph
labelling him "Stanhope-less" and an "economic vandal" on the front page of a special ACT edition.
Soon after the budget the ACT's Civil Unions Act, to allow formal recognition of same-sex relationships, was overturned by the Federal Howard government
despite the objections of the ACT Government and its federal senators. The Rudd government
had advised it is not Labor policy to stifle state legislation, and that it would not block attempts by the ACT government on this issue. Despite this, the Rudd Government later threatened to override any laws introduced in the ACT that legislated for same-sex ceremonies. As a result, the Stanhope Government removed provisions for ceremonies in its proposal, and ultimately allowed for civil partnerships that did not include legislated ceremonies. The Stanhope Government reported that the number of new civil partnerships entered in to "exceeded expectations".
In 2006 Stanhope became the ACT's longest serving Chief Minister, exceeding the record previously held by Kate Carnell.
On 26 November 2007, following the resignation of the Northern Territory
's Clare Martin
, Stanhope became Australia's longest-serving current state or territory leader. When Kevin Rudd
was sworn in as Prime Minister of Australia
on 3 December 2007, replacing John Howard
, Stanhope became the country's longest-serving current head of government.
At the 2008 ACT general election
, Stanhope led the Labor Party to win sufficient seats to form a minority government
, again with a hung parliament. After almost two weeks of deliberations, the Greens chose to support a minority Labor government.
On 9 May 2011, Stanhope announced his intention to resign as Chief Minister and as a member for Ginninderra. He formally resigned as Chief Minister on 12 May, and as a Member of the Legislative Assembly on 16 May 2011. The casual vacancy in the Assembly, caused by Stanhope's resignation, was filled by Chris Bourke
.
, based at the University of Canberra
, commencing in August 2011.
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...
Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
The Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory is the head of government of the Australian Capital Territory. The leader of party with the largest representation of seats in the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly usually takes on the role...
from 2001 to 2011. Stanhope represented the Ginninderra electorate
Ginninderra electorate
The Ginninderra electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has five seats, and is the smallest of the electorates in geographic area.-History:...
in the ACT Legislative Assembly
Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory...
from 1998 until 2011. He resigned as Chief Minister on 12 May 2011 and as a member of the ACT Legislative Assembly on 16 May 2011. Stanhope is the only ACT Chief Minister to have governed with a majority in the ACT assembly.
Early years and background
Stanhope was born in Gundagai, New South WalesNew 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...
. One of nine children of schoolteacher parents, much of his junior education was spent at one-teacher schools in country NSW. He attended Mullumbimby Public School and Bega High School before coming to Canberra to undertake studies at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
, graduating as a Bachelor of Laws.
Between 1979 and 1987, Stanhope held a range of community roles including:
- President ACT Council for Civil Liberties
- Original co-convener of Racial Respect in the ACT
- President ACT Hospice and Palliative Care Society
- ACT convener of the National Coalition for Gun Control
Between 1987 and 1991, Stanhope was Secretary of the House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
Standing Committee
Standing Committee
In the United States Congress, standing committees are permanent legislative panels established by the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate rules. . Because they have legislative jurisdiction, standing committees consider bills and issues and recommend measures for...
on Legal and Constitutional Affairs; and between 1991 and 1993, Deputy administrator and official secretary of Norfolk Island. From 1993 to 1996, Stanhope worked as Senior Adviser and Chief of Staff for the Federal Attorney-General
Attorney-General of Australia
The Attorney-General of Australia is the first law officer of the Crown, chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia and a minister of the Crown. The Attorney-General is usually a member of the Federal Cabinet, but there is no constitutional requirement that this be the case since the...
, Michael Lavarch
Michael Lavarch
Michael Hugh Lavarch is an Australian lawyer, educator and former politician. He was the Attorney-General of Australia between 1993 and 1996, and since 2004 has been Dean and Professor of Law at Queensland University of Technology , his alma mater.Lavarch commenced his legal career in Brisbane as...
, and between 1996 and 1998, advised the then Federal Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley
Kim Beazley
In the October 1998 election, Labor polled a majority of the two-party vote and received the largest swing to a first-term opposition since 1934. However, due to the uneven nature of the swing, Labor came up eight seats short of making Beazley Prime Minister....
on native title.
