Peter Wellington
Encyclopedia
Peter Wellington is an Independent member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
, for the Electoral district of Nicklin
. Wellington, along with fellow independent Liz Cunningham
, briefly held the balance in power following the 1998 state election. Wellington's decision to back the Labor
party led to Peter Beattie
being anointed state premier.
. Before entering parliament, Wellington was a police
officer, and a solicitor. His first success in politics was when he was elected to a seat on the Maroochy Shire council.
candidate Neil Turner
in the closely contested 1998 election reflected the instability in Queensland politics at the time. Nationals Premier Rob Borbidge
could theoretically have formed government with the backing of Wellington, Gladstone
independent Liz Cunningham
, and the eleven elected members of the One Nation Party. After some deliberation however, Wellington chose to back the Australian Labor Party
on matters of supply and confidence, although he would withdraw that support in the event of "any evidence of gross fraud, misappropriation or illegal activities." As a result, state ALP leader Peter Beattie
was able to form a minority government.
Wellington held the balance of power for only a few months, until One Nation MP Charles Rappolt
resigned from Parliament. ALP candidate Warren Pitt
won the resulting by-election
, and the ALP was able to form government in its own right.
Despite the loss of the balance of power, Wellington remains popular in his electorate. At the 2006 state election, he was able to easily see off National Party challenger Steve Morrison in order to secure a fourth term.
Wellington made headlines again in 2001 when he was severely injured in a farming accident which crushed both of his legs. He suffered a broken collarbone, pelvis, as well as head and leg injuries, and it was at first feared that he would lose one or both of his legs. However, he pulled through without the need for any amputation
, and rejoined parliament a couple of months after the accident.
Wellington currently serves on both the Estimates Committee and the Scrutiny of Legislation Committee within Parliament.
political party
approached Wellington to introduce a private member's Bill for daylight saving
. As Wellington agreed with the dual time zone
approach, he introduced the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill 2010
into Queensland Parliament on 14 April 2010. Wellington has called for a referendum
to be held at the next State election, on introduction of daylight saving in South East Queensland
. The Bill proposes a split time zone for Queensland
and has suggested that the local government areas of Brisbane
, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich
, Logan, Scenic Rim, Redland and Moreton Bay be considered to be included in the daylight saving time zone while the rest of the state remains on standard time
. The Bill was defeated in Queensland Parliament on 15 June 2011.
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
, for the Electoral district of Nicklin
Electoral district of Nicklin
The district of Nicklin is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland. The electorate is centred in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, and stretches north to Yandina, south to Eudlo and west to Kenilworth...
. Wellington, along with fellow independent Liz Cunningham
Liz Cunningham
Elizabeth Anne "Liz" Cunningham is an Australian politician. She has been an independent member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly since 1995, representing the electorate of Gladstone...
, briefly held the balance in power following the 1998 state election. Wellington's decision to back the 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...
party led to Peter Beattie
Peter Beattie
Peter Douglas Beattie , Australian politician, was the 36th Premier of the Australian state of Queensland for nine years and leader of the Australian Labor Party in that state for eleven and a half years...
being anointed state premier.
Before Parliament
Wellington grew up on his family's farm at Belli ParkBelli Park, Queensland
Belli Park is a suburb in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia....
. Before entering parliament, Wellington was a police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officer, and a solicitor. His first success in politics was when he was elected to a seat on the Maroochy Shire council.
Parliamentary career
Wellington's defeat of the incumbent National PartyNational Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
candidate Neil Turner
Neil Turner (Australian politician)
Neil John Turner was a National Party of Australia politician from Queensland a former Minister of Transport and former Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.Turner was born in 1934 in Charleville...
in the closely contested 1998 election reflected the instability in Queensland politics at the time. Nationals Premier Rob Borbidge
Rob Borbidge
Robert Edward Borbidge AO , Australian politician, was the 35th Premier of Queensland, and leader of the Queensland branch of the National Party...
could theoretically have formed government with the backing of Wellington, Gladstone
Electoral district of Gladstone
The district of Gladstone is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland.The current member is independent Liz Cunningham who won the seat on National Party preferences after defeating then Labor MP Neil Bennett at the 1995 election...
independent Liz Cunningham
Liz Cunningham
Elizabeth Anne "Liz" Cunningham is an Australian politician. She has been an independent member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly since 1995, representing the electorate of Gladstone...
