Ian Thompson (politician)
Encyclopedia
Ian David Thompson was an Australian politician who served as Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
.
Thompson was born in Morawa
and left school in year 8, working as a carpenter, fitter and mechanic. In 1971 he was elected as the Liberal
member for Darling Range
. He transferred to Kalamunda
in 1974 and back to Darling Range in 1989. He held various shadow ministries during the 1980s. In the 1970s he was one of a group of Liberal MPs to oppose the closure of the Tresillian disabled children's home; Thompson claimed Premier
Sir Charles Court
blamed him for the party disunity. In 1977 Thompson was elected Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
, and was required to use his casting vote after the National Country Party
withdrew its support for a government bill to limit the ability of illiterate people to vote. Thompson voted against the measure, leading Court to demand his resignation; Thompson refused and faced a censure motion in the Liberal Party room, which was defeated after Margaret McAleer
called for unity. Thompson would eventually resign from the Liberal Party anyway, and he retired from politics in 1993 as an independent
.
Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly is the presiding officer in the Legislative Assembly. The office has existed since the creation of the Legislative Assembly in 1890 under the Constitution Act 1889...
.
Thompson was born in Morawa
Morawa
Morawa may refer to the following towns and villages:* Morawa, Western Australia** Shire of Morawa* Morawa, Lower Silesian Voivodeship * Morawa, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship...
and left school in year 8, working as a carpenter, fitter and mechanic. In 1971 he was elected as 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...
member for Darling Range
Electoral district of Darling Range
Darling Range is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.The district is based to the east and south-east of Perth.-Geography:Darling Range is situated in the outer east and south-east of Perth...
. He transferred to Kalamunda
Electoral district of Kalamunda
Kalamunda is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.Politically, the district is a marginal one...
in 1974 and back to Darling Range in 1989. He held various shadow ministries during the 1980s. In the 1970s he was one of a group of Liberal MPs to oppose the closure of the Tresillian disabled children's home; Thompson claimed Premier
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
Sir Charles Court
Charles Court
Sir Charles Walter Michael Court, was a Western Australian politician, 21st Premier of Western Australia and member for the seat of Nedlands for the Liberal Party for nearly 30 years.-Early life:...
blamed him for the party disunity. In 1977 Thompson was elected Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly is the presiding officer in the Legislative Assembly. The office has existed since the creation of the Legislative Assembly in 1890 under the Constitution Act 1889...
, and was required to use his casting vote after the National Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
withdrew its support for a government bill to limit the ability of illiterate people to vote. Thompson voted against the measure, leading Court to demand his resignation; Thompson refused and faced a censure motion in the Liberal Party room, which was defeated after Margaret McAleer
Margaret McAleer
Margaret McAleer was an Australian politician who served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council from 1974 to 1993....
called for unity. Thompson would eventually resign from the Liberal Party anyway, and he retired from politics in 1993 as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
.