Paul Lennon

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = Paul Lennon
honorific-suffix =


imagesize = 180px
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caption =
order = 42nd
office = Premier of Tasmania
term_start = 21 March 2004
term_end = 26 May 2008
deputy = David Bartlett
predecessor = Jim Bacon
successor = David Bartlett
constituency = Franklin
majority =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1955|10|8|df=y
birth_place = Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = Australian
party = Australian Labor Party
otherparty =
spouse = Margaret Lennon
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater =
occupation =
profession = Trade union official
net worth =
religion =


website =
footnotes =

Paul Anthony Lennon (born 8 October 1955)is an Australian Labor Party politician. He was Premier of Tasmania from 21 March 2004 until his resignation on 26 May 2008. He was member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for the seat of Franklin from 1990 until officially resigning on 27 May 2008. [ [http://www.electoral.tas.gov.au/pages/Media/PDF/HoA/08%20Franklin%20recount.pdf Franklin Recount] , "Tasmanian Electoral Commission"] He left office abruptly after his approval rating fell to 17%, largely as a result of perceptions of corruption in his government's fasttracked approval of the Gunns Pulp Mill proposal, which had effectively bypassed normal planning procedure.

Early life

Born in Hobart, he attended St. Virgil's College, then worked as a storeman and clerk before becoming an organiser with the Storemen and Packers Union in 1978. He did not attend university.

In 1980 he became Tasmanian State Secretary of the union, and from 1982 he was Senior Vice President of the national union.Ward, Airlie: [http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/tas/content/2003/s1074898.htm Paul Lennon] , "Stateline Tasmania" (ABC), March 26, 2004.] In 1984 Lennon became Secretary of the Tasmanian Trades & Labor Council, and also a member of the Executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Lennon first ran for parliament at 1989 state election. He was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in 1990 on a recount of votes following the resignation of Ken Wriedt and immediately became Deputy Leader of the Labor Party. He was Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Workplace Standards, Workers' Compensation, Public Sector Management, Forests, Mines, Racing and Gaming, and Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly.

Jim Bacon government

On the election of a Labor government under Jim Bacon in 1998, Lennon became Deputy Premier, Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources and Minister for Racing and Gaming. Following the re-election of the government in 2002, he became Minister for Economic Development, Energy and Resources, and Minister for Racing and Sport and Recreation.

Premier of Tasmania

In February 2004 Bacon was diagnosed with lung cancer and stood down as Premier to begin treatment. Lennon was Acting Premier until 21 March, when Bacon resigned and Lennon was sworn in as Tasmania’s 42nd Premier. He was also Treasurer until 2006 when he was succeeded by Michael Aird.

Lennon and Bacon were close friends as well as colleagues and Lennon was emotional as he assumed the premiership with Bacon watching on. "It's hard to describe how you feel when someone who has been that close to you also happens to be your boss", Lennon told an interviewer. "It was a very tough time. A very tough time indeed."

Lennon is known as an active proponent of Tasmania's forestry industry, which has made him very unpopular with the Greens, numerous conservation groups and others on the left. He represents a long tradition of conservative, pro-business Labor leadership in Tasmania. Both Lennon's Labor government and the State Opposition have been criticised for their close ties with the logging company Gunns Limited, most recently over the drafting of new legislation. [cite journal | title = Tas: Greens call for corruption probe into proposed mill | journal = AAP Australian National News Wire | date = April 3, 2007]

In January 2006, Lennon faced criticism in the media over allegations of impropriety when it was revealed that he had received an upgrade from a A$200 per night room in the Crown Casino to a six-star suite worth up to A$4000 per night, complete with a private butler. The Crown Casino is owned by the Packer family's Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, which also owns a 50% stake in Betfair, the company to which Lennon's government days later awarded a A$700 million internet gaming licence. [Whinnett, Ellen: [http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17788596%255E911,00.html Premier in casino scandal] , "The Advertiser", January 10, 2006.]

In the 2006 state election Lennon successfully led the Labor party to a majority government, contrary to many pre-election predictions.

Following an opinion poll which showed his personal approval rating at 17 per cent, Lennon announced on 26 May 2008 that he would stand down as Premier of Tasmania and leave politics altogether. He said he had made the decision 'for himself and his family'. On the afternoon of 26 May 2008, Lennon resigned his commission as Premier to the Governor of Tasmania, the Hon. Peter Underwood. The Deputy Premier, David Bartlett, received his commission at Government House as the 43rd Tasmanian Premier shortly thereafter. [ [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23758392-2,00.html Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon quits] , "The Mercury", 26 May 2008] [cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/26/2255528.htm|title=Lennon walks away from politics|date=2008-05-26|work=abc.net.au|accessdate=2008-05-26] He officially resigned from his seat of Franklin the following day.

On Tuesday 10 June 2008, the Tasmanian Electoral Commission announced Ross Butler as his replacement in parliament after a recount of votes. [ [http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,23842087-921,00.html Butler wins Lennon's seat] , "The Mercury", 10 June 2008]

Family

He is married to Margaret Lennon and has two children.

References

External links

* [http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/tasparl/lennon_pa_686.htm Tasmanian parliamentary profile]
* [http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ha/ISLennonPaul.htm Paul Lennon's maiden speech to parliament]