Don Wing
Encyclopedia
Donald George "Don" Wing (born 27 April 1938) is a former Australia
n politician. A member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
from 1982 to 2011, representing the electoral division of Launceston (briefly named Paterson), he was President of the Legislative Council
from 2002 until 2008. Wing was also Mayor
of the City of Launceston
from 1983 to 1987.
Wing was born in Ulverstone
, and was first elected to the Legislative Council on 22 May 1982. He is a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania
and before entering parliament practised as a barrister. He has served as an Alderman of the Launceston City Council and as Mayor thereof; a path that was later followed by fellow conservative independent MLC Ivan Dean
. He has vocally supported Dean in the face of criticism for holding both positions at once, arguing that his own experience shows that such a career is workable.
Although Wing is a former president of the Tasmanian branch of the Liberal Party of Australia
, he has always served as an independent in the Legislative Council due to his party's stance of not endorsing partisan candidates to the body and instead backing conservative independents. He announced that he would not contest his seat at the next election in May 2011, and relinquished the presidency to allow himself more scope to debate issues on the floor of the Legislative Council chamber.
In September 2011 he appeared in the Launceston Musical Society's production of Oliver! by Lionel Bart. In it he played the part of Mr Brownlow.
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. A member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
Tasmanian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the House of Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Hobart...
from 1982 to 2011, representing the electoral division of Launceston (briefly named Paterson), he was President of the Legislative Council
President of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
The President of the Tasmanian Legislative Council is the presiding officer of the Council. The current President is Sue Smith MLC who has presided over the Council since 10 June 2008.-Presidents of the Legislative Council:-External links:...
from 2002 until 2008. Wing was also Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the City of Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
from 1983 to 1987.
Wing was born in Ulverstone
Ulverstone, Tasmania
Ulverstone is a town on the northwest coast of Tasmania, Australia. It lies at the mouth of the Leven River, on Bass Strait. It is on the Bass Highway, west of Devonport and east of Penguin....
, and was first elected to the Legislative Council on 22 May 1982. He is a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
and before entering parliament practised as a barrister. He has served as an Alderman of the Launceston City Council and as Mayor thereof; a path that was later followed by fellow conservative independent MLC Ivan Dean
Ivan Dean
Ivan Noel Dean, APM , is an Australian politician. He has been an independent member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council since 2003, representing the electorate of Windermere. He also served as Mayor of Launceston from 2005 to 2007....
. He has vocally supported Dean in the face of criticism for holding both positions at once, arguing that his own experience shows that such a career is workable.
Although Wing is a former president of the Tasmanian branch of the Liberal Party of Australia
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...
, he has always served as an independent in the Legislative Council due to his party's stance of not endorsing partisan candidates to the body and instead backing conservative independents. He announced that he would not contest his seat at the next election in May 2011, and relinquished the presidency to allow himself more scope to debate issues on the floor of the Legislative Council chamber.
In September 2011 he appeared in the Launceston Musical Society's production of Oliver! by Lionel Bart. In it he played the part of Mr Brownlow.