| Drew Hutton | |
|---|---|
Lock the Gate Forum, February 2011 |
|
| Born | Peter Drew Hutton 1947 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | High school teacher, college lecturer, author |
| Political party | Queensland Greens |
| Spouse | Libby Connors |
| Children | 2 |
Peter Drew Hutton (born 1947) is an activist, academic, campaigner and past political candidate for the Queensland Greens in elections in Queensland, Australia at all three levels of government.
Hutton has been a social activist all his adult life. "Since 1984 I have been part of the process that has moved green politics from the margins to the mainstream of Australian political life. Along the way I have been privileged to represent the Party as a spokesperson and as a candidate. The Greens are now poised to enter that mainstream as a powerful force, representing the hopes and aspirations of many, many Australians."[1]
While working as a high school teacher and then a college lecturer from the 1960s to the 1980s Hutton became involved in the anti-Vietnam War campaign, and campaigns on uranium mining, Indigenous land rights and nuclear disarmament. He also used his position as a teacher educator to champion peace and environmental education in schools and more democratic school environments and teaching practices.[1]
For many years, Hutton was a lecturer at tertiary institutions in South East Queensland including Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and University of Southern Queensland.[2] He has published books and numerous articles, especially on green philosophy, history and ethics. He brought together the first book on green politics in Australia in 1987 and with his partner Libby Connors wrote "A History of the Australian Environment Movement" published by Cambridge University Press in 1999.[3] Hutton and Dr Conners were married in 1986. Hutton has two adult sons.
Over the last 29 years Hutton has been a key organiser or spokesperson for campaigns against freeways, the storage and transport of hazardous waste, against evictions of poorer residents in inner-city Brisbane suburbs, nuclear disarmament and public transport. He fought against the authoritarianism and corruption of the Bjelke-Petersen government and ended up in court on many occasions as a result.[1][4]
Hutton's work against pollution resulted in a 1994 Criminal Justice Commission inquiry into toxic waste dumping in Queensland, an inquiry which highlighted massive problems and led to pressure on the Wayne Goss Government to introduce the Environmental Protection Act. He has been active on many environmental campaigns such as land clearing and is involved in the campaign against the war in Iraq.[1]
Hutton's highest vote as a candidate was 25.64% in the ward of The Gabba in the 2008 Brisbane City Council elections.