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Doug Everingham Condolences

Sep 05, 2017

Three members of the House of Representatives offered condolences for Doug Everingham in the Federation Chamber today.

Everingham, the former ALP member for Capricornia (Qld) from 1967 to 1975 and from 1977 to 1984, died on August 24, aged 94. He was the Minister for Health in the Whitlam governments (1972-75).

Mike Freelander (ALP-Macarthur) spoke of the influence Everingham had on his medical career, particularly during the implementation of Medibank. He paid tribute to Everingham’s commitment to community health centres, mental health and his anti-smoking campaign.

The current Health Minister, Greg Hunt (Liberal-Flinders), spoke of Everingham’s contribution to Medibank and Medicare, and his work on behalf of Westmead hospital.

The current member for Everingham’s seat, Michelle Landry (LNP-Capricornia), spoke of her predecessor’s preselection at a time when Gough Whitlam was reforming the ALP and of Everingham’s commitment to spelling reform.

  • Watch the condolence speeches (15m – transcript below)
  • Listen to Mike Freelander’s speech (5m)
  • Listen to Greg Hunt’s speech (4m)
  • Listen to Michelle Landry’s speech (6m)

Hansard transcript of proceedings in the Federation Chamber.

Everingham, Hon. Douglas Nixon ‘Doug’

Consideration resumed of the motion:

That the House record its deep regret at the death, on 24 August 2017, of the Honourable Douglas Nixon Everingham, a former Minister and Member of this House for the Division of Capricornia from 1967 to 1975 and 1977 to 1984, place on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service, and tender its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement. [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, House of Reps, Members, Obituaries, Political History, Video, Whitlam Tagged With: , , , ,

Turnbull Addresses LNP Conference In Brisbane

Aug 27, 2016

In the aftermath of the federal election, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has addressed the Liberal National Party annual convention in Brisbane today.

Turnbull

The LNP lost two seats in the July election but still holds 21 of Queensland’s 30 seats in the House of Representatives. One of the seats it lost, Herbert, may be subject to challenge in the Court of Disputed Returns.

Turnbull thanked LNP candidates and praised Michelle Landry for winning re-election in Capricornia, the first time in 60 years that the Coalition has won the seat at two consecutive elections.

Turnbull reiterated his intention to secure the passage of the Building and Construction Commission legislation, to “restore law and order” to the construction industry.

He called upon the ALP to support the government’s omnibus bill to cut government spending.

Much of the speech was taken up with itemising infrastructure projects planned or underway in Queensland. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, Audio, Liberal National Party, Liberal Party, Qld, Turnbull Tagged With: , ,

2016 Federal Election: The Oncers Who Have Become Twicers

Aug 07, 2016

Most of the first-term members of the previous parliament have been returned to the new 45th parliament.

Of 42 members elected for the first time at the 2013 federal election, 31 (73.8%) were re-elected on July 2, 2016.

Eight members (19%), all Liberals, were defeated at the election. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, A.L.P., House of Reps, Liberal National Party, Liberal Party, Members, Palmer United Party, The Nationals, Turnbull Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Coalition Secures Absolute Majority Of 76; Labor Claims Cowan; Just Two Seats Still Undecided

Jul 11, 2016

11.45pm – As election counting entered its second week today, the ALP claimed victory in Cowan, whilst the LNP drew further ahead in Capricornia and Flynn, securing an absolute majority of 76 seats for the Turnbull government.

The ALP still leads in Hindmarsh and Herbert, the two remaining undecided seats in the House of Representatives.

In Cowan, the ALP’s Anne Aly claimed victory and will become the first female Muslim to be elected to the House. A batch of votes that had been wrongly counted for the Liberals delivered several hundred votes to Aly. Her 946 vote lead, combined with preference flows means that Cowan can now be taken out of the doubtful list. There are 6,942 votes still to count. The ALP now has a confirmed 67 seats.

The ALP’s lead in Hindmarsh remains at 583 votes. This seat will probably come out of the doubtful list in the next day or two, since the ALP lead seems firm. There are 5,307 votes still to count. The Liberals’ 53.81% advantage in postals is offset by the ALP’s 56.06% advantage in absentees.

In the Queensland seats of Capricornia and Flynn, the LNP extended its leads. Both seats have now been removed from the doubtful list.

In Capricornia, the LNP lifted its weekend lead of 148 votes to 691. There are 3,475 votes to count and it is clear that the LNP will retain the seat. A traditionally Labor electorate, Capricornia was lost by the ALP in 1975 and 1996. In both cases, it was regained at the following election. Michelle Landry becomes the first non-Labor member for Capricornia to win consecutive elections since Henry Pearce, who held it between 1949 and 1961. Pearce is now 98 years old and is one of only two surviving members from the 1949 parliament. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, A.L.P., Liberal National Party, Liberal Party, The Nationals, Turnbull Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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