Paul Calvert
Encyclopedia
Paul Henry Calvert, AO (born 19 January 1940), Australian politician
, was a Senator for Tasmania
from 1987 to 2007, and was President of the Australian Senate
from 2002 to 2007.
Born into a long established farming family based outside Hobart
, Calvert still runs a property in Tasmania
. He was active in local government, serving as Warden (the title later changed to Mayor) of the City of Clarence, on Hobart's eastern shore. He was also President of the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania. In 1987 he was elected to the Australian Senate
, after declining an invitation by the former Liberal
Premier of Tasmania, Robin Gray
, to run for the House of Assembly
after a successful career in local government and agri-politics. He was re-elected in 1990, 1996 and 2001.
In 1997 Calvert became the government's Senate Whip
. He became President following Margaret Reid
in 2002, and was re-elected in 2005. Early in his presidency he tackled the archaic five department structure of the Australian Parliament, and achieved a streamlining to 3 departments – one for each Chamber and one looking after joint services.
On 7 August 2007 Calvert announced his intention to resign his position as President of the Senate on 14 August and to resign as a Senator for Tasmania before the Senate resumed on 10 September. He was succeeded as Senate President by South Australia
n Liberal Senator Alan Ferguson
. He formally resigned as a Senator on 29 August 2007. In 2008 he was appointed a member of the Governing Council of Old Parliament House
in Canberra.
As part of the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours
list, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, was a Senator for Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
from 1987 to 2007, and was President of the Australian Senate
President of the Australian Senate
The President of the Australian Senate is the presiding officer of the Australian Senate, the upper house of the Parliament of Australia. The presiding officer of the lower house is the Speaker of the House of Representatives....
from 2002 to 2007.
Born into a long established farming family based outside 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...
, Calvert still runs a property in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. He was active in local government, serving as Warden (the title later changed to Mayor) of the City of Clarence, on Hobart's eastern shore. He was also President of the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania. In 1987 he was elected to the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
, after declining an invitation by the former 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...
Premier of Tasmania, Robin Gray
Robin Gray (Australian politician)
Robin Trevor Gray is a former Australian politician who was Premier of Tasmania from 1982 to 1989. A Liberal, he was elected Liberal state leader in 1981 and in 1982 defeated the Labor government of Harry Holgate on a policy of "state development," particularly the building of the Franklin Dam, a...
, to run for the 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...
after a successful career in local government and agri-politics. He was re-elected in 1990, 1996 and 2001.
In 1997 Calvert became the government's Senate Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
. He became President following Margaret Reid
Margaret Reid
Margaret Elizabeth Reid AO is a former Australian politician. She was the first woman to be President of the Australian Senate.-Early years:...
in 2002, and was re-elected in 2005. Early in his presidency he tackled the archaic five department structure of the Australian Parliament, and achieved a streamlining to 3 departments – one for each Chamber and one looking after joint services.
On 7 August 2007 Calvert announced his intention to resign his position as President of the Senate on 14 August and to resign as a Senator for Tasmania before the Senate resumed on 10 September. He was succeeded as Senate President by South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n Liberal Senator Alan Ferguson
Alan Ferguson
The Hon. Alan Baird Ferguson , Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since May 1992, representing South Australia. On 14 August 2007 Senator Ferguson became the 22nd President of the Australian Senate, succeeding Senator Paul Calvert of Tasmania...
. He formally resigned as a Senator on 29 August 2007. In 2008 he was appointed a member of the Governing Council of Old Parliament House
Old Parliament House, Canberra
Old Parliament House, known formerly as the Provisional Parliament House, was the house of the Parliament of Australia from 1927 to 1988. The building began operation on 9 May 1927 as a temporary base for the Commonwealth Parliament after its relocation from Melbourne to the new capital, Canberra,...
in Canberra.
As part of the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
list, he was appointed an Officer 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"...
.