Denis Napthine
The Honourable Denis Napthine MLA | |
---|---|
47th Premier of Victoria | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office 6 March 2013 | |
Governor | Alex Chernov |
Preceded by | Ted Baillieu |
Leader of the Opposition of Victoria | |
In office 26 October 1999 – 20 August 2002 | |
Deputy | Louise Asher |
Preceded by | Jeff Kennett |
Succeeded by | Robert Doyle |
Victorian Minister for Ports, Regional Cities, Racing and Major Projects | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office 2 December 2010 | |
Premier | Ted Baillieu Himself |
Treasurer of Victoria | |
In office 7 October 1999 – 20 October 1999 | |
Premier | Jeff Kennett |
Preceded by | Alan Stockdale |
Succeeded by | Steve Bracks |
Minister for Youth and Community Services | |
In office 1996–1999 | |
Premier | Jeff Kennett |
Member of the Victorian Parliament for South-West Coast | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office 30 November 2002 | |
Preceded by | New seat |
Member of the Victorian Parliament for Portland | |
In office 1988–2002 | |
Preceded by | Digby Crozier |
Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | Denis Vincent Napthine 6 March 1952 Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
Citizenship | Australian |
Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
Spouse(s) | Peggy |
Alma mater | University of Melbourne Deakin University |
Profession | Veterinarian |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Website | www.denisnapthine.com.au |
Denis Vincent Napthine (born 6 March 1952) is an Australian politician for the Liberal Party and the 47th Premier of Victoria. Napthine is a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, representing the electoral district of South-West Coast. Following the resignation of Ted Baillieu, he was elected leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party on 6 March 2013 and was sworn in as Premier later the same day. He leads a minority government following the resignation of MP Geoff Shaw to the crossbench.
Early life
Napthine was born in 1952 to Len and Theresa Napthine in Geelong, Victoria. He was the third in a family of ten children.[1][2][3]
Napthine spent his early schools at Winchelsea State School before attending Chanel College, a Catholic boys' school in Lovely Banks near Geelong. After graduating he attended the University of Melbourne, where he studied to be a veterinarian, undertaking a bachelor's and then a master's degree in veterinary science. He later completed a master's degree in business administration from Deakin University.[1][3]
Political career
Napthine was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1988 as member for the country seat of Portland. He was re-elected in 1992, 1996 and 1999. The electorate of Portland was abolished in the 2002 redivision, and the bulk of its territory became part of the newly created district of South-West Coast, and Naphtine sought reelection there. He barely held onto this seat at the November 2002 election, but was re-elected in November 2006 with an increased margin.[4]
Kennett Ministry
He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health in 1992 and then promoted to Minister for Youth and Community Services in 1996 in Jeff Kennett's Liberal government, a position he held from 1996 to 1999.[4]
Leader of the Opposition
Following the defeat of the Liberal Party at the 1999 election, Kennett resigned as Liberal leader, and Napthine was elected to take his place. Napthine had briefly served as Deputy Liberal Leader, having been elected to the position just shortly before Kennett stood down as Liberal Leader. During his term as Opposition Leader the Liberal-National coalition split, fracturing the opposition parties.
Under Napthine's leadership, the Liberal Party did poorly in the polls and did not make any significant electoral inroads on the ruling Labor government. Shortly before the 2002 state election, Robert Doyle challenged Napthine for the leadership of the Liberal Party. Doyle won the leadership by a narrow margin, but went on to lead the party to its worst electoral defeat ever, in which Napthine nearly lost his seat.
Baillieu Ministry
After the Liberals won the 2010 Victorian election, Napthine was made a member of Ted Baillieu's cabinet. He served as the Minister for Ports, Racing, Regional Cities and Major Projects.[4][5]
Elevation to Premier of Victoria
On 6 March 2013, his 61st birthday, Napthine was elected Leader of the Victorian Parliamentary Liberal Party in place of Ted Baillieu, who had resigned the leadership.[6] After the resignation of MP Geoff Shaw from the parliamentary Liberal Party earlier in the day, Napthine leads a minority government.
