Rene Hidding
Encyclopedia
Marinus Theodoor "Rene" Hidding (born 5 February 1953) is an Australia
n politician. He is currently a Liberal Party
member for the Division of Lyons in the Tasmanian House of Assembly
. From 2002 until 2006 he was also leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition
in Tasmania
.
Hidding (whose first name is pronounced "Reen") immigrated to Tasmania from the Netherlands
in his youth. He was educated in Launceston
at Riverside High School
and Launceston Matriculation College where he gained an Associate Diploma Business (Real Estate). He was a self-employed businessman (his companies included Hidding Trading Pty Ltd, Hiddings Mitre 10, Hiddings Building Services, Span Truss Systems and Hiddings Joinery) before entering politics, when he sold his business to Gunns Limited. He was an Alderman on the Launceston City Council from 1985 to 1992. He was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for the Australian House of Representatives
seat of Franklin
in 1993.
In 1996 Hidding was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly
for the multi-member seat of Lyons. Between 1996 and 1998 Hidding held junior positions in the government of Tony Rundle
, including Secretary to Cabinet, Deputy Chairman of Committees and a member of the Cabinet Budget Committee.
After the Liberals lost office, Hidding was elected to the Opposition front bench as Deputy Opposition Leader in 1999 and in August 2002 he was elected Leader of the Opposition. He is also Shadow Minister for Tourism, Parks and Heritage and Shadow Minister for Resources and Energy.
At the 18 March 2006 state election, Hidding failed to defeat the incumbent Australian Labor Party
government led by Paul Lennon
. Despite an increase in the Liberal Party's primary vote, the Opposition failed to make any gains in terms of seats. Hidding declined on election night to speculate on whether he would continue as Opposition Leader. Twelve days later, on 30 March, the day that final election results were known, Will Hodgman
was unanimously elected by the party as their new leader. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1604983.htm
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. He is currently a Liberal Party
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 for the Division of Lyons in 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...
. From 2002 until 2006 he was also leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Tasmania)
The role of Leader of the Opposition in Tasmania is a title held by the leader of the largest minority party in the state lower house, the Tasmanian House of Assembly. He or she acts as the public face of the opposition, leading the government on the floor of parliament...
in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
.
Hidding (whose first name is pronounced "Reen") immigrated to Tasmania from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in his youth. He was educated in Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
at Riverside High School
Riverside High School (Launceston)
Riverside High School is a public co-educational, comprehensive high school in Riverside, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. It was opened in 1962, one of a number similar schools established around the same time...
and Launceston Matriculation College where he gained an Associate Diploma Business (Real Estate). He was a self-employed businessman (his companies included Hidding Trading Pty Ltd, Hiddings Mitre 10, Hiddings Building Services, Span Truss Systems and Hiddings Joinery) before entering politics, when he sold his business to Gunns Limited. He was an Alderman on the Launceston City Council from 1985 to 1992. He was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
seat of Franklin
Division of Franklin
The Division of Franklin is an Australian Electoral Division in Tasmania. The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir John Franklin, the polar explorer who was Lt Governor of Van Diemen's Land 1843-46. It is located in southern Tasmania, including the Hobart suburbs of Bridgewater,...
in 1993.
In 1996 Hidding 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...
for the multi-member seat of Lyons. Between 1996 and 1998 Hidding held junior positions in the government of Tony Rundle
Tony Rundle
Anthony Maxwell Rundle AO was the Premier of the Australian State of Tasmania from 18 March 1996 to 14 September 1998. He succeeded Ray Groom and was succeeded himself by Jim Bacon. He is a Liberal who held the seat of Braddon between 1986 and 2002. A former journalist, he is married to...
, including Secretary to Cabinet, Deputy Chairman of Committees and a member of the Cabinet Budget Committee.
After the Liberals lost office, Hidding was elected to the Opposition front bench as Deputy Opposition Leader in 1999 and in August 2002 he was elected Leader of the Opposition. He is also Shadow Minister for Tourism, Parks and Heritage and Shadow Minister for Resources and Energy.
At the 18 March 2006 state election, Hidding failed to defeat the incumbent 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...
government led by Paul Lennon
Paul Lennon
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...
. Despite an increase in the Liberal Party's primary vote, the Opposition failed to make any gains in terms of seats. Hidding declined on election night to speculate on whether he would continue as Opposition Leader. Twelve days later, on 30 March, the day that final election results were known, Will Hodgman
Will Hodgman
William Edward Felix Hodgman , is an Australian politician, and is the leader of the opposition Liberal Party in Tasmania....
was unanimously elected by the party as their new leader. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1604983.htm