- Gordon Scholes
-
The Honourable
Gordon Scholes
AOScholes in 1983 Member of the Australian Parliament
for CorioIn office
22 July 1967 – 8 February 1993Preceded by Hubert Opperman Succeeded by Gavan O'Connor 16th Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives In office
27 February 1975 – 16 February 1976Preceded by Jim Cope Succeeded by Sir Billy Snedden Personal details Born 7 June 1931
Melbourne, VictoriaNationality Australian Political party Australian Labor Party Spouse(s) Della K Robinson Occupation Councillor Gordon Glen Denton Scholes AO (born 7 June 1931) is a former Australian politician and Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives.
Scholes was born in Melbourne, the son of Thomas Glen Denton Scholes and his wife Mary Louisa O'Brien. He was the Victorian Amateur Heavyweight Boxing Champion in 1949. He joined the Australian Labor Party in 1955 and was President of the Geelong ALP Branch from 1962 to 1964. He was President of the Geelong Trades Hall Council from 1965 to 1966, and a councillor of the Geelong City Council from 1965 to 1967.
He won the House of Representatives seat of Corio at a by-election in 1967, following Sir Hubert Opperman's resignation. He was Speaker from 27 February 1975 until 16 February 1976.
He was Speaker for the duration of the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis. On 11 November 1975, following the dismissal of the Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam and the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Fraser, the House of Representatives passed a motion expressing lack of confidence in Fraser’s government, and required Scholes as Speaker to convey that information to the Governor-General Sir John Kerr and to request Kerr to dismiss Fraser and re-appoint Whitlam. Scholes made an appointment to meet Kerr at 4:45 pm. However, by the time he arrived, Kerr had already dissolved the Parliament on Fraser’s advice, which was something Fraser had undertaken to do once he had secured passage of the Supply bills through the Senate. Scholes later accused Kerr of bad faith for making an appointment to receive the Speaker, and then not waiting to hear from him before dissolving Parliament.
Scholes was Minister for Defence in the first Hawke Ministry from March 1983 to December 1984 and then Minister for Territories until July 1987. He retired before the 1993 election.
He is an honorary member of the Geelong Philatelic Society .[1]
Notes
- ^ "Biography for Scholes, the Hon. Gordon Glen Denton, AO". ParlInfo Web. Parliament of Australia. http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/view_document.aspx?id=7937&table=BIOGS. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
Political offices Preceded by
Ian SinclairAustralian Minister for Defence
1983–1984Succeeded by
Kim BeazleyPreceded by
Tom UrenAustralian Minister for Territories
1984–1987Succeeded by
John BrownParliament of Australia Preceded by
Hubert OppermanMember for Corio
1967–1993Succeeded by
Gavan O'ConnorPreceded by
Jim CopeSpeaker of the Australian House of Representatives
1975–1976Succeeded by
Billy SneddenSpeakers of the Australian House of Representatives Categories:- 1931 births
- Living people
- Australian Labor Party politicians
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Corio
- Officers of the Order of Australia
- Speakers of the Australian House of Representatives
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