Dianne Hadden
Encyclopedia
Dianne Gladys Hadden was an Australia
n politician. She was an independent member of the Victorian Legislative Council
since April 2004, after resigning from the Australian Labor Party
, which she previously represented since 1999. She attempted to switch to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
at the 2006 election, contesting the electorate of Ballarat East
, but gained less than 7% of the vote.
Hadden was born in Ivanhoe
, Melbourne
, and studied economics and law at Monash University
. She worked for law firms in Melbourne
and Ballarat
, before founding her own practice in Ballarat in 1992.
In the leadup to the 1999 state election, Hadden succeeded in securing Labor pre-selection for the Liberal
-held seat of Ballarat Province. She was ultimately successful, defeating new Liberal candidate David Clark. Though she has never occupied a ministerial position, Hadden has been a member of the Law Reform Committee since her election to parliament, and in 2003, also joined the House Committee.
Hadden has gained a reputation as something of a political maverick, having publicly attacked her own party on several issues. She came out strongly against controversial plans to build a toxic waste dump at Pittong, near Ballarat, and tabling a petition opposing the proposal in parliament. When Premier Steve Bracks
continued to push for the dump to be sited at Pittong, despite significant negative publicity, she publicly slammed the government, labelling them "arrogant and dogmatic", and comparing them to former Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett
- though this earned a stern rebuke from Bracks. The campaign was ultimately successful, but it cemented her falling out with the party, resulting in her resignation to become an independent in April 2004. She attempted unsuccessfully to switch to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
seat of Ballarat East
at the 2006 election, but came fourth, gaining 6.61% of the vote and allowing long-time rival Geoff Howard
to win easily.
Hadden has been a sharp critic of genetically modified crops and her government's policies on the issue, and has publicly pushed for a harder stance. She also attacked the 2003 invasion of Iraq
, and was among ten Victorian Labor MPs who signed a petition declaring their opposition to the war. She is a member of a number of community organisations, including Amnesty International
, the Fred Hollows Foundation and the National Trust of 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. She was an independent member of the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
since April 2004, after resigning from the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
, which she previously represented since 1999. She attempted to switch to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
at the 2006 election, contesting the electorate of Ballarat East
Electoral district of Ballarat East
Ballarat East is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Victoria. It is a 3,323 km² part-urban and part-rural electorate covering areas to the east of the regional centre of Ballarat...
, but gained less than 7% of the vote.
Hadden was born in Ivanhoe
Ivanhoe, Victoria
Ivanhoe is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Banyule. At the 2006 Census, Ivanhoe had a population of 10,600.-History:...
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, and studied economics and law at Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
. She worked for law firms in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and Ballarat
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
, before founding her own practice in Ballarat in 1992.
In the leadup to the 1999 state election, Hadden succeeded in securing Labor pre-selection for the 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...
-held seat of Ballarat Province. She was ultimately successful, defeating new Liberal candidate David Clark. Though she has never occupied a ministerial position, Hadden has been a member of the Law Reform Committee since her election to parliament, and in 2003, also joined the House Committee.
Hadden has gained a reputation as something of a political maverick, having publicly attacked her own party on several issues. She came out strongly against controversial plans to build a toxic waste dump at Pittong, near Ballarat, and tabling a petition opposing the proposal in parliament. When Premier Steve Bracks
Steve Bracks
Stephen Philip Bracks AC is a former Australian politician and the 44th Premier of Victoria. He first won the electoral district of Williamstown in 1994 for the Australian Labor Party, and was party leader and Premier from 1999 to 2007....
continued to push for the dump to be sited at Pittong, despite significant negative publicity, she publicly slammed the government, labelling them "arrogant and dogmatic", and comparing them to former Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
- though this earned a stern rebuke from Bracks. The campaign was ultimately successful, but it cemented her falling out with the party, resulting in her resignation to become an independent in April 2004. She attempted unsuccessfully to switch to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
seat of Ballarat East
Electoral district of Ballarat East
Ballarat East is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Victoria. It is a 3,323 km² part-urban and part-rural electorate covering areas to the east of the regional centre of Ballarat...
at the 2006 election, but came fourth, gaining 6.61% of the vote and allowing long-time rival Geoff Howard
Geoff Howard
Geoffrey Kemp "Geoff" Howard is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 1999, representing Ballarat East....
to win easily.
Hadden has been a sharp critic of genetically modified crops and her government's policies on the issue, and has publicly pushed for a harder stance. She also attacked the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, and was among ten Victorian Labor MPs who signed a petition declaring their opposition to the war. She is a member of a number of community organisations, including Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, the Fred Hollows Foundation and the National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
.