Gary Douglas Hardgrave (born 5 January 1960[citation needed]) is an Australian former politician who served in the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007, representing the Liberal Party. He was a minister in the Howard government from 2001 to 2007, and later served as Administrator of Norfolk Island from 2014 to 2017.
Gary Hardgrave | |
|---|---|
| Administrator of Norfolk Island | |
| In office 1 July 2014 – 31 March 2017 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor‑General | Sir Peter Cosgrove |
| Preceded by | Neil Pope |
| Succeeded by | Eric Hutchinson |
| Minister for Vocational and Technical Education | |
| In office 26 October 2004 – 23 January 2007 | |
| Prime Minister | John Howard |
| Preceded by | New position |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Robb |
| Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | |
| In office 26 November 2001 – 26 October 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | John Howard |
| Preceded by | New position |
| Succeeded by | Peter McGauran |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Moreton | |
| In office 2 March 1996 – 24 November 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Garrie Gibson |
| Succeeded by | Graham Perrett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 January 1960 Caringbah, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Alma mater | Griffith University |
| Occupation | Broadcaster Politician |
Early life
editHardgrave was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and was educated at Griffith University, Queensland.[1] In the 1970s he began his career as a radio broadcaster,[1] and a TV reporter firstly with the Australian children's television show Wombat between 1979 and 1982.[citation needed] Between 1982 and 1986, he reported for award-winning Queensland TV programme State Affair, in 1987 for ABC TV's The 7.30 Report before returning to BTQ 7 in 1988 as a senior reporter for Carroll at Seven. In 1989, he was the founding news director for SEA-FM Gold Coast and later worked as a media adviser to Liberal politicians, before entering politics.[citation needed]
Politics
editHardgrave initially ran for election to the Queensland state seat of Sunnybank in the 1992 election, but lost.[2] He contested the Division of Moreton successfully at the 1996 federal election against Labor incumbent Garrie Gibson,[3] going on to retain the seat in 1998, 2001 and 2004.[1]
Hardgrave served as Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs from 2001 to 2004, Minister for Vocational and Technical Education between October 2004 to early 2007 and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister from 7 October 2003 to 30 January 2007.[1][4] On 23 January 2007, Hardgrave was axed from the ministry and returned to the backbench.[5] He lost his seat to Graham Perrett in the 2007 election.[1][6]
Career after politics
editIn March 2008, Hardgrave returned to media and corporate activities. From January 2011, he hosted talk-back in Brisbane.[7]
Since leaving Parliament, Hardgrave graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors' course[8] and served on a variety of company and community boards including Brisbane Airport Corporation[9] and TAFE Queensland.[10] In January 2014, he left full-time radio but commenced a weekly column in the Queensland Sunday Mail newspaper before resigning media and corporate activities in June 2014.[citation needed]
On the advice of the Abbott government, Australian Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove appointed Hardgrave as the 37th Administrator of the Australian External Territory of Norfolk Island.[11] His term commenced on 1 July 2014,[12] and he was Administrator when Norfolk Island lost its self-governing status.
He later went on to host a ‘Sky After Dark’ political opinion show on conservative television station[13] Sky News Australia,[14] where he is a regular critic of among other things, Labor Party MPs and action on climate change.[15][16]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "The Hon Gary Hardgrave MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "Queensland 1992: voting by electorate". Psephos - Adam Carr's election archive. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ "1996 election: House of Representatives - Queensland". Psephos - Adam Carr's election archive. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ "Part 6 - Historical information on the Australian Parliament". Parliament of Australia Parlinfo Search. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ Hawthorne, Maria; Peters, Denis (23 January 2007). "Fifth poll win a big ask, PM says". news.com.au. Retrieved 2 December 2007.
- ^ "2007 election: House of Representatives - Queensland". Psephos - Adam Carr's election archive. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ Jabour, Bridie (17 June 2014). "From Brisbane radio shock jock to Norfolk Island administrator". The Guardian Australia. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ "The Hon Gray Hardgrave". CPACaustralia.org. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ "Former MP appointed to Brisbane airport board". ABC News. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ "Appointments to the TAFE Queensland Board" (PDF). Queensland Government Gazette. No. 88. 23 August 2013. p. 1015. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ Owens, Jared (17 June 2014). "Norfolk Island appointee Gary Hardgrave faces reform challenge". The Australian.
- ^ Briggs, Jamie. "Appointment of Norfolk Island Administrator". Department of Infrastructure. Australian Government. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^ "'Climate change cult' has created 'so many victims'". 10 June 2022.
- ^ "State officials 'determined to control our lives': Hardgrave". 27 December 2021.
- ^ "Australians need 'experienced leadership' in these 'difficult' times: Hardgrave". 22 April 2022.
- ^ "'Climate change cult' has created 'so many victims'". 10 June 2022.