Political career
Stanhope was elected to the ACT Legislative AssemblyAustralian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory...
representing the Ginninderra electorate
Ginninderra electorate
The Ginninderra electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has five seats, and is the smallest of the electorates in geographic area.-History:...
at the 1998 ACT general election
Australian Capital Territory general election, 1998
Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 21 February 1998. The incumbent Liberal Party, led by Kate Carnell, was challenged by the Labor Party, led by Wayne Berry. Candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single...
and was immediately elected Opposition Leader by the Labor caucus.
At the 2001 ACT general election
Australian Capital Territory general election, 2001
Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 20 October 2001. The incumbent Liberal Party, led by Gary Humphries, was challenged by the Labor Party, led by Jon Stanhope. candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single...
, Stanhope defeated the Liberal
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...
government of Gary Humphries
Gary Humphries
Gary John Joseph Humphries has been a member of the Australian Senate representing the Australian Capital Territory for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2003...
, although with a hung parliament
Hung parliament
In a two-party parliamentary system of government, a hung parliament occurs when neither major political party has an absolute majority of seats in the parliament . It is also less commonly known as a balanced parliament or a legislature under no overall control...
, and was elected Chief Minister. In the lead-up to the election, Stanhope played a major role in the Bruce Stadium affair that led to the resignation of the former Chief Minister, Kate Carnell
Kate Carnell
Anne Katherine Carnell AO was the third Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, serving from 1995 to 2000. She is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Food and Grocery Council.-Pharmacy career:...
.
On 13 January 2003, Stanhope helped rescue a helicopter pilot who had crashed in a dam during a firefighting operation. Stanhope, who was in a second helicopter with crew and the ACT head of the bushfire services, Peter Lucas-Smith, had responded to the stricken pilot's Mayday
Mayday (distress signal)
Mayday is an emergency procedure word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure radio communications. It derives from the French venez m'aider, meaning "come help me"....
call. The man had suffered serious head injuries and was taken to the Canberra Hospital in a critical condition. After the rescue Stanhope praised the emergency services: "It provided to me a very stark awareness of the enormous risks that many in our community take, the extent to which so many people put their lives on their line to ensure the protection of our communities".
2003 Canberra bushfires
The Canberra bushfires of 2003 caused severe damage to the outskirts of Canberra, the Australian capital city. Almost 70% of the Australian Capital Territory’s pasture, forests and nature parks were severely damaged, and most of the renowned Mount Stromlo Observatory was destroyed...
. Four people died and 500 houses were destroyed. Stanhope faced a no-confidence motion in the Assembly from the Liberal opposition, which if passed meant he would have been forced to resign as Chief Minister. Instead, the motion was downgraded to a censure motion by the combined vote of the ALP and the Democrats and passed in the Assembly. The coronial inquest into the bushfire was released in mid-December 2006, and found significant bureaucratic failings contributed to the devastation, although it also claimed shortcomings at a political level.
At the 2004 ACT general election
Australian Capital Territory general election, 2004
Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 16 October 2004. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Jon Stanhope, was challenged by the Liberal Party, led by Brendan Smyth. Candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single...
, Stanhope led the Labor Party to win sufficient seats to form a majority government, the first such government in the Territory's history.
As Chief Minister, he introduced a Human Rights Act
Human Rights Act 2004
The Human Rights Act 2004 is an Act of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly that recognises the fundamental human rights of individuals...
, in 2004, the first jurisdiction in Australia to do so. In 2005, Stanhope published the confidential draft of the Federal Anti-Terrorism Bill 2005 on his website. Citing concerns about the removal of basic human rights, Stanhope later refused to sign a revised version of the legislation, becoming the only state or territory leader to do so.
