Michael Johnson (politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Andrew Johnson (born 31 January 1970), an Australia
n federal politician
, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives
for the seat of Ryan
, Queensland
, from 2001 to 2010, representing the Liberal Party
from November 2001 to May 2010 and then as an independent
from May 2010 until he was defeated at the 2010 federal election in August 2010.
, and was educated at St. Peters Lutheran College and later at the University of Queensland
, the University of Cambridge
, where he obtained an MPhil, and the University of Birmingham
, where he obtained a master's degree in international studies. He was the Australian Chevening Scholar in 1994, the Charles Hawker Memorial Scholar in 1996 and was a 2004 graduate of the Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Leaders’ Program at Harvard. He lives in Brisbane's western suburbs with his wife, Huyen, and their son Ryan.
Johnson first sought to gain Liberal endorsement for Ryan, following the retirement of long-serving member, John Moore
. Factional rivalries between Johnson and other candidates for preselection
led to rampant branch stacking. Johnson had been expected to win preselection, having arranged many of the new members in local branches. He was accused by opponents in the party of signing up ethnic Chinese with only limited connections to the Liberal Party, many from outside the Ryan electorate, and in at least one case, outside Australia. Unfortunately for Johnson, it was revealed he had failed to properly renounce his British citizenship
and was ruled ineligible to contest preselection. Former state Liberal President Bob Tucker won preselection for the by-election, losing that contest to Labor's Leonie Short
. However, by the time of the 2001 Federal election, Johnson had sorted out his citizenship, won party pre-selection and then won the seat back from Short.
There have also been public allegations regarding internal party funds, what he describes as his "unorthodox" fundraising of asking businesses for fees for introductions he facilitates in his capacity as an MP, and the alleged improper use of a publicly funded vehicle.
Johnson previously held the position of Opposition Whip in the Federal Liberal Party. He resigned from the post when allegations that he had misused his taxpayer funded vehicle were investigated.
parties. Johnson vowed to contest Ryan as an Independent
at the 2010 federal election. In June 2010, Jane Prentice
, a Brisbane City Councillor, was chosen by the LNP to stand for Ryan.
On 2 June 2010, Johnson read out a letter to Parliament which he sent to the Australian Federal Police alleging he was subject to "illegal pressure" to resign from Federal Parliament by the Liberal National Party President Bruce McIver, during a meeting on 25 February in Canberra. During the meeting Johnson claimed that McIver produced a large black folder which he alleged contained material and documents that was evidence of alleged criminal behavior by Johnson. McIver denies the claims that he asked him to resign from Parliament, though openly admits he asked Johnson to quit the LNP.
At the 2010 federal election, Johnson secured less than 9% of the primary vote and was easily defeated by Liberal National candidate, Jane Prentice.
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 federal politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, was a member of 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....
for the seat of Ryan
Division of Ryan
The Division of Ryan is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was created in 1949 and is named for T.J. Ryan, a former Premier of Queensland from 1915 to 1919...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, from 2001 to 2010, representing 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...
from November 2001 to May 2010 and then 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...
from May 2010 until he was defeated at the 2010 federal election in August 2010.
Early years and education
He was born in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and was educated at St. Peters Lutheran College and later at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
, the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he obtained an MPhil, and the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, where he obtained a master's degree in international studies. He was the Australian Chevening Scholar in 1994, the Charles Hawker Memorial Scholar in 1996 and was a 2004 graduate of the Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Leaders’ Program at Harvard. He lives in Brisbane's western suburbs with his wife, Huyen, and their son Ryan.
Politics
Johnson was a barrister and a university tutor and lecturer before entering politics. He is the first person of Chinese descent to be a member of Australia's House of Representatives. He was named in 2007 as a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the Geneva based World Economic Forum (WEF). He is Chairman of the Australia-China Business Forum, and is a Member of the Asia Society’s International Advisory Board and sits on the Australian Advisory Board. Aspects of the Australia-China Business Forum were investigated by the LNP which in part led to Johnson's expulsion.Johnson first sought to gain Liberal endorsement for Ryan, following the retirement of long-serving member, John Moore
John Moore (Australian politician)
John Colinton Moore AO is a former Australian politician. He was a Liberal member of the House of Representatives for over 25 years, and a minister from 1980 to 1982 and 1996 to 2001....
. Factional rivalries between Johnson and other candidates for preselection
Preselection
Preselection is the process by which a candidate is selected, usually by a political party, to contest an election for political office. It is also referred to as candidate selection. It is a fundamental function of political parties...
led to rampant branch stacking. Johnson had been expected to win preselection, having arranged many of the new members in local branches. He was accused by opponents in the party of signing up ethnic Chinese with only limited connections to the Liberal Party, many from outside the Ryan electorate, and in at least one case, outside Australia. Unfortunately for Johnson, it was revealed he had failed to properly renounce his British citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
and was ruled ineligible to contest preselection. Former state Liberal President Bob Tucker won preselection for the by-election, losing that contest to Labor's Leonie Short
Leonie Short
Leonie Marjorie Short was a member of the Australian House of Representatives for eight months in 2001, representing the western Brisbane seat of Ryan for the Australian Labor Party, a party she had been a member of since 1981. Short was elected on 17 March 2001 at a by-election following the...
. However, by the time of the 2001 Federal election, Johnson had sorted out his citizenship, won party pre-selection and then won the seat back from Short.
There have also been public allegations regarding internal party funds, what he describes as his "unorthodox" fundraising of asking businesses for fees for introductions he facilitates in his capacity as an MP, and the alleged improper use of a publicly funded vehicle.
Johnson previously held the position of Opposition Whip in the Federal Liberal Party. He resigned from the post when allegations that he had misused his taxpayer funded vehicle were investigated.
Expulsion from the LNP
On 20 May 2010, he was expelled from the Liberal National Party, the Queensland branch of the Liberal and NationalNational Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
parties. Johnson vowed to contest Ryan 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...
at the 2010 federal election. In June 2010, Jane Prentice
Jane Prentice
Jane Prentice , an Australian federal politician, is a member of the Australian House of Representatives since August 2010, representing the seat of Ryan for the Liberal National Party of Queensland....
, a Brisbane City Councillor, was chosen by the LNP to stand for Ryan.
On 2 June 2010, Johnson read out a letter to Parliament which he sent to the Australian Federal Police alleging he was subject to "illegal pressure" to resign from Federal Parliament by the Liberal National Party President Bruce McIver, during a meeting on 25 February in Canberra. During the meeting Johnson claimed that McIver produced a large black folder which he alleged contained material and documents that was evidence of alleged criminal behavior by Johnson. McIver denies the claims that he asked him to resign from Parliament, though openly admits he asked Johnson to quit the LNP.
At the 2010 federal election, Johnson secured less than 9% of the primary vote and was easily defeated by Liberal National candidate, Jane Prentice.