Michael Hodgman
Honorific prefixThe Honourable
Honorific suffixAM QC
OfficeMinister for the Capital Territory
Prime ministerMalcolm Fraser
Term start3 November 1980
Term end11 March 1983
PredecessorBob Ellicott
SuccessorTom Uren (Territories and Local Government)
Constituency mp 2Denison
Parliament 2Australian
Predecessor 2John Coates
Successor 2Duncan Kerr
Term start 213 December 1975
Term end 211 July 1987
Office 4Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Denison
Predecessor 4Ray Groom
Successor 4Elise Archer
Term start 421 August 2001
Term end 420 March 2010
Predecessor 5Chris Gibson
Successor 5Seat abolished
Term start 51 February 1992
Term end 529 August 1998
Office 6Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Huon
Term start 614 May 1966
Term end 625 May 1974
Predecessor 6Ron Brown
Successor 6Peter Hodgman
Birth nameWilliam Michael Hodgman
Birth date16 November 1938
Birth placeHobart, Tasmania, Australia
Death date19 June 2013 (aged 74)
Death placeHobart, Tasmania, Australia
SpouseMarian Hodgman
PartyLiberal
RelationsBill Hodgman (father)
Peter Hodgman (brother)
Alma materUniversity of Tasmania
OccupationPolitician, lawyer

William Michael Hodgman AM QC (16 November 1938 – 19 June 2013) was an Australian politician and lawyer. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served as Minister for the Capital Territory in the Fraser government from 1980 to 1983. He was active in both state and federal politics, serving in the Tasmanian Legislative Council (1966–1974), Australian House of Representatives (1975–1987), and Tasmanian House of Assembly (1992–1998, 2002–2010). His son, Will Hodgman, was Premier of Tasmania for 6 years, until his resignation in January 2020.

Early career and education

Michael Hodgman was born at Hobart, Tasmania, in 1938.[1] He was educated at The Hutchins School and the University of Tasmania, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1962. Whilst at university, Hodgman served as vice president of the Tasmania University Law Society and editor of the university newspaper Togatus.

After graduation, Hodgman was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Tasmania and served as associate to the Rt Hon. Sir Victor Windeyer of the High Court of Australia from 1962 to 1963. He then worked as a Legal Officer for Hydro Tasmania from 1965 to 1966. He was a committee member of the Tasmanian Bar Council from 1969 to 1974, including a period as vice president from 1972 to 1973. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1984.

Throughout his career, Hodgman largely specialised in criminal law, and represented a number of high-profile clients, including Mark "Chopper" Read.[2]

Parliamentary career

Hodgman first entered politics in 1966 as member for the Tasmanian Legislative Council seat of Huon. He held this position until 1974 when he stood down to run for the Federal electorate of Denison. He was unsuccessful, but won the seat at his second attempt at the 1975 election, and held the seat until 1987, when he was defeated by Duncan Kerr from the Australian Labor Party. He served as Minister for the Capital Territory and Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry and Commerce in the Fraser government from 1980 to 1983.

In 1992 Hodgman returned to state politics in the lower house electorate of Denison, which he held until defeated in 1998, when the size of parliament was reduced from 35 to 25 members. He regained the position in 2001 after a recount of votes due to the retirement of Ray Groom. In the 2002 state election he retained his seat, at the expense of his colleague and leader Bob Cheek.

Hodgman was well known for his strong support for retaining Australia's Constitutional monarchy.[3] He enjoyed wide name-recognition in Hobart; mainly due to his long political career. His wife died in 2003. His son, Will Hodgman, was elected to the House of Assembly in 2002 from the neighbouring seat of Franklin, and was Premier of Tasmania from 2014 to 2020.

After Michael's final election to the House of Assembly in 2006, he was in the partyroom meeting that saw Will elected unopposed as the new Liberal leader.

He achieved further fame in 2007 when, during a speech, he rallied fellow party members to give "the Labor party one right up the bracket". On the popular Get This radio show, the team had a featured segment using the soundbite "one right up the bracket", in which callers air their grievances.

On 19 November 2009 Hodgman announced he would not be contesting the 2010 state election.[3] In his farewell speech he spoke briefly about his political career including electorates represented, ministerial offices held, opposition to the invasion of East Timor and flooding of Lake Pedder.[4]

Death

He died in a nursing home in Hobart in 2013.[3] He had terminal emphysema and Alzheimer's disease.[5]

Honours and awards

Member of the Order of Australia (AM)June 2012[6]
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal1977
Australian Defence Medal
Anniversary of National Service 1951–1972 Medal

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hodgman, Michael". hodgmanwm566. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  2. ^ 18 July 1997.
  3. ^ Former Federal and Tasmanian Liberal politician Michael Hodgman has died. abc.net.au. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  4. ^ Hodgman's farewell speech, The Mercury, 19 November 2009
  5. ^ "Michael Hodgman dies at 74 Tasmania News - The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania". The Mercury. 2011-09-26. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  6. ^ It's an Honour