Arthur Chesterfield-Evans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arthur Chesterfield-Evans (born June 16, 1950) is an Australian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales from 1998 to 2007.
He had joined the Australian Democrats in 1986 and became a member of the Legislative Council upon the retirement of Elisabeth Kirkby on June 25, 1998. He was re-elected in his own right in 1999.
An anti-smoking activist, he was at one time a member of Billboard Utilising Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions, who used satirical graffiti on billboards and street theatre to disrupt tobacco promotion. He was eventually arrested for spray-painting on a Rothmans billboard, and was convicted but released on appeal.
He joined the Non-Smokers Movement, becoming President from 1984 to 1997, and broadcast a radio program at 2SER entitled "Puff Off" on smoking (and the anti-tobacco movement) for the same period.
Arthur continued his preventive activities which led to the production of a video by TAFE on his BUGA UP activities, called 'Confessions of a Simple Surgeon', which won awards in Australia, the UK and the US and was the top selling education video ever made in Australia. He was on the Board of NADA (Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies) and also joined the Doctors' Reform Society, becoming NSW President in 1994 and arguing for the continuation of Medicare and the need for a strong public health system.
He lost his parliamentary seat at the 2007 election, achieving only 1.8% of the primary vote for the Legislative Council. His loss has meant that for only the first time since 1981, the Democrats are unrepresented in the NSW Parliament.
He is married to his wife, Kate, and together they have a son, Michael.