John Cherry

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For the article on the Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, see John D. Cherry

John Clifford Cherry (born May 22, 1965) was an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate from 2001 to 2005, representing the state of Queensland.

Cherry was born in Kilcoy, Queensland. He studied at the University of Queensland, gaining undergraduate degrees in law and economics and a Masters degree in public administration. While at university, he joined the Australian Labor Party. After spending two years as a journalist with the Townsville Bulletin, he changed careers, becoming an industrial officer with the State Public Services Federation. He continued in the position until 1993, when he took up a position with the Australian Democrats as an economics adviser to the party's leader, Senator Cheryl Kernot, having resigned as a Labor member the previous year.

As a staffer, Cherry served under the leadership of both Cheryl Kernot and Meg Lees. As an economics adviser John played an important role in negotiations over the changes to the Australian tax system which included the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The Australian Democrats are credited with having secured the exemption of fresh food from the GST.

In 1998, Cherry ran unsuccessfully for the Senate for the first time. He continued as a party staffer until 2001, when Senator John Woodley retired due to ill health. Cherry contested and won the vacant Senate position held by the party. His appointment to the Senate was temporarily delayed by attempts from the major parties to deny the convention of allowing persons to be replaced by the political party holding the seat. This delay was short-lived and Cherry was appointed to the Senate in 2001 by the Queensland Government.

After the 2001 Federal Election Cherry was one of seven Australian Democrat Senators in the federal Senate. He was a member of the so-called "Gang of Four" Senators who deposed leader Natasha Stott Despoja in 2002. This and other internal disputes within the Australian Democrats contributed to his defeat in the 2004 Federal Election.

During his parliamentary term, Cherry contributed to efforts concerning the protection of Queensland banana growers from diseased imports, gained additional funding for the protection of the Great Barrier Reef, and achieved superannuation reform including the first ever recognition of same-sex relationships in superannuation legislation in Australia.

In the 2004 Federal Election, the final (sixth) Queensland Senate seat was won by the Liberal Party's Russell Trood with the help of preferences from minor right wing parties.