Michael Moore (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael John Moore former Australian politician and socially progressive health academic, was the first independent
Member of any Australian Parliament to be appointed as a Minister to a Government Executive; serving as Minister of Health and Community Care
from 1998 to 2001 in the Liberal
minority government led by Chief Minister
, Kate Carnell
and later, Gary Humphries
. Moore served four terms in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
, from 1989 to 2001.
Since 2008, Moore has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Health Association of Australia.
on the Residents Rally
party ticket, led by Bernard Collaery
. Residents Rally secured four seats in the first Assembly, including Collaery, Moore, Norm Jensen
, and Hector Kinloch
. No party had won a majority, and Rosemary Follett
's Labor Party
formed a minority government. Moore resigned from Residents Rally on 24 October 1989 and sat in the Assembly as an independent. He was re-elected at the single-consistuency 1992 general election
, and at the 1995
and 1998
general elections, representing the electorate of Molonglo
on a ticket called Moore Independents.
Moore was a social progressive who was responsible for the legalisation of prostitution, the decriminalisation of cannabis and who was a strong advocate for trialling the provision of heroin to dependent users. He was a joint founder of the Australian Parliamentary Group on Drug Law Reform, the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation and sponsored the early meetings of the group Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform. Despite, his socially progressive stance, he was criticised for accepting the role as Health Minister in the Liberal Government.
. He was awarded a Master's Degree in Population Health at the Australian National University
in December 1997. From November 2007 he has been a political and social columnist with the Canberra City News. In January 2008, Moore was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Public Health Association of Australia and has advocated, on behalf of its members, for retention of the Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre
.
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...
Member of any Australian Parliament to be appointed as a Minister to a Government Executive; serving as Minister of Health and Community Care
Minister for Health (Australian Capital Territory)
The Minister for Health is the head of the Australian Capital Territory Department of Health and appointed by the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory.The current Minister for Health is Katy Gallagher....
from 1998 to 2001 in 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...
minority government led by Chief Minister
Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
The Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory is the head of government of the Australian Capital Territory. The leader of party with the largest representation of seats in the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly usually takes on the role...
, Kate Carnell
Kate Carnell
Anne Katherine Carnell AO was the third Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, serving from 1995 to 2000. She is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Food and Grocery Council.-Pharmacy career:...
and later, Gary Humphries
Gary Humphries
Gary John Joseph Humphries has been a member of the Australian Senate representing the Australian Capital Territory for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2003...
. Moore served four terms in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory...
, from 1989 to 2001.
Since 2008, Moore has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Health Association of Australia.
Politics
In 1989 Moore was elected to the first mutlti-member single-constituency unicameral ACT Legislative AssemblyAustralian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory...
on the Residents Rally
Residents Rally
Residents Rally was an Australian political party, with four candidates elected to the first Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly at the 1989 Australian Capital Territory general election. Residents Rally were led by Canberra human rights barrister and lawyer, Bernard Collaery....
party ticket, led by Bernard Collaery
Bernard Collaery
Bernard Joseph Edward Collaery, a former Australian politician, and currently a barrister and lawyer, was a member of the first multi-member single electorate unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly for the Residents Rally party, from 1989 to 1992...
. Residents Rally secured four seats in the first Assembly, including Collaery, Moore, Norm Jensen
Norm Jensen
Norm Jensen is an Australian politician and was a member of the first multi-member single electorate Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the Residents Rally party. Jansen was elected at the 1989 general election and unsuccessfully sought re-election at the 1992 general...
, and Hector Kinloch
Hector Kinloch
Hector Gilchrist Kinloch was an Australian academic and politician.He was born Boston, Massachusetts USA in 1927. He travelled to the England where he graduated from Christs College, Cambridge with first class honours in history 1949. After graduating he served in the US Army for three years...
. No party had won a majority, and Rosemary Follett
Rosemary Follett
Rosemary Follett AO , Australian politician, was the first Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. She was the first woman to become head of government in an Australian state or territory....
's 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...
formed a minority government. Moore resigned from Residents Rally on 24 October 1989 and sat in the Assembly as an independent. He was re-elected at the single-consistuency 1992 general election
Australian Capital Territory general election, 1992
Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 15 February 1992. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Rosemary Follett, was challenged by the Liberal Party, led by Trevor Kaine. Candidates were elected to fill seats using a modified D'Hondt method for a...
, and at the 1995
Australian Capital Territory general election, 1995
Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 18 February 1995. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Rosemary Follett, was challenged by the Liberal Party, led by Kate Carnell. For the first time, candidates were elected to fill three multi-member...
and 1998
Australian Capital Territory general election, 1998
Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 21 February 1998. The incumbent Liberal Party, led by Kate Carnell, was challenged by the Labor Party, led by Wayne Berry. Candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single...
general elections, representing the electorate of Molonglo
Molonglo electorate
The Molonglo electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has seven seats, and is the largest of the electorates in terms of population.-History:...
on a ticket called Moore Independents.
Moore was a social progressive who was responsible for the legalisation of prostitution, the decriminalisation of cannabis and who was a strong advocate for trialling the provision of heroin to dependent users. He was a joint founder of the Australian Parliamentary Group on Drug Law Reform, the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation and sponsored the early meetings of the group Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform. Despite, his socially progressive stance, he was criticised for accepting the role as Health Minister in the Liberal Government.
Other positions
Prior to politics Moore was a high school teacher and faculty head. He holds a post-graduate diploma in education, a master’s degree in population health and is an adjunct professor with the University of CanberraUniversity of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
. He was awarded a Master's Degree in Population Health at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in December 1997. From November 2007 he has been a political and social columnist with the Canberra City News. In January 2008, Moore was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Public Health Association of Australia and has advocated, on behalf of its members, for retention of the Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre
Safe injection site
Supervised injection sites are legally sanctioned and medically supervised facilities designed to reduce nuisance from public drug use and provide a hygienic and stress-free...
.