Alan Cadman
Encyclopedia
Alan Glyndwr Cadman, AM
(born 26 July 1937), Australia
n politician, was a Liberal
member of the Australian House of Representatives
from 18 May 1974 to 17 October 2007, representing the Division of Mitchell
, New South Wales
.
Cadman was born in Sydney
and was educated at the University of New South Wales
. He was an orchardist and company director before entering politics.
Cadman was Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Malcolm Fraser
) 1981-83 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Small Business 1997-98. In 1992 he was one of a group of Coalition members of parliament who founded the Lyons Forum
, a conservative ginger group
.
In 2003, Cadman was the unsuspecting target of a prank by comedy show CNNNN in which "rumours" were spread about his intentions to run against John Howard
for the Prime Ministership
.
In early 2004, Cadman narrowly survived a preselection challenge in his seat of Mitchell, ultimately holding on by 58 votes to 55.
On 16 June 2007, Cadman withdrew from the preselection contest, and later announced his current term would be his last. He was to later condemn the circumstances under which he lost preselection to Alex Hawke
. The Australian newspaper wrote "One of parliament's longest-serving MPs has lashed out at the "extreme" right wing of the Liberal Party, saying it is no longer concerned with values or policies and has become obsessed with power for its own sake. Mitchell MP Alan Cadman has broken his silence on the preselection battle in which he lost the party's endorsement for his safe northern Sydney seat, which he won from Labor in 1974, to the right wing's Alex Hawke, 29. Mr Cadman said his loss to Mr Hawke... was the result of relentless branch-stacking within the electorate."
At the time of his retirement Cadman was the second longest-serving member of the House of Representatives. Philip Ruddock
was the only serving member of the House who had served for a longer period of time.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 26 July 1937), Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician, was a Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
from 18 May 1974 to 17 October 2007, representing the Division of Mitchell
Division of Mitchell
The Division of Mitchell is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in the north-west suburbs of Sydney, and includes the entire suburbs of Baulkham Hills, Beaumont Hills, Bella Vista, Box Hill, Kellyville, Nelson and Winston Hills...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
Cadman was born in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and was educated at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. He was an orchardist and company director before entering politics.
Cadman was Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
) 1981-83 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Small Business 1997-98. In 1992 he was one of a group of Coalition members of parliament who founded the Lyons Forum
Lyons Forum
The Lyons Forum was a ginger group or informal political faction comprising some federal members of conservative Australian parliamentary parties. It was formed in the early 1990s and was active both in Liberal Party of Australia parliamentary leadership conflict and on family policy issues. The...
, a conservative ginger group
Ginger group
A ginger group is a formal or informal group within, for example, a political party seeking to inspire the rest with its own enthusiasm and activity....
.
In 2003, Cadman was the unsuspecting target of a prank by comedy show CNNNN in which "rumours" were spread about his intentions to run against John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
for the Prime Ministership
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
.
In early 2004, Cadman narrowly survived a preselection challenge in his seat of Mitchell, ultimately holding on by 58 votes to 55.
On 16 June 2007, Cadman withdrew from the preselection contest, and later announced his current term would be his last. He was to later condemn the circumstances under which he lost preselection to Alex Hawke
Alex Hawke
Alexander George "Alex" Hawke MP , an Australian politician, is a member of the Australian House of Representatives representing Mitchell, in north-western metropolitan Sydney, for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2007...
. The Australian newspaper wrote "One of parliament's longest-serving MPs has lashed out at the "extreme" right wing of the Liberal Party, saying it is no longer concerned with values or policies and has become obsessed with power for its own sake. Mitchell MP Alan Cadman has broken his silence on the preselection battle in which he lost the party's endorsement for his safe northern Sydney seat, which he won from Labor in 1974, to the right wing's Alex Hawke, 29. Mr Cadman said his loss to Mr Hawke... was the result of relentless branch-stacking within the electorate."
At the time of his retirement Cadman was the second longest-serving member of the House of Representatives. Philip Ruddock
Philip Ruddock
Philip Maxwell Ruddock is an Australian politician who is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the Division of Berowra, New South Wales, for the Liberal Party of Australia...
was the only serving member of the House who had served for a longer period of time.