Grant Tambling

Grant Ernest John Tambling, AM (born 20 June 1943) is an Australian politician and former Administrator of Norfolk Island.

Tambling was born and raised in Darwin in the Northern Territory, and studied both there and in Adelaide. After a stint in local government on the Darwin City Council, Tambling was elected to the first Northern Territory Legislative Assembly as the Country Liberal Party member for Fannie Bay. Tambling served as Executive Member for Community Development in this first parliament. This was the same as a ministerial position in later years, though that title was not used until self-government was granted in 1978.^[1]

Despite his position, Tambling was defeated at the 1977 election by Australian Labor Party candidate Pam O'Neil, and began a career in business. He served as the member for the Northern Territory electorate in the House of Representatives from 1980 to 1983, but was again defeated by an ALP rival, John Reeves.^[1]

After four years out of parliament, Tambling was once again elected - this time to the Senate - at the 1987 federal election. He spent fourteen years in this position, six of them as a parliamentary secretary, before being disendorsed by the CLP at the 2001 election for voting in favour of anti-Internet gaming legislation.^[2] Tambling subsequently retired from politics, and after two years working in private consultancy, was appointed as the Administrator of Norfolk Island in January 2003. He is married with two adult children.^[1]

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