Michael Hodgman
Encyclopedia
William Michael Hodgman, AM QC
(born 16 November 1938, Hobart
), is an Australia
n Liberal
retired politician. He is a former member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
, the Tasmanian House of Assembly
and the Australian House of Representatives
.
Hodgman first entered politics in 1966 as member for the Tasmanian Legislative Council
seat of Huon
. He held this position until 1974 when he stood down to run for the Federal electorate of Denison
. He was unsuccessful, but won the seat at his second attempt at the 1975 election
, and held the seat until 1987, when he was defeated by Duncan Kerr
from the Australian Labor Party
. He served as Minister for the Capital Territory
and Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry and Commerce in the Fraser
government from 1980 to 1983.
In 1992 Hodgman returned to state politics in the lower house electorate of Denison
, which he held until defeated in 1998 when the size of parliament was reduced from 35 to 25 members. He regained the position in 2001 after a recount of votes due to the retirement of Ray Groom
. In the 2002 state election he retained his seat, at the expense of his colleague and leader Bob Cheek
.
Hodgman is well known for his strong support for retaining Australia's Constitutional monarchy
. He enjoys wide name-recognition in Hobart; mainly due to his long political career. His wife died in 2003. His son Will Hodgman
is the current Leader of the Liberal Party in Tasmania.
He achieved further fame in 2007 when, during a speech, he rallied fellow party members to give 'the Labor party one right up the bracket'. On the popular Get This
radio show, the team have a featured segment using the soundbite 'one right up the bracket', in which callers air their grievances.
On 19 November 2009 Mr Hodgman announced he would not be contesting the 2010 state election
. In his farewell speech he spoke briefly about his political career including electorates represented, ministerial offices held, opposition to the invasion of East Timor and flooding of Lake Pedder.
In June 2010 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia
(AM).
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(born 16 November 1938, Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
), is an 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 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...
retired politician. He is a former member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
Tasmanian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the House of Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Hobart...
, the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
and the Australian 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....
.
Hodgman first entered politics in 1966 as member for the Tasmanian Legislative Council
Tasmanian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the House of Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Hobart...
seat of Huon
Electoral division of Huon
The Electoral division of Huon is one of the fifteen electorates or seats in the Tasmanian Legislative Council. It was created in 1999, however similar electorates of this name have existed since 1900 , and members of the Tasmanian upper house for this region appear to have been elected since 1856...
. He held this position until 1974 when he stood down to run for the Federal electorate of Denison
Division of Denison
The Division of Denison is anAustralian Electoral Division in Tasmania.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir William Denison, who was Lt-Governor of Van Diemens Land 1847-55...
. He was unsuccessful, but won the seat at his second attempt at the 1975 election
Australian federal election, 1975
Federal elections were held in Australia on 13 December 1975. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 64 seats in the Senate were up for election following a double dissolution of both Houses....
, and held the seat until 1987, when he was defeated by Duncan Kerr
Duncan Kerr
Duncan James Colquhoun Kerr SC is an Australian Senior Counsel and former politician.Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Kerr was educated at the University of Tasmania, where at one stage he was President of the Tasmania University Union and has degrees in both law and social work...
from the Australian Labor Party
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...
. He served as Minister for the Capital Territory
Minister for Home Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Home Affairs has been Brendan O'Connor since 6 June 2009. The Home Affairs portfolio brings together agencies such as the Australian Customs Service , the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, which were previously the...
and Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry and Commerce in the Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
government from 1980 to 1983.
In 1992 Hodgman returned to state politics in the lower house electorate of Denison
Division of Denison (state)
The Electoral Division of Denison is one of the 5 electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir William Denison, who was Lieutenant Governor of Van_Diemen's Land 1847-55, and Governor of New South Wales 1855-61. The division shares its name and boundaries with the...
, which he held until defeated in 1998 when the size of parliament was reduced from 35 to 25 members. He regained the position in 2001 after a recount of votes due to the retirement of 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...
. In the 2002 state election he retained his seat, at the expense of his colleague and leader Bob Cheek
Bob Cheek
Robert Reginald 'Bob' Cheek was leader of the Opposition Tasmanian Liberal Party from 20 August 2001 until he lost his seat in the July 2002 election. It was the first time that a major party leader lost their seat in a Tasmanian election since 1903.Cheek was first elected to Tasmanian parliament...
.
Hodgman is well known for his strong support for retaining Australia's Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
. He enjoys wide name-recognition in Hobart; mainly due to his long political career. His wife died in 2003. His son Will Hodgman
Will Hodgman
William Edward Felix Hodgman , is an Australian politician, and is the leader of the opposition Liberal Party in Tasmania....
is the current Leader of the Liberal Party in Tasmania.
He achieved further fame in 2007 when, during a speech, he rallied fellow party members to give 'the Labor party one right up the bracket'. On the popular Get This
Get This
Get This was an Australian radio comedy show which aired on Triple M and was hosted by Tony Martin and Ed Kavalee, with contributions from panel operator, the late Richard Marsland...
radio show, the team have a featured segment using the soundbite 'one right up the bracket', in which callers air their grievances.
On 19 November 2009 Mr Hodgman announced he would not be contesting the 2010 state election
Tasmanian state election, 2010
The 2010 Tasmanian state election was held on 20 March 2010 to elect members to the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The 12-year incumbent Labor government, led by Premier of Tasmania David Bartlett, won a fourth consecutive term against the Liberal opposition, led by Will Hodgman, after Labor formed a...
. In his farewell speech he spoke briefly about his political career including electorates represented, ministerial offices held, opposition to the invasion of East Timor and flooding of Lake Pedder.
In June 2010 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The 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"...
(AM).