Michael Hodgman

The Honourable Michael Hodgman AM QC
Member of the Australian Parliament for Denison
In office 13 December 1975 – 11 July 1987
Preceded by	John Coates
Succeeded by	Duncan Kerr
Personal details
Born	16 November 1938 (1938-11-16) (age 72) Hobart, Tasmania
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia

William Michael Hodgman, AM QC (born 16 November 1938, Hobart),^[1] is an Australian Liberal retired politician. He is a former member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council, the Tasmanian House of Assembly and the Australian House of Representatives.

Hodgman first entered politics in 1966 as member for the Tasmanian Legislative Council seat of Huon. He held this position until 1974 when he stood down to run for the Federal electorate of Denison. He was unsuccessful, but won the seat at his second attempt at the 1975 election, and held the seat until 1987, when he was defeated by Duncan Kerr from the Australian Labor Party. He served as Minister for the Capital Territory and Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry and Commerce in the Fraser government from 1980 to 1983.

In 1992 Hodgman returned to state politics in the lower house electorate of Denison, which he held until defeated in 1998 when the size of parliament was reduced from 35 to 25 members. He regained the position in 2001 after a recount of votes due to the retirement of Ray Groom. In the 2002 state election he retained his seat, at the expense of his colleague and leader Bob Cheek.

Hodgman is well known for his strong support for retaining Australia's Constitutional monarchy.^[2] He enjoys wide name-recognition in Hobart; mainly due to his long political career. His wife died in 2003. His son Will Hodgman is the current Leader of the Liberal Party in Tasmania.

He achieved further fame in 2007 when, during a speech, he rallied fellow party members to give 'the Labor party one right up the bracket'. On the popular Get This radio show, the team have a featured segment using the soundbite 'one right up the bracket', in which callers air their grievances.

On 19 November 2009 Mr Hodgman announced he would not be contesting the 2010 state election.^[2] In his farewell speech he spoke briefly about his political career including electorates represented, ministerial offices held, opposition to the invasion of East Timor and flooding of Lake Pedder.^[3]

In June 2010 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).^[4]

See also

• Fourth Fraser Ministry

References

1. ^ Parliamentary library profile
2. ^ ^{a b} Hodgman bows out, ABC News, 19 November 2009
3. ^ Hodgman's farewell speech, The Mercury, 19 November 2009
4. ^ It's an Honour

External links

• Michael Hodgman's maiden speech to House of Assembly

Political offices
Preceded by Robert Ellicott	Minister for the Capital Territory 1980–1983	Succeeded by Tom Uren
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by John Coates	Member for Denison 1975–1987	Succeeded by Duncan Kerr

Persondata
Name	Hodgman, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	16 November 1938
Place of birth	Hobart, Tasmania
Date of death
Place of death