Geoff Pearsall
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Alan Pearsall (born 15 September 1946) was an Australian politician. A member of the Liberal Party
, he served as a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
from 1969 until 1988 and as Leader of the Opposition
(1979–1981). Robin Gray
succeeded him in the latter role.
, Tasmania
, to Thomas Pearsall
, who had been one of the seven members for Division of Franklin
from 1950 to 1966, and served one term as a Federal MP for the same electorate
in the House of Representatives
. Pearsall's grandfather, Benjamin Pearsall
, had also held a Franklin seat for two non-contiguous terms during the Great Depression
.
At the 1969 election
, Pearsall stood for and won a Franklin seat, which he was to hold for the following 19 years. He failed by one vote in August 1978 to take the deputy leadership from Ray Bonney. After Max Bingham stepped down as Leader of the Opposition
following the July 1979 election
, which had seen a swing to the incumbent Labor Party in Premier Doug Lowe
's first election as leader, Pearsall was elected unopposed as leader on 7 August, with Robin Gray
as deputy leader.
The first part of his term was consumed by the electoral crisis which led to the Denison state by-election in 1980. He had an otherwise uneventful term before unexpectedly resigning for "personal reasons" on 10 November 1981. His deputy, Robin Gray, was elected unopposed, and went on to become premier at the 1982 election
. After the election, Pearsall became Minister for Tourism, National Parks and Recreational Lands, Environment and Licensing. Following Bingham's retirement from parliament, he became Deputy Premier, losing the two environment portfolios but picking up Police and Emergency Services, Road Safety and Gaming.
He resigned from parliament on 1 November 1988, and was accorded the title "The Honourable" on 20 April 1989.
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 served as a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
from 1969 until 1988 and as Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Tasmania)
The role of Leader of the Opposition in Tasmania is a title held by the leader of the largest minority party in the state lower house, the Tasmanian House of Assembly. He or she acts as the public face of the opposition, leading the government on the floor of parliament...
(1979–1981). Robin Gray
Robin Gray (Australian politician)
Robin Trevor Gray is a former Australian politician who was Premier of Tasmania from 1982 to 1989. A Liberal, he was elected Liberal state leader in 1981 and in 1982 defeated the Labor government of Harry Holgate on a policy of "state development," particularly the building of the Franklin Dam, a...
succeeded him in the latter role.
Biography
Pearsall was born in HobartHobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, to Thomas Pearsall
Thomas Pearsall
Thomas Gordon Pearsall was an Australian politician. Born in Hobart, Tasmania, he was educated at state schools before becoming a dairy farmer at Kingston. He served in the military 1940 -1945 Thomas Gordon Pearsall (11 April 1920 – 28 December 2003) was an Australian politician. Born in...
, who had been one of the seven members for Division of Franklin
Division of Franklin (state)
The Electoral Division of Franklin is one of the five electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir John Franklin, the arctic explorer who was Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land 1837-43...
from 1950 to 1966, and served one term as a Federal MP for the same electorate
Division of Franklin
The Division of Franklin is an Australian Electoral Division in Tasmania. The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir John Franklin, the polar explorer who was Lt Governor of Van Diemen's Land 1843-46. It is located in southern Tasmania, including the Hobart suburbs of Bridgewater,...
in the 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....
. Pearsall's grandfather, Benjamin Pearsall
Benjamin Pearsall
Benjamin James Pearsall was an Australian politician. He was born in Clarence Plains. In 1928 he was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly as an Independent member for Franklin. He was defeated in 1931 but re-elected in 1934, being defeated for a second time in 1937...
, had also held a Franklin seat for two non-contiguous terms during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
At the 1969 election
Tasmanian state election, 1969
A general election for the Tasmanian House of Assembly was held on 10 May 1969. The incumbent Labor Party, which had been in power continuously since 1934, was led by Eric Reece, who had been premier of Tasmania since 1958. The opposition Liberal Party was led by Angus Bethune.The election resulted...
, Pearsall stood for and won a Franklin seat, which he was to hold for the following 19 years. He failed by one vote in August 1978 to take the deputy leadership from Ray Bonney. After Max Bingham stepped down as Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Tasmania)
The role of Leader of the Opposition in Tasmania is a title held by the leader of the largest minority party in the state lower house, the Tasmanian House of Assembly. He or she acts as the public face of the opposition, leading the government on the floor of parliament...
following the July 1979 election
Tasmanian state election, 1979
Elections for the Tasmanian House of Assembly were held on 18 July 1979. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Doug Lowe, won a third term in office against the opposition Liberal Party, led by Max Bingham.-Background:...
, which had seen a swing to the incumbent Labor Party in Premier Doug Lowe
Doug Lowe (Australian politician)
Douglas Ackley "Doug" Lowe AM was the 35th Premier of Tasmania, from 1 December 1977 to 11 November 1981. His time as Premier coincided with controversy over a proposal to build a dam on Tasmania's Gordon River, which would have flooded parts of the Franklin River...
's first election as leader, Pearsall was elected unopposed as leader on 7 August, with Robin Gray
Robin Gray (Australian politician)
Robin Trevor Gray is a former Australian politician who was Premier of Tasmania from 1982 to 1989. A Liberal, he was elected Liberal state leader in 1981 and in 1982 defeated the Labor government of Harry Holgate on a policy of "state development," particularly the building of the Franklin Dam, a...
as deputy leader.
The first part of his term was consumed by the electoral crisis which led to the Denison state by-election in 1980. He had an otherwise uneventful term before unexpectedly resigning for "personal reasons" on 10 November 1981. His deputy, Robin Gray, was elected unopposed, and went on to become premier at the 1982 election
Tasmanian state election, 1982
Elections for the Tasmanian House of Assembly were held on the 15 May 1982. The incumbent Labor Party, in power since 1972 and led by Premier Harry Holgate, was defeated by the opposition Liberal Party, led by Robin Gray....
. After the election, Pearsall became Minister for Tourism, National Parks and Recreational Lands, Environment and Licensing. Following Bingham's retirement from parliament, he became Deputy Premier, losing the two environment portfolios but picking up Police and Emergency Services, Road Safety and Gaming.
He resigned from parliament on 1 November 1988, and was accorded the title "The Honourable" on 20 April 1989.