John Cornwall (South Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
John Robert Cornwall was a Labor
member of the South Australian Legislative Council
for 14 years, from 1975 to 1988. He was a senior member of the front bench for most of his political career.
and in Adelaide
from 1961 to 1975.
governments, from 1982 to the end of 1988.
In the 1980s state health Ministers faced a number of challenges, among them Commonwealth-State financial arrangements under a new Medicare agreement, the structure of the State's health care delivery system, and questions about social justice and equity in public health. Dr Cornwall tightened central government control on hospital administration to improve public accountability and allow hospital services to be shared across the system to better meet patient needs and reduce waiting times.
Dr Cornwall fostered a new approach to health care in Australia that was inspired by the Health For All
agenda of the World Health Organisation in the 1970s. It championed people increasing control over and improving their health, and viewed health status as inextricably linked to social well-being and economic conditions.
Dr Cornwall championed the development of health and community services for disadvantaged groups, such as women's health services, Aboriginal health services, child and adolescent mental health services, and child protection services. He developed a community-based system of health care that linked health care services to specific population or geographic areas, with funding granted on the basis of the needs of those areas. As part of these reforms a proportion of health care funds were reallocated from hospitals into areas of social disadvantage, resulting in better access to health services for people in social need.
Between 1983 and 1987, Dr Cornwall led the effort to clear environmental lead pollutants in Port Pirie, a town in South Australia whose economy is based on a major lead smelter. The project is widely regarded as one of the most significant public health projects among developed countries.
Dr Cornwall ran an anti-smoking program and introduced Australia's first comprehensive legislative package to restrict tobacco advertising in cinemas, prohibit tobacco sponsorship of sporting events, and establish an independent trust to provide replacement funding for sponsorship of sport and cultural activities (Foundation South Australia). The legislation was significant in paving the way for reforms in other states and the Commonwealth.
Dr Cornwall introduced legisation decriminalising possession of small quantities of cannabis. He introduced the legislation as a private members bill, having secured support for the policy at the Labor Party convention. He was motivated by a strong belief that decriminalisation would break the nexus between soft and hard drugs, which cause much greater harm to individuals and society.
Cornwall's ministerial career came to an end on the 4th August 1988. As a result of Dr Peter Humble successfully suing Cornwall for libel, Cornwall was advised by Cabinet to resign from his ministerial post, which he subsequently did. Cornwall then resigned from parliament on 31 January 1989.
s in South Australia. The Review Committee's report included unsubstantiated allegations about women's shelter operator Dawn Rowan
. Ms Rowan successfully sued Dr Cornwall for misfeasance in public office
for releasing the committee's report while knowing it contained false allegations.
He was Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) from 1989 to 1991, and was awarded the AVA Meritorious Service Award ‘for outstanding services’ in 1991.
He was director of the Australian Youth Foundation from 1992 to 1995, where he conducted research on the needs of disadvantaged young people, culminating in a report entitled "The Lost Generation".
From 1997 he was managing consultant for the Delta Society Australia – an organisation that promotes positive interaction between people and companion animals, particularly pet dogs. His flagship programs were a vocational course for behavioural pet dog trainers, a dog safe program for junior primary school children, and the pet partners program providing trained therapy dogs in hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centres. During this time he co-authored an article on preventing dog bites in children, published in the British Medical Journal
.
He retired in 2007 and joined the Horn of Africa Relief and Development Agency as a volunteer, where he is President and Executive Director.
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 South Australian Legislative Council
South Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...
for 14 years, from 1975 to 1988. He was a senior member of the front bench for most of his political career.
Veterinary career
John Cornwall studied at Queensland University graduating with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science in the 1950s. He ran veterinary practices in Mount GambierMount Gambier, South Australia
Mount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border....
and in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
from 1961 to 1975.
Political career
Dr Cornwall served for more than six years in the State Cabinet, first as Minister for Environment and Lands in 1979, and then as Minister of Health and Community Services in two John BannonJohn Bannon
John Charles Bannon AO is a former Australian politician. He was the 39th Premier of South Australia, leading the Labor Party to government at the 1982 election. The Bannon Labor government was re-elected at the 1985 election and the 1989 election...
governments, from 1982 to the end of 1988.
