Denis Napthine

The Honourable
Denis Napthine
MLA
47th Premier of Victoria
Elections: 2014
In office
6 March 2013 – 4 December 2014
Monarch Elizabeth II
Governor Alex Chernov
Deputy Peter Ryan
Preceded by Ted Baillieu
Succeeded by Daniel Andrews
Leader of the Opposition of Victoria
In office
26 October 1999 – 20 August 2002
Premier Steve Bracks
Deputy Louise Asher
Preceded by Jeff Kennett
Succeeded by Robert Doyle
Leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria
In office
6 March 2013 – 4 December 2014
Deputy Louise Asher
Preceded by Ted Baillieu
Succeeded by Matthew Guy
In office
26 October 1999 – 20 August 2002
Deputy Louise Asher
Preceded by Jeff Kennett
Succeeded by Robert Doyle
Minister for Regional Cities and Racing
In office
13 March 2013 – 4 December 2014
Premier Himself
Succeeded by Martin Pakula (Racing)
Minister for the Arts
In office
6 March 2013 – 13 March 2013
Premier Himself
Preceded by Ted Baillieu
Succeeded by Heidi Victoria
Minister for Ports, Regional Cities, Racing and Major Projects
In office
2 December 2010 – 13 March 2013
Premier Ted Baillieu
Himself
Preceded by Tim Pallas (Ports, Major Projects)
Rob Hulls (Racing)
Succeeded by David Hodgett (Ports, Major Projects)
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
30 March 1996 – 18 September 1999
Premier Jeff Kennett
Preceded by Vin Heffernan (Youth)
Michael John (Community)
Succeeded by Jacinta Allan (Youth)
Christine Campbell (Community)
Member of Parliament
for South-West Coast
Incumbent
Assumed office
30 November 2002
Preceded by New seat
Member of the Victorian Parliament
for Portland
In office
1 October 1988 – 30 November 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
Spouse(s) Peggy
Alma mater University of Melbourne
Deakin University
Profession Veterinarian
Website denisnapthine.com.au

Denis Vincent Napthine (born 6 March 1952) is an Australian politician who was the 47th Premier of Victoria. Napthine is a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, representing the electoral district of South-West Coast as a member of the Liberal Party of Australia. He was elected leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party on 6 March 2013 following the resignation of Ted Baillieu, and was sworn in as Premier on the same day. His party lost the Victorian state election on 29 November 2014 and he announced he would step down as leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, with Matthew Guy being elected his successor on 4 December.

Early life

Napthine was born in 1952 to Len and Theresa Napthine in Geelong, Victoria, as the third child in a family of ten children.[1][2][3]

Napthine spent his early school years 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][4]

Political career

Napthine earlier in his 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.[5]

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.[5]

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 made no 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. At this election, Napthine ran in South-West Coast, essentially a reconfigured version of Portland. Although it was ancestrally Liberal territory, Napthine just barely held onto the seat, seeing his margin reduced from 4.9 to only 0.7 points. He was re-elected in November 2006 with an increased margin.

After the Liberals won the 2010 Victorian election, Napthine was made a member of the Baillieu cabinet. He served as the Minister for Ports, Racing, Regional Cities and Major Projects.[5][6]

Premier of Victoria

On 6 March 2013, Baillieu resigned as state leader of the Liberal Party and hence as Premier of Victoria. At an emergency meeting of the Liberal partyroom, Napthine—who had turned 61 that day—was elected his successor.[7] After the resignation of Geoff Shaw from the parliamentary Liberal Party earlier in the day, Napthine began leadership of a minority government, holding 43 seats (44 seats including that of the Speaker) to Labor's 43 seats, with Shaw sitting an independent politician on the crossbench.

On 28 November 2013 Australian media reported that Napthine had 'secretly assisted' Shaw to draft a Private Member's Bill to change state abortion legislation which Napthine voted against in 2008.[8][9][10][11] Napthine refuted the allegations and stated his Government had no plans to change abortion laws,[12][8] nor would he support any such change. In June 2014 Napthine stated:[13]

"...that while I am Premier of this state, I will not allow Mr Shaw to introduce any legislation seeking to change the abortion laws in Victoria."

