Nick Xenophon
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Nick Xenophon (born 1959 in Adelaide) is a South Australian barrister and anti-gambling campaigner, member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1997 to 2007, and elected representative for the Australian Senate in the 2007 federal election.
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[edit] Pre-political life
Xenophon attended Prince Alfred College, and studied law at the University of Adelaide, attaining his Bachelor of Laws in 1981. In 1977 while at University he edited the student newspaper On Dit. In 1984, he established and became principal of his own law firm, Xenophon & Co. which deals solely with personal injury claims. In this field he became successful, and between 1994 and 1997 he served as president of the South Australian branch of the Australian Plaintiff Lawyers' Association.
[edit] Political career
After legislation was passed in 1992 by the Bannon Labor government that saw the introduction of poker machines into South Australia in 1994, the increased incidence of problem gambling came to Xenophon's attention in his legal practice. At the 1997 South Australian election, Xenophon stood for the South Australian Legislative Council under a No Pokies ticket, advocating the reduction and abolition of pokies (poker machines). He received 2.9% of the vote which, combined with preferences from other parties, made him the first Independent ever elected to the modern-day Upper House.
During his time as a sitting member, Xenophon has been an activist for a range of issues aside the elimination of pokies, speaking out on essential services, the environment, taxation and perks for politicians. He is best known for his many media-friendly publicity stunts that have gained him both deep respect and ardent criticism. Xenophon has also suffered severe health difficulties that at one stage forced him to take leave.
[edit] 2006 state election
Xenophon stood again for 2006 state election amid media speculation that he would struggle to be re-elected with the major parties preferencing against him. Despite this, he ran an aggressive campaign described by some commentators as 'anti-political' and received over 20% of the vote, enough to not only be re-elected himself, but also to elect the second No Pokies candidate, Ann Bressington.
The result was unprecedented in Australian political history; an Independent had never before been so significantly endorsed statewide. His Legislative Council vote of 20.5 percent was 5.5 percent short of the vote recorded by the Liberal Party, with some polling booths Xenophon polling higher than the Liberals.[1] Xenophon's vote at the election came approximately equally from both Labor and Liberal.[2] This series of events led some commentators to call Xenophon the new "third force" in South Australian politics.[3]
Xenophon was left with a $100,000 campaign debt (as there is no funding for state elections, unlike federal elections) which has prompted him to release 2000 copies of a limited edition 'Nick Xenophon 2007 Stunt Calendar' in an attempt to pay for the debt.
[edit] 2007 federal election
On 11 October 2007, Xenophon called a press conference at the Adelaide Zoo in front of the giraffe enclosure, declaring he would "stick his neck out for South Australia" by announcing his resignation from the South Australian Legislative Council in an attempt to gain election to the Australian Senate at the 2007 federal election. His platform consisted of anti-gambling, pro-consumer protection, attention to the water crisis, ratifying Kyoto, opposition against what he calls a decrease in state rights, and opposition to WorkChoices.[2]
Following the announcement, ABC election analyst Antony Green had already stated that Xenophon would easily win a seat, with Centrebet speculating he would begin on a favourable $1.50 for and $2.70 against. Nick Minchin had "urged people not to vote for Mr Xenophon",[4] with the Liberal Party's 2006 upper house vote only 5.5 percent higher, and polled lower than Xenophon in some booths.[2] Although the quota is higher in the federal upper house, Xenophon could have lost half of his 20.5 percent vote and still gained election.[5] By this time the Greens and Family First had also indicated they would preference Xenophon.[6] There were also predictions he could repeat 2006, gain two seats,[7] and potentially hold the balance of power.[8][9][10]
Unlike the state upper house where he ran under the ticket of Independent Nick Xenophon - No Pokies, his name did not appear above the line as part of the party name. No Pokies is not a registered federal party, meaning he was represented only by a letter above the line, with voters having to search for his details. This required more effort with How To Vote cards in order to get elected.[11] An AEC spokesman stated that to be represented above the line by a letter, a non-party group of at least two members must be formed. Mr Xenophon declared rules made by major parties were "stacked against independents".[12] The senate ticket order was drawn on November 2, with Xenophon drawing last spot, Group S, with voters able to select one of two tickets containing differing preferences. Ticket 1 was a "left of centre" ticket, (Greens, Democrats, Family First, Labor and Liberal, in that order), while ticket 2 was a "right of centre" ticket (Family First, Greens, Democrats, Liberal, and Labor, in that order).[13]
