Michael Atkinson MHA |
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Attorney-General of South Australia | |
In office 6 March 2002 – 30 June 2003 |
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Preceded by | Robert Lawson |
Succeeded by | Paul Holloway |
In office 29 August 2003 – 21 March 2010 |
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Preceded by | Paul Holloway |
Succeeded by | John Rau |
Member for Croydon Parliament of South Australia |
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Incumbent | |
Assumed office 9 February 2002 |
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Preceded by | New District |
Member for Spence Parliament of South Australia |
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In office 25 November 1989 – 9 February 2002 |
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Preceded by | Roy Abbott |
Succeeded by | District Abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | 17 June 1958 [1] |
Nationality | Australian |
Political party | Australian Labor Party |
Profession | Journalist |
Religion | Traditional Anglican Communion[2] |
Michael John Atkinson (born 17 June 1958), an Australian politician, was the South Australian Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, and Minister for Multicultural Affairs in the Rann Labor Government. A day after the 2010 election, he stepped down as Attorney-General and resigned from the Cabinet. He will continue to represent the electorate of Croydon in the South Australian House of Assembly until the 2014 election.[3][4]
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Atkinson attended Glenelg Primary School and Unley High School. He then studied at the Australian National University and received a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in history and also a Bachelor of Laws degree.
He worked as a sub-editor and journalist for the Adelaide Advertiser from 1982 to 1985, an adviser and press secretary to federal minister Chris Hurford from 1985 to 1987, before becoming an advocate for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association in 1989.
On 20 November 2009 he was awarded the 2009 Friend of the Armenian-Australian Community Award by the Armenian National Committee of Australia.[5]
A founding member of the Labor Unity faction of the Australian Labor Party, Atkinson was first elected to Parliament at the 1989 election and was a shadow minister in a range of portfolios before Labor won government at the 2002 election. He became Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Minister for Multicultural Affairs. In a minor cabinet reshuffle in 2004, Atkinson lost his portfolio of Consumer Affairs. Following the death of Terry Roberts he became Minister for Correctional Services in 2006.
He was re-elected in the 2006 election to the seat of Croydon with a two-party preferred vote of 76 percent. At the 2010 election Akinson was again re-elected, but with a 15.6% swing against him.[6] This was significantly higher than the average swing of 7.8% against the Labor Party at that election.[7] This is partially attributed to the Gamers 4 Croydon Party, which received 3.7% of votes in his seat of Croydon. Following his re-election, he announced he would resign from the Rann ministry but remain on the backbench.[8]
Atkinson has blocked attempts to introduce a R18+ for video games in Australia.[9] In a letter on the subject, Atkinson stated, "I don't support the introduction of an R18+ rating for electronic games, chiefly because it will greatly increase the risk of children and vulnerable adults being exposed to damaging images and messages."[10]
He withdrew his support for a discussion paper released for public consultation on the subject of an "R18+" rating.[11][12] Unanimity from Atkinson and his fellow state and federal Attorneys-General is required for the introduction of the rating (or a change to that requirement). Australia's current rating system lacks a classification for games above MA15+.[13] It therefore lacks not only an equivalent rating to the ESRB's AO (adults only) rating but also an equivalent to its Mature (17+) rating.[13]
In 2009, Atkinson, in his role as Attorney-General of South Australia, introduced laws into parliament that made internet commentary on the upcoming 2010 election illegal unless the commenter provided their real name and postcode. The laws were passed, and came into effect on 6 January 2010.[14] Following public criticism, Atkinson later promised to repeal the section following the 2010 South Australian election and indicated it would not be enforced during the electoral period.[15]
In 2008, Atkinson introduced legislation aimed at increasing the rights of victims of crime. The legislation purported to allow victims to suggest a suitable sentence for the offender and made it compulsory for judges to consider imposing a restraining order on convicted sex offenders.[16]
In his role as Attorney-General, Atkinson has been a proponent of non-association legislation which makes association with declared organisations a criminal offence. The goal of this legislation is to prevent and control the activities of organised crime.
On December 2008, the South Australian Police Commissioner petitioned Atksinson to declare the Finks Motorcycle Club a relevant organisation under the Serious and Organised Crime (Control) Act 2008 (SA). As required by legislation, Atkinson called for public submissions on whether he should exercise this legislative power. However, the Police Commissioner's application was based largely upon police intelligence that was not made available to the public during the consultation process. It is unknown whether public submissions were actually received or their contents taken into account. On 14 March 2009 Michael Atkinson acceded to the Police Commissioner's petition and declared the Finks Motorcycle Club a declared organisation.[17] The declaration allowed South Australian magistrates to issue control orders against any of the 48 people named in the declaration, making it a criminal offence punishable by up to five years' imprisonment for those named in such orders to associate more than six times a year with fellow club members or others nominated by the Police Commissioner.[18]
Orders pursuant to the declaration were made, and the making of those orders was appealed to the Full Court of the Supreme Court of South Australia. On 24 September 2009, the Full Court ruled the orders void, and found the relevant section of the legislation invalid on the basis that it violated a "fundamental proposition" of law that accused people should be informed of the case against them and be given "an opportunity to answer that case".[18]
Atkinson called the ruling a "minor setback" and indicated he and his government intended to appeal the ruling or amend the legislation. In response to the ruling, he said, "As a government we were always aware of the vulnerability of our legislation, because as a government we are willing to test the constitutional boundaries and are willing to take the fight to the outlaw motorcycle gangs," Mr Atkinson said.[18]
Atkinson's treatment of the Finks has drawn opposition from other bikie groups including the Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club. The Gypsy Jokers website has run pictures of Atksinson sporting a swastika and has announced plans for a protest drive aimed against Atkinson and South Australian Premier Mike Rann, scheduled for the day of the 2010 South Australian election.[19]
Atkinson is separated from his wife, Joan[20] (née Phyland), who he married in 1986 and with whom he has three sons and a daughter.[21]
Atkinson is a member of the Traditional Anglican Communion, and was formerly its chancellor.[2]
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Robert Lawson |
Attorney-General of South Australia 2002–2003 |
Succeeded by Paul Holloway |
Preceded by Paul Holloway |
Attorney-General of South Australia 2003–2010 |
Succeeded by John Rau |
Parliament of South Australia | ||
Preceded by Roy Abbott |
Member for Spence 1989–2002 |
District abolished |
New district | Member for Croydon 2002–present |
Incumbent |
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