During September 2014 Napthine and Daniel Andrews told the Australian Christian Lobby that they would allow a conscience vote should a private members bill to repeal section eight of the Victorian abortion laws be introduced. Section eight if removed would mean doctors are not required by law to refer a woman who wants an abortion to an abortion doctor or perform the abortion even if they have a conscientious objection.[14]

In May 2014 a parliamentary privileges committee found that Shaw was not diligent in the use of his parliamentary car and fuel card.[15] On 3 June 2014 Shaw told radio station 774 ABC Melbourne that he would support a no confidence motion in the Napthine government.[16] On 11 June 2014, following a Labor move to expel Shaw from Parliament that was defeated on party lines with the support of the speaker, Napthine's government successfully moved a motion that resulted in the Members of the Legislative Assembly suspending Shaw for a period of eleven days, fined A$6,838 and ordered to apologise to the Parliament upon his return.[17] Shaw's suspension followed a period of political instability under Napthine's leadership.[18][19][20]

On 29 November 2014, after the Victorian state election, Napthine conceded defeat to Labor led by Daniel Andrews.[21]

Napthine intends to serve a full term despite losing the Premiership.[22]

Personal life

Napthine and his wife Peggy have three children. His younger brother, Simon, was the unsuccessful ALP candidate for the federal seat of Flinders at the 2004 election.[23]

One of Napthine's ancestors was convict Joseph Potaski.[24]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Who is Denis Napthine?". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 7 March 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "Family Notices". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848 – 1957) (Melbourne, Victoria: National Library of Australia). 10 March 1952. p. 13. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Green, Shane (8 March 2013). "From country paddock to top job". The Age. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "Premier Denis Napthine". Denis Napthine: Premier of Victoria; Member for South West Coast. Liberal Victoria. 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Members Information – Denis Napthine (South-West Coast)". Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  6. ↑ Austin, Paul; Colebatch, Tim (3 December 2010). "Baillieu promotes Lib ex-leader". The Age. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  7. ↑ "Ted Baillieu resigns as Victoria premier, Denis Napthine takes over as Liberal leader". The Australian. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Denis Napthine – South-West Coast (LIB)". Life vote. Australian Family Association. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "Geoff Shaw dictating Coalition's agenda". News.com.au. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  10. ↑ Ferguson, John (28 November 2013). "Denis Napthine secretly helped Geoff Shaw over abortion laws – report". The Herald-Sun. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  11. ↑ Ferguson, John (28 November 2013). "Geoff Shaw dictating Coalition's agenda". The Australian. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  12. ↑ Webb, Carolyn; Cook, Henrietta (4 December 2013). "Napthine vows he will not change abortion laws". The Age. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  13. ↑ Tomazin, Farrah (8 June 2014). "Abortion debate not on, Denis Napthine pledges". The Age. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  14. ↑ "What Denis Napthine and Daniel Andrews told Christians". Voice for values. Australian Christian Lobby. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "Inquiry in relation to recommendation 2 of the Ombudsman's report Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001: Investigation into allegations against Mr Geoff Shaw MP" (PDF). Legislative Assembly Privileges Committee (PDF). Melbourne, Victoria: Parliament of Victoria. May 2014. p. 6. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  16. ↑ Savage, Alison (4 June 2014). "Napthine-Andrews standoff over 'rorter' Geoff Shaw a battle of nerves". ABC News (ABC). Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  17. ↑ Uhlmann, Chris; Donovan, Samantha (12 June 2014). "Vic Parliament suspends Geoff Shaw". AM (streaming audio and transcript) (Australia). Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  18. ↑ Willingham, Richard; Cook, Henrietta; Gordon, Josh (11 June 2014). "Rogue MP Geoff Shaw suspended from Parliament". The Age. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  19. ↑ Lillebuen, Steve (12 June 2014). "Geoff Shaw must be remorseful or be expelled, Denis Napthine warns". The Age. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  20. ↑ Ferguson, John; Baxendale, Rachel (12 June 2014). "Rebel Victorian MP Geoff Shaw suspended and fined". The Australian. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  21. ↑ "Victoria votes 2014 live: Labor wins election, Napthine concedes defeat". ABC News. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  22. ↑ Conifer, Dan (1 December 2014). "Denis Napthine 'fully intends' to serve his full term following the Coalition's election defeat". ABC News. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  23. ↑ "2004 Federal Election – Flinders Electorate Profile". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 2004. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  24. ↑ 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
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
2010–2014 		Succeeded by
Luke Donnellan
Minister for Major Projects
2010–2014 		Ministry abolished
Preceded by
Rob Hulls		 Minister for Racing
2010–2014 		Succeeded by
Martin Pakula
Preceded by
Jacinta Allan
as Minister for Regional and Rural Development		 Minister for Regional Cities
2010–2014 		Succeeded by
Jaala Pulford
as Minister for Regional Development
Preceded by
Ted Baillieu		 Minister for the Arts
2013 		Succeeded by
Heidi Victoria
Premier of Victoria
2013–2014 		Succeeded by
Daniel Andrews
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
2013–2014 		Succeeded by
Matthew Guy