Paul Lennon
Encyclopedia
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. He left office abruptly after his preferred premier rating fell to 17%, largely as a result of perceptions of corruption in his government's fast-tracked approval of the Gunns Bell Bay Pulp Mill
proposal, which had effectively bypassed normal planning procedure.
, he attended St Virgil's College
, then worked as a storeman and clerk before becoming an organiser with the Storemen and Packers Union in 1978. He did not attend university.
In 1980 he became Tasmanian State Secretary of the Storeman and Packers Union, and from 1982 he was Senior Vice President of the national union. In 1984 Lennon became Secretary of the Tasmanian Trades & Labor Council
, and also a member of the Executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
.
Lennon first ran for parliament at 1989 state election. He was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly
in 1990 on a recount of votes following the resignation of Ken Wriedt
and immediately became Deputy Leader of the Labor Party. He was Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Workplace Standards, Workers' Compensation, Public Sector Management, Forests, Mines, Racing and Gaming, and Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly.
in 1998, Lennon became Deputy Premier, Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources and Minister for Racing and Gaming. Following the re-election of the government in 2002, he became Minister for Economic Development, Energy and Resources, and Minister for Racing and Sport and Recreation.
and stood down as Premier to begin treatment. Lennon was Acting Premier until 21 March, when Bacon resigned and Lennon was sworn in as Tasmania’s 42nd Premier. He was also Treasurer until 2006 when he was succeeded by Michael Aird.
Lennon and Bacon were close friends as well as colleagues and Lennon was emotional as he assumed the premiership with Bacon watching on. "It's hard to describe how you feel when someone who has been that close to you also happens to be your boss", Lennon told an interviewer. "It was a very tough time. A very tough time indeed."
Lennon is known as an active proponent of Tasmania's forestry industry, which is a partnership between its investors, managers, and workers, which has made him very unpopular with the Greens
, numerous conservation groups and others on the left. He represents a long tradition of conservative, pro-business Labor leadership in Tasmania. Both Lennon's Labor government and the State Opposition have been criticised for their close ties with the logging company Gunns Limited, most recently over the drafting of new legislation.
In January 2006, Lennon faced criticism in the media over allegations of impropriety when it was revealed that he had received an upgrade from a A$200 per night room in the Crown Casino
to a six-star suite worth up to A$4000 per night, complete with a private butler. The Crown Casino is owned by the Packer family's Publishing and Broadcasting Limited
, which also owns a 50% stake in Betfair
, the company to which Lennon's government days later awarded a A$700 million internet gaming licence.
In the 2006 state election Lennon successfully led the Labor party to a majority government, contrary to many pre-election predictions.
Following an opinion poll which showed his preferred premier rating at 17 per cent, Lennon announced on 26 May 2008 that he would stand down as Premier of Tasmania and leave politics altogether. He said he had made the decision 'for himself and his family'. On the afternoon of 26 May 2008, Lennon resigned his commission as Premier to the Governor of Tasmania, the Hon. Peter Underwood. The Deputy Premier, David Bartlett
, received his commission at Government House as the 43rd Tasmanian Premier shortly thereafter. He officially resigned from his seat of Franklin the following day.
On Tuesday 10 June 2008, the Tasmanian Electoral Commission announced Ross Butler
as his replacement in parliament after a recount of votes.
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...
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
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...
for the seat of Franklin
Division of Franklin (state)
The Electoral Division of Franklin is one of the five electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir John Franklin, the arctic explorer who was Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land 1837-43...
from 1990 until officially resigning on 27 May 2008. He left office abruptly after his preferred premier rating fell to 17%, largely as a result of perceptions of corruption in his government's fast-tracked approval of the Gunns Bell Bay Pulp Mill
Bell Bay Pulp Mill
The Bell Bay Pulp Mill, also known as the Tamar Valley Pulp Mill or Gunns Pulp Mill, is a proposed $2.3 billion pulp mill which Gunns Limited is planning to build in the Tamar Valley, near Launceston, Tasmania.-Proposed mill:...
proposal, which had effectively bypassed normal planning procedure.
Early life
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...
, he attended St Virgil's College
St Virgil's College
St Virgil's College Roman Catholic, primary and secondary, day school for boys, located over two campuses in Austins Ferry and Hobart, Tasmania, Australia....
, then worked as a storeman and clerk before becoming an organiser with the Storemen and Packers Union in 1978. He did not attend university.
In 1980 he became Tasmanian State Secretary of the Storeman and Packers Union, and from 1982 he was Senior Vice President of the national union. In 1984 Lennon became Secretary of the Tasmanian Trades & Labor Council
Tasmanian Trades & Labor Council
The Tasmanian Trades & Labor Council, also known as Unions Tasmania, is a representative body of trade union organisations in the State of Tasmania, Australia. It is the peak union body in Tasmania, made up of affiliated unions who represent more than 40,000 workers...
, and also a member of the Executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Council of Trade Unions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.-History:The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions"...
.
