Tony Windsor
Tony Windsor New South Wales Parliament for Tamworth | |
---|---|
In office 25 May 1991 – 16 October 2001 | |
Preceded by | Noel Park |
Succeeded by | John Cull |
Personal details | |
Born | Antony Harold Curties Windsor 2 September 1950 University of New England |
Profession | Economist Farmer |
Antony Harold Curties Windsor,
He subsequently entered federal politics, serving as an
.At the 2016 election, Windsor unsuccessfully attempted to regain the seat of New England against Nationals incumbent Barnaby Joyce.
Early life
Tony Windsor was born in Quirindi, New South Wales. He was one of three sons raised by their mother after their father was killed in a farm accident when Windsor was eight years old.[1] He was educated at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, Tamworth and the University of New England, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Economics. He was a farmer at Werris Creek before entering politics.[2][3]
New South Wales political career
In the
Federal political career
Windsor resigned from the state parliament in September 2001 in order to contest the federal seat of New England.[2]
In the federal election held later that year, he defeated one-term National incumbent Stuart St. Clair.[8] Windsor took a large lead on the first count, and defeated St. Clair on Labor and other party preferences. Windsor's victory was considered a shock result, since the National Party and its predecessor, the Country Party, had held New England since 1922, usually without serious difficulty.
In September 2004, in an interview with Tony Vermeer from
Windsor was comfortably re-elected in 2007, increasing his majority to 24 per cent.
2010 federal election
As one of the six crossbenchers elected to the House of Representatives at the 2010 election, Windsor was at the centre of negotiations to determine the government after both major parties failed to win a majority in their own right. Windsor, together with Rob Oakeshott and Bob Katter, initially resolved to form a bloc to assist negotiations with the major parties to form government.[15] However, several days later, Windsor claimed it should not be assumed that the three rural independents would move together.[16][17] In a press conference on 7 September 2010, Windsor revealed that he would support the incumbent Labor government during confidence motions and supply bills. Oakeshott also threw his support to the incumbent Labor government, handing Labor a second term.[18]
It had been assumed that Windsor would support the Coalition due to his past membership of the National Party but on this Windsor made an analogy of him being an ex-smoker: "I've never been in parliament as a National, I gave up smoking about the same time [and] I've rid myself of two cancers".[19]
Windsor is known as the architect of the bill which became an amendment to the
2013 federal election
On 26 June 2013 Windsor announced that he would not be contesting the 2013 election; partly due to an undisclosed medical condition.[21]
2016 federal election
On 10 March 2016, Windsor announced his intention to contest his former seat of
On election day, however, Windsor was convincingly defeated, taking 41 percent of the two-party vote. Joyce actually won a majority on the primary vote, enough to retain the seat without the need for preferences. Before his defeat at this election Windsor said, "You haven't seen the last of me" and was asked if he would stand again if he did not win he answered, "I wouldn't rule anything out."[26]Political views
In an interview published in
He has fought a long-standing battle protecting the interests of local landholders and farmers living on one of NSW's richest agricultural regions, the Liverpool Plains, due to the impact of mining on underlying groundwater. The region is rich in coal deposits and mining companies, such as BHP and Whitehaven Coal, have sought to acquire land. Greens have campaigned alongside Windsor, against mining companies.[27] During the 2010 federal election campaign, it was revealed that Windsor had sold his family farm at Werris Creek to a wholly owned subsidiary of Whitehaven Coal, and then leased the property back. The reported sale was for more than A$4.5 million.[28] The Australian subsequently claimed that Windsor yielded a return about three times greater than other farmers who sold their properties to the same company in the previous 18 months.[29]
Windsor was present at the February 2011 announcement by the Prime Minister,
Tony Windsor called for a referendum on same-sex marriage back in 2013, saying that the issue should be removed from the hands of politicians.[33]
He has also endorsed a referendum on the death penalty in the 1990's.[34][35]
After politics
Tony Windsor – The Biography was published in 2014.[36]
In October 2021 Windsor was named as an advisor for climate fund, Climate 200.[37]
References
- ^ a b c Fenley, Rick (28 August 2010). "Contradictions define independence". The Sydney Morning Herald - via archive.org. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b "Mr Antony Harold Curties Windsor (1950– )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- ^ "About Tony Windsor". Tony Windsor. Archived from the original on 23 October 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
- ^ Davies, Shaun (22 August 2010). "Five men may control country's destiny". Nine News. Australia. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^ Parker, Gareth (28 August 2010). "No love lost between bedfellows". The West Australian. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^ Humphries, David (28 August 2010). "Winning over a tough crowd". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ISSN 0004-9522.