In June 2006 Stanhope came under fire over the 2006–07 ACT Budget
2006-07 Australian Capital Territory budget
The 2006-07 Australian Capital Territory budget for the financial year 2006-2007 was presented to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory Jon Stanhope on 6 June 2006...
which was crafted to address ongoing budget deficits. The budget included massive rate rises, across the board fee hikes, a change in the ACT's emergency services management and the proposed closure of 38 schools and colleges through consolidation. The budget outcome led to ratings agency Standard & Poor's
Standard & Poor's
Standard & Poor's is a United States-based financial services company. It is a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies that publishes financial research and analysis on stocks and bonds. It is well known for its stock-market indices, the US-based S&P 500, the Australian S&P/ASX 200, the Canadian...
having to add qualification before reaffirming the ACT's AAA credit rating. Additionally the decision regarding distribution of the education budget prompted outcry in one Australian newspaper, with the Sydney-based Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
labelling him "Stanhope-less" and an "economic vandal" on the front page of a special ACT edition.
Soon after the budget the ACT's Civil Unions Act, to allow formal recognition of same-sex relationships, was overturned by the Federal Howard government
Howard Government
The Howard Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia led by Prime Minister John Howard. It was made up of members of the Liberal–National Coalition, which won a majority of seats in the Australian House of Representatives at four successive elections. The Howard Government...
despite the objections of the ACT Government and its federal senators. The Rudd government
Rudd Government
The Rudd Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia of the Australian Labor Party from 2007 to 2010, led by Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister. The Rudd Government commenced on 3 December 2007, when Rudd was sworn in along with his ministry...
had advised it is not Labor policy to stifle state legislation, and that it would not block attempts by the ACT government on this issue. Despite this, the Rudd Government later threatened to override any laws introduced in the ACT that legislated for same-sex ceremonies. As a result, the Stanhope Government removed provisions for ceremonies in its proposal, and ultimately allowed for civil partnerships that did not include legislated ceremonies. The Stanhope Government reported that the number of new civil partnerships entered in to "exceeded expectations".
On 26 November 2007, following the resignation of the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
's Clare Martin
Clare Martin
Clare Majella Martin is a former Australian politician. She is the current CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service . A former journalist, she was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in a shock by-election win in 1995...
, Stanhope became Australia's longest-serving current state or territory leader. When Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
was sworn in as Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
on 3 December 2007, replacing John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
, Stanhope became the country's longest-serving current head of government.
At the 2008 ACT general election
Australian Capital Territory general election, 2008
Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 18 October 2008. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Jon Stanhope, was challenged by the Liberal Party, led by Zed Seselja. Candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single...
, Stanhope led the Labor Party to win sufficient seats to form a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
, again with a hung parliament. After almost two weeks of deliberations, the Greens chose to support a minority Labor government.
On 9 May 2011, Stanhope announced his intention to resign as Chief Minister and as a member for Ginninderra. He formally resigned as Chief Minister on 12 May, and as a Member of the Legislative Assembly on 16 May 2011. The casual vacancy in the Assembly, caused by Stanhope's resignation, was filled by Chris Bourke
Chris Bourke
Chris Bourke is an Australian politician, currently a Labor member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra. He is the first Indigenous Australian elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly. He filled the casual vacancy created by the...
.
After politics
Stanhope accepted a professorial fellowship in the Australia and New Zealand School of GovernmentAustralia and New Zealand School of Government
The Australia and New Zealand School of Government is an educational institution that teaches strategic management and high-level policy to public sector leaders....
, based at the University of Canberra
University of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
, commencing in August 2011.
See also
- First Stanhope MinistryFirst Stanhope MinistryThe First Stanhope Ministry was the seventh ministry of the Government of the Australian Capital Territory, and was led by Labor Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and his deputy Ted Quinlan. It was sworn in on November 13, 2001 after the Labor victory at the 2001 election. It had only one remaining one...
- Second Stanhope MinistrySecond Stanhope MinistryThe Second Stanhope Ministry was the ninth ministry of the Government of the Australian Capital Territory, and was led by Labor Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and his deputies Ted Quinlan and Katy Gallagher . It was sworn in on 4 November 2004, following the Labor government's landslide re-election...
- Third Stanhope MinistryThird Stanhope MinistryThe Third Stanhope Ministry was the tenth ministry of the Government of the Australian Capital Territory, and was led by Labor Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and his deputy Katy Gallagher. It was sworn in on 11 November 2008, following the Stanhope government's re-election for a third term in the 2008...