Lennon first ran for parliament at 1989 state election. He was elected to 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...
in 1990 on a recount of votes following the resignation of Ken Wriedt
Ken Wriedt
Kenneth Shaw "Ken" Wriedt was an Australian politician and minister in the Whitlam government.Wriedt was born in Melbourne, of Danish ancestry. His early life included time spent as a seaman...
and immediately became Deputy Leader of the Labor Party. He was Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Workplace Standards, Workers' Compensation, Public Sector Management, Forests, Mines, Racing and Gaming, and Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly.
Jim Bacon government
On the election of a Labor government under Jim BaconJim Bacon
James Alexander Bacon, AC was Premier of Tasmania from 1998 to 2004.-Early life:Bacon was born in Melbourne; his father Frank, a doctor, died when Jim was twelve, leaving him to be raised by his mother Joan. He was educated at Scotch College and later at Monash University, but he did not graduate....
in 1998, Lennon became Deputy Premier, Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources and Minister for Racing and Gaming. Following the re-election of the government in 2002, he became Minister for Economic Development, Energy and Resources, and Minister for Racing and Sport and Recreation.
Premier of Tasmania
In February 2004 Bacon was diagnosed with lung cancerLung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
and stood down as Premier to begin treatment. Lennon was Acting Premier until 21 March, when Bacon resigned and Lennon was sworn in as Tasmania’s 42nd Premier. He was also Treasurer until 2006 when he was succeeded by Michael Aird.
Lennon and Bacon were close friends as well as colleagues and Lennon was emotional as he assumed the premiership with Bacon watching on. "It's hard to describe how you feel when someone who has been that close to you also happens to be your boss", Lennon told an interviewer. "It was a very tough time. A very tough time indeed."
Lennon is known as an active proponent of Tasmania's forestry industry, which is a partnership between its investors, managers, and workers, which has made him very unpopular with the Greens
Tasmanian Greens
The Tasmanian Greens are a political party in Australia which developed from numerous environmental campaigns in Tasmania, including the flooding of Lake Pedder and the Franklin Dam campaign...
, numerous conservation groups and others on the left. He represents a long tradition of conservative, pro-business Labor leadership in Tasmania. Both Lennon's Labor government and the State Opposition have been criticised for their close ties with the logging company Gunns Limited, most recently over the drafting of new legislation.
In January 2006, Lennon faced criticism in the media over allegations of impropriety when it was revealed that he had received an upgrade from a A$200 per night room in the Crown Casino
Crown Casino
Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex is a large casino and entertainment precinct located on the south bank of the Yarra River, in Melbourne, Australia. Crown Casino is a unit of Crown Limited....
to a six-star suite worth up to A$4000 per night, complete with a private butler. The Crown Casino is owned by the Packer family's Publishing and Broadcasting Limited
Publishing and Broadcasting Limited
Publishing and Broadcasting Limited was one of Australia's largest companies, with interests primarily in media and gaming. The company demerged in late 2007, spinning out its gaming interests into Crown Limited...
, which also owns a 50% stake in Betfair
Betfair
Betfair is the world's largest Internet betting exchange. The company is based in Hammersmith in West London, England. Since Betfair was launched in June 2000 it has become the largest online betting company in the UK and the largest betting exchange in the world. Betfair claim to have over 3...
, the company to which Lennon's government days later awarded a A$700 million internet gaming licence.
In the 2006 state election Lennon successfully led the Labor party to a majority government, contrary to many pre-election predictions.
Allegations of corruption and downfall
In 2006, allegations of corruption involving Mr Lennon reached fever pitch, with numerous news outlets detailing instances of perceived graft and corruption. Among these were allegations surrounding the renovation of Mr Lennon's home by Gunns' subsidiary Hinman Wright and Manser. Mr Lennon refused to fully disclose the amount paid for the services provided by Hinman Wright and Manser, a large-scale civil construction firm not traditionally associated with residential home renovations. While no impropriety was officially found or prosecuted, the fact the renovations happened in such close proximity of time with Gunns negotiations with the Tasmanian Government in relation to a $2 billion Pulp Mill, aroused serious public suspicions.Following an opinion poll which showed his preferred premier rating at 17 per cent, Lennon announced on 26 May 2008 that he would stand down as Premier of Tasmania and leave politics altogether. He said he had made the decision 'for himself and his family'. On the afternoon of 26 May 2008, Lennon resigned his commission as Premier to the Governor of Tasmania, the Hon. Peter Underwood. The Deputy Premier, 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...
, received his commission at Government House as the 43rd Tasmanian Premier shortly thereafter. He officially resigned from his seat of Franklin the following day.
On Tuesday 10 June 2008, the Tasmanian Electoral Commission announced Ross Butler
Ross Butler (politician)
Ross Butler is an Australian politician, was an Australian Labor Party member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 2008 to 2010, representing the electorate of Franklin. He won his seat on a countback of votes on 10 June 2008 after the sitting member and Premier of Tasmania Paul Lennon...
as his replacement in parliament after a recount of votes.