Paul Henderson (politician)

Paul Raymond Henderson (born 15 August 1962)^[1] is a former Australian politician who was Chief Minister of the Northern Territory from 2007 to 2012.

Background and early career

Henderson was born in Croix-Chapeau, France, where his father was serving with the United States military. He was educated in the United Kingdom to A-Levels and studied mechanical engineering through the City and Guilds of London Institute. He worked as an apprentice marine fitter in Southampton before emigrating to Australia in 1982, where he worked as an underground fitter at the zinc mines in Rosebery, Tasmania. He moved to Darwin in the Northern Territory in 1983, working as a marine fitter.^[2] In 1985 he began working for the Northern Territory government as a computer operator, was self-employed as a computer analyst in Britain from 1991 to 1992 and returned to work for the Northern Territory government in 1993.

Political career

Henderson was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in an August 1999 by-election for the Australian Labor Party (ALP), representing the electorate of Wanguri when the previous member, John Bailey, resigned.^[3]

He held the following ministries: Minister for Employment, Education and Training; Minister for Tourism; Minister for Public Employment; and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, until he became Chief Minister of the Northern Territory after the sudden resignation of Clare Martin on 26 November 2007.^[4] He became the first man to lead an ALP Government in the Territory.

The Henderson-led ALP retained government at the 2008 territory election, with 13 of 25 seats, a one-seat majority.

In August 2009, Labor MLA Alison Anderson resigned from the ALP after a disagreement with Henderson's government over housing in remote indigenous areas. The opposition Country Liberal Party moved a motion of no-confidence against Henderson, which was defeated by one vote after Henderson reached an agreement with Independent MLA Gerry Wood to support his government.^[5]

At the 2012 territory election, Henderson was re-elected to his seat but his government was defeated by the opposition Country Liberal Party led by Terry Mills. On 25 January 2013, Henderson resigned as a member of the Legislative Assembly, triggering a by-election in his electorate of Wanguri.^[6]

On 26 June 2013, the Henderson was granted the title "The Honourable" for life by the Governor-General.^[7]

References

Majority Leaders and Chief Ministers of the Northern Territory Goff Letts Paul Everingham Ian Tuxworth Stephen Hatton Marshall Perron Shane Stone Denis Burke Clare Martin Paul Henderson Terry Mills Adam Giles