Michael Atkinson

For the American writer, see Michael Atkinson (writer). For the Australian musician, see Michael Atkinson (musician).
The Honourable
Michael Atkinson
MHA
34th Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly
Assumed office
5 February 2013 (2013-02-05)
Premier Jay Weatherill
Preceded by Lyn Breuer
46th Attorney-General of South Australia
In office
5 March 2002 – 30 June 2003
Premier Mike Rann
Preceded by Robert Lawson
Succeeded by Paul Holloway
In office
29 August 2003 – 21 March 2010
Premier Mike Rann
Preceded by Paul Holloway
Succeeded by John Rau
Member of the South Australian Parliament
for Croydon
Assumed office
9 February 2002
Preceded by New District
Member of the South Australian Parliament
for Spence
In office
25 November 1989 – 9 February 2002
Preceded by Roy Abbott
Succeeded by District Abolished
Personal details
Born Michael John Atkinson
(1958-06-17) 17 June 1958[1]
Nationality Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party (SA)
Spouse(s) Jennifer Rankine (de facto)
Education BA (Hons), LLB
Profession Journalist
Religion Traditional Anglican Communion[2]

Michael John Atkinson (born 17 June 1958), an Australian politician in the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party, is the 34th Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly for the Jay Weatherill government, serving since 5 February 2013.[3] First elected to the House at the 1989 election, Atkinson is Father of the House.

Prior to his appointment as Speaker, Atkinson was the 46th Attorney-General of South Australia, Minister for Justice, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, and Minister for Multicultural Affairs in the Mike Rann Labor Government. A day after the 2010 election, he stepped down as Attorney-General and resigned from the Cabinet. Atkinson has represented the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Croydon since 2002, and Spence from 1989 to 2002.[4][5]

He was a member of the Australian Journalists Association whilst working for the Adelaide Advertiser. He is currently a member of the Australian Services Union.[6]

Early life

Atkinson attended Glenelg Primary School and Unley High School. He then studied at the Australian National University and received a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in history and also a Bachelor of Laws degree.

He worked as a sub-editor and journalist for the Adelaide Advertiser from 1982 to 1985, an adviser and press secretary to federal minister Chris Hurford from 1985 to 1987, before becoming an advocate for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) in 1989.

Parliamentary career

A founding member of the Labor Right faction, Atkinson was first elected to Parliament at the 1989 election and was a shadow minister in a range of portfolios before Labor regained government at the 2002 election. He became Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Minister for Multicultural Affairs. In a minor cabinet reshuffle in 2004, Atkinson lost his portfolio of Consumer Affairs. Following the death of Terry Roberts he became Minister for Correctional Services in 2006.

Atkinson earlier in his political career.

He was re-elected in the 2006 election to the seat of Croydon with a two-party preferred vote of 76 percent. At the 2010 election Atkinson was again re-elected, but with a 15.6 percent swing against him.[7] This was significantly higher than the average swing of 7.8 points against the Labor Party at that election.[8] This is partially attributed to the Gamers 4 Croydon Party, which received 3.7 percent of votes in his seat of Croydon. Following his re-election, he announced he would resign from the Rann ministry but remain on the backbench.[4] Atkinson was re-elected with an increased margin at the 2014 election.

On 5 February 2013 Atkinson replaced Lyn Breuer as Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly.[3]

In September 2016, Peter Malinauskas moved house and into Atkinson's electorate of Croydon. He said of Atkinson: "Mick [Atkinson] knows the movements of every single one of his constituents – I suspect I’m no exception.”[9]

Political views

Media classification and censorship

Atkinson has blocked attempts to introduce a R18+ for video games in Australia.[10] In a letter on the subject, Atkinson stated, "I don't support the introduction of an R18+ rating for electronic games, chiefly because it will greatly increase the risk of children and vulnerable adults being exposed to damaging images and messages."[11]

He withdrew his support for a discussion paper released for public consultation on the subject of an "R18+" rating.[12][13] Unanimity from Atkinson and his fellow state and federal Attorneys-General is required for the introduction of the rating (or a change to that requirement).[11] Australia's rating system lacked a classification for games above MA15+ at the time.[14] It therefore lacked not only an equivalent rating to the ESRB's AO (adults only) rating but also an equivalent to its Mature (17+) rating.[14]

