Kris Hanna
Encyclopedia
Kris Hanna was an Australia
n politician, and member for Mitchell
in the South Australian House of Assembly
from 1997 until 2010. Originally elected as a Labor
member, Hanna defected to the SA Greens in 2003 before becoming an independent in 2006.
Before entering Parliament, Hanna practised law, primarily in the areas of injury litigation and criminal defence. Hanna served as a councillor for the City of Marion
from 1995 to 1997.
While initially elected at the 1997 and 2002 election as a member of the Australian Labor Party
, he defected to the SA Greens in early 2003. He ultimately resigned from the Greens on 8 February 2006 and ran in the 2006 election
as an Independent and won, before losing at the 2010 election despite receiving a swing, due to narrowly finishing third after all non-major party preferences had been distributed. His chances of retaining his seat in 2006 had been essentially written off by most commentators after his decision to become an Independent, but won a surprise narrow victory after a very low Liberal primary vote and an endorsement from popular Independent Nick Xenophon
.
Hanna sought to have his 2010 election loss overturned with the Supreme Court of South Australia
, saying he fell victim to "misleading and defamatory" leaflets and posters distributed by the Australian Labor Party. The Supreme Court, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns, ruled the leaflets - labelling Mr Hanna "soft on crime" - were defamatory and not factual, yet there was a right to express such opinions.
The Supreme Court dismissed Hanna's case..
During his time in Parliament, Hanna spoke on issues such as Australia's treatment of refugees, environmental matters, constitutional reform and what he believed to be the fallacies of 'tough law & order' policies. South Australia's fixed parliamentary terms of 4 years were as a result of amendments to the Constitution Act successfully moved by Mr Hanna.
Hanna also devoted much of his time to refugee advocacy. He was a member of the SA Parliament's Amnesty International
sub-branch, and occasionally a lawyer
for refugee
s. He helped establish the Refugee Advocacy Service of South Australia Inc
http://www.rassa.org.au (RASSA), and served on the RASSA executive.
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, and member for Mitchell
Electoral district of Mitchell (South Australia)
Mitchell is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the state of South Australia. It was first created in 1969 and is named after philosopher Sir William Mitchell...
in the South Australian House of Assembly
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
from 1997 until 2010. Originally elected as a Labor
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, Hanna defected to the SA Greens in 2003 before becoming an independent in 2006.
Before entering Parliament, Hanna practised law, primarily in the areas of injury litigation and criminal defence. Hanna served as a councillor for the City of Marion
City of Marion
The City of Marion is a local government area in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. The council offices are in the suburb of Sturt.-Suburbs:The suburbs in the City of Marion are:-External links:**...
from 1995 to 1997.
While initially elected at the 1997 and 2002 election as a member of the 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...
, he defected to the SA Greens in early 2003. He ultimately resigned from the Greens on 8 February 2006 and ran in the 2006 election
South Australian legislative election, 2006
The state election for the 51st Parliament of South Australia was held in the Australian state of South Australia on 18 March 2006, and was conducted by the independent State Electoral Office.-House of Assembly:...
as an Independent and won, before losing at the 2010 election despite receiving a swing, due to narrowly finishing third after all non-major party preferences had been distributed. His chances of retaining his seat in 2006 had been essentially written off by most commentators after his decision to become an Independent, but won a surprise narrow victory after a very low Liberal primary vote and an endorsement from popular Independent Nick Xenophon
Nick Xenophon
Nicholas "Nick" Xenophon is a South Australian barrister, anti-gambling campaigner and politician. He attended Prince Alfred College, and studied law at the University of Adelaide, attaining his Bachelor of Laws in 1981. Xenophon established and became principal of his own law firm, Xenophon & Co....
.
Hanna sought to have his 2010 election loss overturned with the Supreme Court of South Australia
Supreme Court of South Australia
The Supreme Court of South Australia is the superior court for the Australian State of South Australia. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters. The Supreme Court is the highest South Australian court in the Australian court...
, saying he fell victim to "misleading and defamatory" leaflets and posters distributed by the Australian Labor Party. The Supreme Court, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns, ruled the leaflets - labelling Mr Hanna "soft on crime" - were defamatory and not factual, yet there was a right to express such opinions.
The Supreme Court dismissed Hanna's case..
During his time in Parliament, Hanna spoke on issues such as Australia's treatment of refugees, environmental matters, constitutional reform and what he believed to be the fallacies of 'tough law & order' policies. South Australia's fixed parliamentary terms of 4 years were as a result of amendments to the Constitution Act successfully moved by Mr Hanna.
Hanna also devoted much of his time to refugee advocacy. He was a member of the SA Parliament's Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
sub-branch, and occasionally a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
for refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s. He helped establish the Refugee Advocacy Service of South Australia Inc
Refugee Advocacy Service of South Australia Inc
Refugee Advocacy Service of South Australia Inc. is a Community Legal Centre or NGO set up to represent asylum seekers in the Federal Court of Australia.-History:...
http://www.rassa.org.au (RASSA), and served on the RASSA executive.