In the 1980s state health Ministers faced a number of challenges, among them Commonwealth-State financial arrangements under a new Medicare agreement, the structure of the State's health care delivery system, and questions about social justice and equity in public health. Dr Cornwall tightened central government control on hospital administration to improve public accountability and allow hospital services to be shared across the system to better meet patient needs and reduce waiting times.
Dr Cornwall fostered a new approach to health care in Australia that was inspired by the Health For All
Health For All
Health For All is a programming goal of the World Health Organization , which envisions securing the health and well being of people around the world that has been popularized since the 1970s...
agenda of the World Health Organisation in the 1970s. It championed people increasing control over and improving their health, and viewed health status as inextricably linked to social well-being and economic conditions.
Dr Cornwall championed the development of health and community services for disadvantaged groups, such as women's health services, Aboriginal health services, child and adolescent mental health services, and child protection services. He developed a community-based system of health care that linked health care services to specific population or geographic areas, with funding granted on the basis of the needs of those areas. As part of these reforms a proportion of health care funds were reallocated from hospitals into areas of social disadvantage, resulting in better access to health services for people in social need.
Between 1983 and 1987, Dr Cornwall led the effort to clear environmental lead pollutants in Port Pirie, a town in South Australia whose economy is based on a major lead smelter. The project is widely regarded as one of the most significant public health projects among developed countries.
Dr Cornwall ran an anti-smoking program and introduced Australia's first comprehensive legislative package to restrict tobacco advertising in cinemas, prohibit tobacco sponsorship of sporting events, and establish an independent trust to provide replacement funding for sponsorship of sport and cultural activities (Foundation South Australia). The legislation was significant in paving the way for reforms in other states and the Commonwealth.
Dr Cornwall introduced legisation decriminalising possession of small quantities of cannabis. He introduced the legislation as a private members bill, having secured support for the policy at the Labor Party convention. He was motivated by a strong belief that decriminalisation would break the nexus between soft and hard drugs, which cause much greater harm to individuals and society.
Cornwall's ministerial career came to an end on the 4th August 1988. As a result of Dr Peter Humble successfully suing Cornwall for libel, Cornwall was advised by Cabinet to resign from his ministerial post, which he subsequently did. Cornwall then resigned from parliament on 31 January 1989.
Rowan lawsuit
In 1987 Dr Cornwall commissioned a review into the administration of women's shelterWomen's shelter
A women's shelter is a place of temporary refuge and support for women escaping violent or abusive situations, such as rape, and domestic violence....
s in South Australia. The Review Committee's report included unsubstantiated allegations about women's shelter operator Dawn Rowan
Dawn Rowan
Dawn Rowan is a therapist who specialises in counselling adult survivors of childhood ritual, satanic, emotional, sexual and physical abuse...
. Ms Rowan successfully sued Dr Cornwall for misfeasance in public office
Misfeasance in public office
Misfeasance in public office is a cause of action in the civil courts of England and Wales and certain Commonwealth countries. It is an action against the holder of a public office, alleging in essence that the office-holder has misused or abused his power...
for releasing the committee's report while knowing it contained false allegations.
Post politics
Cornwall pursued a third career outside politics from 1989. He moved to Sydney to take up senior executive roles for non-government organisations in the human and companion animal health arenas.He was Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) from 1989 to 1991, and was awarded the AVA Meritorious Service Award ‘for outstanding services’ in 1991.
He was director of the Australian Youth Foundation from 1992 to 1995, where he conducted research on the needs of disadvantaged young people, culminating in a report entitled "The Lost Generation".
From 1997 he was managing consultant for the Delta Society Australia – an organisation that promotes positive interaction between people and companion animals, particularly pet dogs. His flagship programs were a vocational course for behavioural pet dog trainers, a dog safe program for junior primary school children, and the pet partners program providing trained therapy dogs in hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centres. During this time he co-authored an article on preventing dog bites in children, published in the British Medical Journal
British Medical Journal
BMJ is a partially open-access peer-reviewed medical journal. Originally called the British Medical Journal, the title was officially shortened to BMJ in 1988. The journal is published by the BMJ Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Medical Association...
.
He retired in 2007 and joined the Horn of Africa Relief and Development Agency as a volunteer, where he is President and Executive Director.