- ^ "Mr Tony Windsor MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Adjournment Debate" (PDF). Hansard, House of Representatives (1, 2004). Commonwealth of Australia: 151–2, 158. 17 November 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
- ^ a b c "Election Complaint – Allegation of Bribery". Media release. Australian Electoral Commission. 22 November 2004. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
- ^ a b Sheehan, Paul (22 November 2004). "Kingmaker Windsor falls on his sword". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
- ^ "Anderson quizzed over bribe claims". ABC News. Australia. 18 November 2004. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
- 7:30 Report. Australia. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ Brissenden, Michael (22 November 2004). "Key regional seats promised millions during election". 7:30 Report. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ Grattan, Michelle; Colebatch, Tim; Gordon, Michael (23 August 2010). "Trio joins forces as Gillard claims right to govern". The Age. Australia. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ^ Gordon, Josh (29 August 2010). "Independents may split to seal a deal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ^ Gordon, Josh; Munro, Peter; Darby, Andrew (29 August 2010). "Independents could go separate ways". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ^ Davis, Mark (7 September 2010). "Labor over the line: Windsor and Oakeshott hand power to Gillard". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ^ "They said it". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ Hannam, Peter (16 March 2020). "Morrison government faces legal challenge over Adani pipeline plan". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ Griffiths, Emma (26 June 2013). "Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott announce they are quitting politics". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- ^ "Barnaby Joyce prepared for 'battle' against Tony Windsor in New England". ABC News. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ Tony Windsor could beat Barnaby Joyce in New England seat, poll says: The Guardian 29 February 2016
- ^ Barnaby Joyce claims 'underdog' status against Tony Windsor in fight to keep seat of New England: ABC 14 March 2016
- ^ Deputy PM in danger of wipe-out: The Australian 14 March 2016
- ^ "Right Old Barney - A hard fight but Joyce (and daughters) see off Windsor", Townsend, Samantha, Sunday Telegraph (Sydney, Australia) July 3, 2016
- ^ Wilkinson, Marian (22 May 2009). "Warden upholds coalmining plan". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ^ Champberlain, Simon (17 July 2010). "MP sold property to Werris Creek coal mine". Northern Daily Leader - via archive.org. Australia. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Klan, Anthony; Aikman, Amos (28 August 2010). "Independent MP Tony Windsor in league of his own on farm sale". The Australian. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ^ Packham, Ben; Massola, James (24 February 2011). "Australia to have carbon price from July 1, 2012, Julia Gillard announces". The Australian. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^ Coorey, Phillip (28 February 2011). "Windsor says he'll stop carbon plans if Greens go too far". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^ Mercer, Phil (11 July 2011). "Carbon tax divides Australia". BBC News. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ "Windsor calls for gay marriage referendum". 28 April 2013.
- ^ "Windsor and Joyce in spat over 'rednecks'". 24 April 2013.
- ^ Benson, Simon (9 March 2016). "'It will be a David and Goliath event'". The Advertiser.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Ross, "Tony Windsor – The Biography", August 9, 2014 The Australian Retrieved 9 April 2015
- ^ "Windsor and Oakeshott ride again in push to bring climate to forefront". Crikey. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.