Ken Smith (Australian politician)
AM | |
---|---|
Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly | |
In office 21 December 2010 – 4 February 2014 | |
Deputy | Christine Fyffe |
Preceded by | Jenny Lindell |
Succeeded by | Christine Fyffe |
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Bass | |
In office 30 November 2002 – 29 November 2014 | |
Preceded by | Seat created |
Succeeded by | Brian Paynter |
Personal details | |
Born | Kenneth Maurice Smith 30 December 1944 Liberal Party |
Children | 3 |
Occupation | Plumber |
Kenneth Maurice Smith
Smith was a
The redistribution prior to the
Smith served as
In 2008 Smith put forward a private member's bill that would allow euthanasia in Victoria. The bill was similar to the Dying With Dignity Act in Oregon in the United States, and generated considerable controversy. The bill was defeated in the Victorian Legislative Council.[2]
In 2009, Smith was unopposed for preselection for the seat of Bass and was re-endorsed by the Liberal Party as their candidate
On 21 December 2010, Smith was elected unopposed as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly for the 57th Victorian Parliament. On 19 September 2013, he was forced to use his tiebreaking vote to carry a motion to suspend Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews for disorderly conduct. This ensued when Andrews accused Smith of bias when Smith ordered the removal of posters showing Liberal-turned-independent Geoff Shaw—whose vote was keeping the Coalition in office as a minority government—alongside government ministers, but ruled Premier Denis Napthine's claims of incompetence on the part of the previous Labor government were in order. Andrews refused Smith's order to leave the chamber for an hour and a half, prompting Smith to have the Serjeant-At-Arms remove him. Smith then "named" Andrews for disorderly conduct. With Shaw out of the chamber at the time, the vote on suspending Andrews was deadlocked at 40-40, forcing Smith to vote in favour of the motion and resulting in a Labor members walkout of Parliament.[3]
In late 2013, Shaw declared that he had no confidence in Smith's speakership, after the Speaker had referred allegations regarding Shaw's use of parliamentary entitlements to the Victorian Ombudsman. From this time, 44 members (43 of them from the Labor opposition) lacked confidence in Mr Smith continuing as Speaker, with 43 members as well as Mr Smith himself maintaining confidence.
On 4 February 2014, Smith stood down as Speaker but announced he would remain an MP until the state election due in November, when he would retire.[4]
References
- ^ a b c "Members Information - Ken Smith (Bass)". Parliament of Victoria. Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
- ^ Nader, Carol (18 March 2008). "Euthanasia bill to bar 'death tourists'". The Age. Melbourne.
- ^ "Daniel Andrews suspended from Parliament for three days". The Age. 19 September 2013. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018.
- ^ "Victorian Speaker Ken Smith resigns as Parliament resumes". ABC News. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.