Like Labor's John Brumby, Napthine is a former Opposition Leader who became Premier of Victoria when his party was already in government. Unlike Brumby, Napthine did not lead his party to an election during his own time as Opposition Leader.
On 28 November 2013, Australian media reported that Napthine had 'secretly assisted balance-of-power independent MP' Geoff Shaw to draft a private member's bill to change the State abortion law.[7][8][9] In a recorded statement released on 3 December 2013 despite having voted against the abortion law reform bill.[10] Napthine refuted the allegations and stated his Government had no plans to change abortion laws,[11] nor would he support any such change, although he refused to rule out allowing debate and a conscience vote on Mr Shaw's bill.
Personal life
Napthine and his wife Peggy have three children. His younger brother, Simon, is a member of the Australian Labor Party and was the unsuccessful ALP candidate for the federal seat of Flinders at the 2004 election.[12]
One of Napthine's ancestors was convict Joseph Potaski.[13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Who is Denis Napthine?". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 7 March 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- ↑ "Family Notices.". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 10 March 1952. p. 13. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Green, Shane (8 March 2013). "From country paddock to top job". The Age. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Members Information - Denis Napthine (South-West Coast)". Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ↑ Austin, Paul; Colebatch, Tim (3 December 2010). "Baillieu promotes Lib ex-leader". The Age. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
- ↑ "Ted Baillieu resigns as Victoria premier, Denis Napthine takes over as Liberal leader". The Australian. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ↑ "Geoff Shaw dictating Coalition's agenda". News.Com.Au. 2013-11-28. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
- ↑ Ferguson, John (2013-11-28). "Denis Napthine secretly helped Geoff Shaw over abortion laws - report". Herald-Sun. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
- ↑ Ferguson, John (2013-11-28). "Geoff Shaw dictating Coalition's agenda". The Australian. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
- ↑ Denis Napthine - South-West Coast (LIB)
- ↑ Webb, Carolyn; Cook, Henrietta (2013-12-04). "Napthine vows he will not change abortion laws". The Age. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
- ↑ "2004 Federal Election - Flinders Electorate Profile". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 2004. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ↑ Purcell, Marie (1991). By degrees: a story of the Potaskie/McDonald family 1802–1987. M. Purcell. ISBN 0-646-05619-0.
External links
Victorian Legislative Assembly | ||
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Preceded by Digby Crozier |
Member for Portland 1988–2002 |
Seat abolished |
Seat created | Member for South-West Coast 2002–present |
Incumbent |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Vin Heffernan as Minister for Youth Affairs |
Minister for Youth and Community Services 1996–1999 |
Succeeded by Jacinta Allan as Minister for Education Services and Youth Affairs |
Preceded by Michael John as Minister for Community Services |
Succeeded by Christine Campbell as Minister for Community Development | |
Preceded by Alan Stockdale |
Treasurer of Victoria 1999 |
Succeeded by Steve Bracks |
Preceded by Steve Bracks |
Leader of the Opposition of Victoria 1999–2002 |
Succeeded by Robert Doyle |
Preceded by Tim Pallas as Minister for Roads and Ports |
Minister for Ports 2010–present |
Incumbent |
Minister for Major Projects 2010–present | ||
Preceded by Rob Hulls |
Minister for Racing 2010–present | |
Preceded by Jacinta Allan as Minister for Regional and Rural Development |
Minister for Regional Cities 2010–present | |
Preceded by Ted Baillieu |
Minister for the Arts 2013–present | |
Premier of Victoria 2013–present | ||
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by Jeff Kennett |
Leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria 1999–2002 |
Succeeded by Robert Doyle |
Preceded by Ted Baillieu |
Leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria 2013–present |
Incumbent |
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