In 2009, Atkinson, in his role as attorney-general of South Australia, introduced laws into parliament that made internet commentary on the upcoming 2010 election illegal unless the commenter provided their real name and postcode. The laws were passed, and came into effect on 6 January 2010.[15] Following public criticism, Atkinson later promised to repeal the section following the 2010 South Australian election and indicated it would not be enforced during the electoral period.[16]

Victims' rights

In 2008, Atkinson introduced legislation aimed at increasing the rights of victims of crime. The legislation purported to allow victims to suggest a suitable sentence for the offender and made it compulsory for judges to consider imposing a restraining order on convicted sex offenders.[17]

Casting votes

Since accepting his role as speaker, Atkinson has used his casting vote in Parliament to oppose several bills presented during the Weatherill government. These include a bill which would have allowed transgender people to have their gender officially changed on their birth certificates[18] and another bill intended to enable voluntary euthanasia. [19]

Personal life

Atkinson is separated from his wife, Joan[20] (née Phyland), with whom he has three sons and a daughter.[21]

Atkinson is a member of the Traditional Anglican Communion, and was formerly its chancellor.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Who's Who in Australia 2008. 2008. p. 164.
  2. 1 2 Livingstone, Tess (19 March 2010). "Anglican-Catholic union has a following". The Australian.
  3. 1 2 "New parliamentary speaker Michael Atkinson criticised for partisan tweets". AdelaideNow. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  4. 1 2 Kelton, Greg (22 March 2010). "Attorney-General Michael Atkinson quits front bench". The Advertiser. AdelaideNow. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  5. ↑ "Michael Atkinson – Member and Candidate for Croydon". Australian Labor Party South Australian Branch. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  6. ↑ Mayne, Stephen (25 January 2006). "Tracking the unionists in parliament". Crikey. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Green, Antony (29 March 2010). "Croydon 2010 Election Results". ABC News. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  8. ↑ Green, Antony (29 March 2010). "2010 South Australian Election State of the Parties". ABC News. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  9. ↑ "Off the Record: SA's home of political, legal and business gossip". The Advertiser. 2016-09-24. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  10. ↑ Moses, Asher (15 July 2008). "Fallout continues from ban on game". The Age. The Age Company Ltd. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  11. 1 2 Parker, Laura (26 January 2009). "Michael Atkinson talks Aussie game classification". Gamespot. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  12. ↑ Hill, Jason (30 October 2008). "Censoring the censorship debate". The Age Blogs: Screen Play. The Age. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  13. ↑ "An R18+ Classification for Computer Games – Public Consultation". Attorney-General's Department. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  14. 1 2 McCauley, Dennis (10 August 2009). "Upcoming RPG Risen Smacked by Australian Banhammer". gamepolitics.com. Entertainment Consumer's Association (ECA). Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  15. ↑ Dowdell, Andrew; McGuire, Michael (2 February 2010). "Outrage as Rann Government, Opposition unite to gag internet election debate" (PDF). The Advertiser. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  16. ↑ Kelton, Greg; Pedley, Derek (2 February 2010). "Attorney-General Michael Atkinson vows to repeal election internet censorship law amid reader furore" (PDF). The Advertiser. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  17. ↑ "Revamped victims' rights bill unveiled". ABC Adelaide. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  18. ↑ "Jay denies rift after colleagues help kill "culture war" gender bill - InDaily". InDaily. 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  19. ↑ Novak, Lauren (2016-11-17). "Voluntary euthanasia Bill voted down: Why Speaker Michael Atkinson voted against it". The Advertiser. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  20. ↑ SA Gov (n.d.). Minister Profile: Hon Michael Atkinson MP at the Wayback Machine (archived 11 April 2010). Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  21. ↑ ABC News (16 Feb 2010). Attorney-General steps up fight with gamers. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
Political offices
Preceded by
Robert Lawson		 Attorney-General of South Australia
2002–2003 		Succeeded by
Paul Holloway
Preceded by
Paul Holloway		 Attorney-General of South Australia
2003–2010 		Succeeded by
John Rau
Parliament of South Australia
Preceded by
Roy Abbott		 Member for Spence
1989–2002 		District abolished
New district Member for Croydon
2002–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
Lyn Breuer		 Speaker of the
South Australian House of Assembly
2013–present 		Incumbent
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