Peter Lewis (politician)
Encyclopedia
Ivan Peter Lewis is an Australian politician
. Lewis was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly
between 1979 and 2006 in the electorates of Hammond
, Ridley, Murray-Mallee and Mallee. Between 1979 and 2000 he was in the House as a Liberal
member. From 2000 until 2006 he served as an Independent. His decision in 2002 to support the Australian Labor Party
resulted in a Labor State Government led by Mike Rann
.
At the 2002 election, Lewis contested his seat under the banner of CLIC, the Community Leadership Independence Coalition (three other candidates also ran for seats in the South Australian House of Assembly
but failed), and was re-elected. During the campaign, he denied a claim by the Liberal candidate that a vote for him was in effect a vote for Labor.
, and make him Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Peter Lewis' support of Labor angered many conservatives. However two MPs, a conservative independent and a Nationals SA member, Rory McEwen
and Karlene Maywald
, who criticised Lewis' decision, later agreed to support the Rann government in return for cabinet positions.
Lewis was exonerated of any wrongdoing despite submitting himself to extensive police investigations.
Stephens was later convicted of lying to smear
Lewis.
In 2005 Lewis faced a potential no-confidence motion after he and two staffers alleged a sitting MP was a pedophile, on the basis of a questionable identification from a convicted pedophile. Before a vote could be taken he resigned on 4 April 2005.
In 2008 the two staffers, Barry Standfield and Wendy Utting, were found not guilty of defamation over the claims.
, Lewis did not stand for his seat of Hammond
, but instead stood as an independent for election to the Legislative Council
. However he was not elected, only receiving about 0.6% of the vote.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Lewis was a member of 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 :...
between 1979 and 2006 in the electorates of Hammond
Electoral district of Hammond
Hammond is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after Ruby Hammond, the first indigenous woman to stand for the South Australian parliament...
, Ridley, Murray-Mallee and Mallee. Between 1979 and 2000 he was in the House as a 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. From 2000 until 2006 he served as an Independent. His decision in 2002 to support 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...
resulted in a Labor State Government led by Mike Rann
Mike Rann
Michael David Rann MHA, CNZM , Australian politician, served as the 44th Premier of South Australia. He led the South Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party to minority government at the 2002 election, before attaining a landslide win at the 2006 election...
.
Party affiliation
Lewis was first elected in 1979, as a Liberal candidate. He quickly gained a reputation as a maverick, defying the party authorities on many an occasion. In July 2000, he was expelled from the Liberal Party.At the 2002 election, Lewis contested his seat under the banner of CLIC, the Community Leadership Independence Coalition (three other candidates also ran for seats 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 :...
but failed), and was re-elected. During the campaign, he denied a claim by the Liberal candidate that a vote for him was in effect a vote for Labor.
Support for Labor
After the 2002 election he negotiated with both parties, then surprisingly put his support behind Labor, giving Labor the numbers to form government. In return, Labor agreed to implement some local concerns of Lewis, hold a Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention (Australia)
In Australian history, the term Constitutional Convention refers to four distinct gatherings.-1891 convention:The 1891 Constitutional Convention was held in Sydney in March 1891 to consider a draft Constitution for the proposed federation of the British colonies in Australia and New Zealand. There...
, and make him Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Peter Lewis' support of Labor angered many conservatives. However two MPs, a conservative independent and a Nationals SA member, Rory McEwen
Rory McEwen
Rory McEwen , Australian politician, was the independent member for the seats of Gordon and Mount Gambier in the South Australian House of Assembly....
and Karlene Maywald
Karlene Maywald
Karlene Ann Maywald is an Australian National Party politician who represented the seat of Chaffey in the South Australian House of Assembly from October 1997 until March 2010...
, who criticised Lewis' decision, later agreed to support the Rann government in return for cabinet positions.
Speaker
As speaker, he earned widespread attention for his colourful style of regulating parliamentary debate. His desire to reform parliament led him to insist on the Rann government holding a Constitutional Convention held in 2003, and as an outcome organised bills for optional preferential voting, citizen-initiated referendums and four-year Upper House terms, however they have not been debated.Controversy
Lewis in 2002 faced media scrutiny over his links to businessman Terry Stephens.Lewis was exonerated of any wrongdoing despite submitting himself to extensive police investigations.
Stephens was later convicted of lying to smear
Smear campaign
A smear campaign, smear tactic or simply smear is a metaphor for activity that can harm an individual or group's reputation by conflation with a stigmatized group...
Lewis.
In 2005 Lewis faced a potential no-confidence motion after he and two staffers alleged a sitting MP was a pedophile, on the basis of a questionable identification from a convicted pedophile. Before a vote could be taken he resigned on 4 April 2005.
In 2008 the two staffers, Barry Standfield and Wendy Utting, were found not guilty of defamation over the claims.
2006 election
For the 2006 electionSouth 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:...
, Lewis did not stand for his seat of Hammond
Electoral district of Hammond
Hammond is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after Ruby Hammond, the first indigenous woman to stand for the South Australian parliament...
, but instead stood as an independent for election to the 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...
. However he was not elected, only receiving about 0.6% of the vote.