Graeme Sturges
Encyclopedia
Graeme Lindsay Sturges is an Australia
n politician. He was an Australian Labor Party
member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
from 2002 to 2010, representing the Hobart
-based electorate of Denison, and from May 2008 until 2010, he was the state Minister for Infrastructure. Sturges lost his seat at the 2010 state election
, but regained it on 26 May 2011 in a recount triggered by the resignation of David Bartlett
.
. Prior to entering Parliament, he worked as the State Secretary for the Tasmanian branch of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union
.
at the 2002 state election.
Sturges retained his political seat in the 2006 state election and continued his role as Government Whip
whilst also remaining involved in community groups such as the RSPCA, Disabled Riders Association, Pensioners Union, French Car Club of Tasmania and the boxing community.
Sturges was appointed the Minister for Infrastructure in David Bartlett
's cabinet following the resignation of the Premier, Paul Lennon
.
During his time as Minister, Sturges attracted vigorous comment as to his handling of both rail infrastructure and ports as services either failed or were proven to have significant deterioration due to inactivity over many years. The absence of available Federal stimulus funding to alleviate these issues was also commented upon with Sturges admitting that the government had failed to apply for financial support.
During his time in parliament, Sturges was reported to have made several "gaffes". In March 2009, he was accused of misusing his position by raising an incident between his son and a bus driver with the management of Metro Tasmania
. In another widely-reported incident, Sturges reportedly shouted at a TT-Line security guard, stating "Don't you know who I am? I'll have your job." Sturges apologised to the guard, but later denied he had made the statements attributed to him, and said that his apology had been forced by the Premier's media advisors.
Sturges subsequently lost his seat in the Tasmanian state election in March 2010 gaining only 1,185 primary votes. He was then appointed Chairman of the Board of TasBuild.
In May 2011, former Premier David Bartlett resigned from parliament, triggering a "countback" (or recount of 2010 votes) for Denison. Of Labor's unsuccessful candidates at that election, Lisa Singh
had been elected to the Australian Senate
, leaving Sturges and Madeleine Ogilvie as the eligible Labor candidates. The recount took place on 26 May, and Sturges was re-elected with 5,362 votes to Ogilvie's 4,197.
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. He was an 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...
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 2002 to 2010, representing the Hobart
Hobart
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...
-based electorate of Denison, and from May 2008 until 2010, he was the state Minister for Infrastructure. Sturges lost his seat at the 2010 state election
Tasmanian state election, 2010
The 2010 Tasmanian state election was held on 20 March 2010 to elect members to the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The 12-year incumbent Labor government, led by Premier of Tasmania David Bartlett, won a fourth consecutive term against the Liberal opposition, led by Will Hodgman, after Labor formed a...
, but regained it on 26 May 2011 in a recount triggered by the resignation of David Bartlett
David Bartlett
David John Bartlett is an Australian former politician in the state of Tasmania, serving as the 43rd Premier of Tasmania from May 2008 until January 2011. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Denison from 2004 to 2011.-Early life:He has been a resident...
.
Early life
Sturges 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...
. Prior to entering Parliament, he worked as the State Secretary for the Tasmanian branch of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union
Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia
The Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia is a trade union in Australia. Its full name is the Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia as it represents workers in all of these industries.CEPU is an...
.
Political career
Sturges entered Parliament when he was elected to the seat of DenisonDivision of Denison (state)
The Electoral Division of Denison is one of the 5 electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir William Denison, who was Lieutenant Governor of Van_Diemen's Land 1847-55, and Governor of New South Wales 1855-61. The division shares its name and boundaries with the...
at the 2002 state election.
Sturges retained his political seat in the 2006 state election and continued his role as Government Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
whilst also remaining involved in community groups such as the RSPCA, Disabled Riders Association, Pensioners Union, French Car Club of Tasmania and the boxing community.
Sturges was appointed the Minister for Infrastructure in David Bartlett
David Bartlett
David John Bartlett is an Australian former politician in the state of Tasmania, serving as the 43rd Premier of Tasmania from May 2008 until January 2011. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Denison from 2004 to 2011.-Early life:He has been a resident...
's cabinet following the resignation of the Premier, Paul Lennon
Paul Lennon
Paul Anthony Lennon is an Australian Labor Party politician. He was Premier of Tasmania from 21 March 2004 until his resignation on 26 May 2008. He was member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for the seat of Franklin from 1990 until officially resigning on 27 May 2008...
.
During his time as Minister, Sturges attracted vigorous comment as to his handling of both rail infrastructure and ports as services either failed or were proven to have significant deterioration due to inactivity over many years. The absence of available Federal stimulus funding to alleviate these issues was also commented upon with Sturges admitting that the government had failed to apply for financial support.
During his time in parliament, Sturges was reported to have made several "gaffes". In March 2009, he was accused of misusing his position by raising an incident between his son and a bus driver with the management of Metro Tasmania
Metro Tasmania
Metro Tasmania is the primary provider of public transport in the Australian state of Tasmania. For bus timetable and route information see the...
. In another widely-reported incident, Sturges reportedly shouted at a TT-Line security guard, stating "Don't you know who I am? I'll have your job." Sturges apologised to the guard, but later denied he had made the statements attributed to him, and said that his apology had been forced by the Premier's media advisors.
Sturges subsequently lost his seat in the Tasmanian state election in March 2010 gaining only 1,185 primary votes. He was then appointed Chairman of the Board of TasBuild.
In May 2011, former Premier David Bartlett resigned from parliament, triggering a "countback" (or recount of 2010 votes) for Denison. Of Labor's unsuccessful candidates at that election, Lisa Singh
Lisa Singh
Lisa Maria Singh is an Australian politician. She is currently an Australian Labor Party Senator for Tasmania. From 2006 to 2010, she was a Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly, representing the division of Denison....
had been elected to the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
, leaving Sturges and Madeleine Ogilvie as the eligible Labor candidates. The recount took place on 26 May, and Sturges was re-elected with 5,362 votes to Ogilvie's 4,197.