, and the eleven elected members of the One Nation Party. After some deliberation however, Wellington chose to back 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...
on matters of supply and confidence, although he would withdraw that support in the event of "any evidence of gross fraud, misappropriation or illegal activities." As a result, state ALP leader Peter Beattie
Peter Beattie
Peter Douglas Beattie , Australian politician, was the 36th Premier of the Australian state of Queensland for nine years and leader of the Australian Labor Party in that state for eleven and a half years...
was able to form a minority government.
Wellington held the balance of power for only a few months, until One Nation MP Charles Rappolt
Charles Rappolt
Charles Robert "Charlie" Rappolt was an Australian politician. A member of Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party, Rappolt spent five turbulent months in the Parliament of Queensland in 1998....
resigned from Parliament. ALP candidate Warren Pitt
Warren Pitt
Frederick Warren Pitt is an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1989 to 1995 and 1998 to 2009.Born in Cairns, Pitt was a school teacher before entering politics...
won the resulting by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
, and the ALP was able to form government in its own right.
Despite the loss of the balance of power, Wellington remains popular in his electorate. At the 2006 state election, he was able to easily see off National Party challenger Steve Morrison in order to secure a fourth term.
Wellington made headlines again in 2001 when he was severely injured in a farming accident which crushed both of his legs. He suffered a broken collarbone, pelvis, as well as head and leg injuries, and it was at first feared that he would lose one or both of his legs. However, he pulled through without the need for any amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
, and rejoined parliament a couple of months after the accident.
Wellington currently serves on both the Estimates Committee and the Scrutiny of Legislation Committee within Parliament.
Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill 2010
In early 2010, the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland (DS4SEQ)Daylight Saving for South East Queensland
Daylight Saving for South East Queensland is a political party in Queensland, Australia. It is a single-issue party, run by volunteers, which advocates the implementation of a dual-time zone arrangement for Daylight Saving in South East Queensland while the remainder of the state maintains...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
approached Wellington to introduce a private member's Bill for daylight saving
Daylight saving time
Daylight saving time —also summer time in several countries including in British English and European official terminology —is the practice of temporarily advancing clocks during the summertime so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less...
. As Wellington agreed with the dual time zone
Time zone
A time zone is a region on Earth that has a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes. In order for the same clock time to always correspond to the same portion of the day as the Earth rotates , different places on the Earth need to have different clock times...
approach, he introduced the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill 2010
Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Act 2010
The Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill 2010 was tabled in Queensland Parliament on 14 April 2010, by Queensland, Independent Member Peter Wellington. Wellington has called for a referendum to be held at the next State election on introduction of daylight saving time for...
into Queensland Parliament on 14 April 2010. Wellington has called for a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
to be held at the next State election, on introduction of daylight saving in South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
. The Bill proposes a split time zone for Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and has suggested that the local government areas of Brisbane
City of Brisbane
The City of Brisbane is the Local Government Area that has jurisdiction over the inner portion of the metropolitan area of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich
City of Ipswich
The City of Ipswich is a Local Government Area in South East Queensland, covering an area of along the coast about southwest of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. The City of Ipswich has a population of 162,380 .-History:...
, Logan, Scenic Rim, Redland and Moreton Bay be considered to be included in the daylight saving time zone while the rest of the state remains on standard time
Standard time
Standard time is the result of synchronizing clocks in different geographical locations within a time zone to the same time rather than using the local meridian as in local mean time or solar time. Historically, this helped in the process of weather forecasting and train travel. The concept...
. The Bill was defeated in Queensland Parliament on 15 June 2011.
See also
- Time in AustraliaTime in AustraliaAustralia uses Standard time, i.e: the same well defined time for a region. The proper names of Australia's time zones are Australian Western Standard Time , Australian Central Standard Time , and Australian Eastern Standard Time...
- Daylight saving timeDaylight saving timeDaylight saving time —also summer time in several countries including in British English and European official terminology —is the practice of temporarily advancing clocks during the summertime so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less...
- Daylight Saving for South East Queensland PartyDaylight Saving for South East QueenslandDaylight Saving for South East Queensland is a political party in Queensland, Australia. It is a single-issue party, run by volunteers, which advocates the implementation of a dual-time zone arrangement for Daylight Saving in South East Queensland while the remainder of the state maintains...
- Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Act 2010Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Act 2010The Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill 2010 was tabled in Queensland Parliament on 14 April 2010, by Queensland, Independent Member Peter Wellington. Wellington has called for a referendum to be held at the next State election on introduction of daylight saving time for...