Xenophon had initially canvassed the idea of running for the Division of Sturt as an independent with the Labor Party around April. Xenophon however stated that it was never a serious option. Labor sources supported his decision to run for the Senate, hoping he would emerge as a "Brian Harradine".[8] Xenophon said he only considered the move a few weeks before his announcement, dismissing reports he and Labor knew for six months, stating that his conversation with Christopher Pyne was 'just a joke'.[14]
After controversy broke out as to who should replace Xenophon in the state upper house, the state Labor government eventually agreed with Xenophon that his third candidate on the ticket, former valuer-general John Darley, should be appointed as Xenophon's replacement.[15] Ann Bressington also had an extraordinary turn of face, lashing out at Xenophon during the joint sitting, questioning his integrity and suitability for federal parliament.[16][17] Bressington claimed Xenophon demanded she contribute $50,000 towards his campaign expenses (for which Bressington had to take out a loan), mismanaged campaign funds, implied that he had made requests to State Treasury for illegal funding, and that she was ignored by Xenophon once she entered parliament. Xenophon denied these claims. Bressington also questioned why Xenophon had avoided the media scrutiny that other Politicians are subjected to, alluding that many of his core 'anti-politician' promises warranted further investigation.[18][19][20]
Xenophon had lodged a complaint regarding political advertisements claiming he would not support a rollback of WorkChoices laws, which was likely to lead to legal action. The advertisements were alleged to have been released by the AMWU.[21]
Xenophon's final stunt before the election was walking a large mule down Rundle Mall.[22]
Xenophon received a primary vote of 14.78 percent (with one in five voting below the line),[23] a swing against him of around six percent from 2006. His vote secures him around $300,000 in electoral funding.[24] His addition resulted in holding the balance of power in the Senate along with the Australian Greens and Family First. Xenophon has also indicated his plans to work closely with coalition renegade Barnaby Joyce.[25]
[edit] References
- ^ 1997 Legislative Council Results - SA Electoral Office
- ABC: Anthony Green's Guide to SA Election 2006 Results - Legislative Council
- ABC Stateline Transcript 12/10/2007: Mr X Goes to Canberra
- ABC Stateline Transcript 12/10/2007: Ian Henschke interviews Natasha Stott Despoja and Messenger newspaper's Megan Lloyd
- ^ South Australia State Election 2006. The Poll Vault: Xenophon looking good. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
- ^ a b c Fearful of Xenophon in Senate - National - theage.com.au
- ^ AdelaideNow... Mr X has the very last laugh
- ^ No Pokies MP odds-on for Senate seat - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- ^ Labor's larger challenge - to win control of both houses - theage.com.au
- ^ Minor parties prefer Mr X - The Advertiser
- ^ SA could elect two Senate independents: poll - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- ^ a b AdelaideNow... Labor hopes he will hold balance of power
- ^ Power in the House, but that may be all - FederalElection2007News - smh.com.au
- ^ Recognise these men? They may hold balance of power - National - theage.com.au
- ^ Libs to put heat on Xenophon: analyst - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- ^ AdelaideNow... Mr X to name Senate running mate
- ^ Details of Nick's (upper house) preferences
- ^ AdelaideNow... Why I'm really going to Canberra
- ^ SA Govt agrees to Xenophon's choice - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- ^ Nick Xenophon's running mate unleashes extraordinary attack: The Advertiser
- ^ MPs stunned by Xenophon blast: ABC
- ^ Ally derails Xenophon's dream run: The Australian
- ^ Big blow for Mr X: The Advertiser
- ^ Debating the merits of a relic: The Advertiser
- ^ Xenophon lodges complaint: The Advertiser
- ^ Now Mr Xenophon really makes an ass of himself: The Advertiser
- ^ Senate State First Preferences By Candidate
- ^ Senator Xenophon to get $300,000 - Breaking News - National - Breaking News
- ^ Xenophon, Joyce in early Senate talks - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
[edit] External links
- Nick Xenophon for the Senate 2007 - Official site
- Parliament profile
- ABC: 2006 Legislative Council Results
- Victory for Labor and Xenophon - Media Release by Greg McCarthy, Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Adelaide
