Peter Chandler (politician)
| Peter Chandler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Northern Territory Parliament for Brennan | |
|
In office 9 August 2008 – 27 August 2016 | |
| Preceded by | James Burke |
| Succeeded by | Tony Sievers |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Peter Glen Chandler 18 July 1965 Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Country Liberal Party |
| Occupation | Public servant |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1985–1991 |
Peter Glen Chandler (born 18 July 1965) is an Australian politician. He was a Country Liberal Party member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, and held the seat of Brennan from 2008 to 2016. He was Deputy Chief Minister from 2014 to 2015 and a minister under both Terry Mills and Adam Giles.[1] He lost his seat at the 2016 general election.
Early life
Chandler was born in Swan Hill, Victoria, and was educated at Warialda High School in New South Wales. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1985 in Queensland, and later transferred to the Northern Territory where he worked as a dog handler for the RAAF, and later worked for the City of Darwin.[2] He also worked as a public servant for the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Defence Housing Australia.[3]
Political career
Chandler was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly at the 2008 NT election on 9 August, representing the seat of Brennan for the Country Liberal Party (CLP). He was Shadow Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage; Parks and Wildlife in Terry Mills' shadow cabinet,[4] and took on several ministerial portfolios in the Mills Ministry when the CLP won government at the 2012 election.
On the Country Liberal Party's victory at the 2012 election, Chandler was appointed as a minister in the Mills Ministry in September 2012, and continued to serve as a minister in the Giles Ministry. He variously served as Minister for Business (2012-2013), Minister for Trade (2012-2013), Minister for Economic Development (2012-2013), Minister for Employment and Training (2012-2013), Minister for Housing (2012-2013), Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment (2013-2014), Minister for Education (2013-2014, 2015-2016), Minister for Lands and Planning (2014-2015), Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services (2014-2016), Minister for Defence Industries and Veterans Support (2014-2015), Minister for Transport (2015-2016), Minister for Infrastructure (2015-2016), Minister for Veterans Support (2015-2016) and Minister for Essential Services (2016).[5]
In August 2014, Deputy Chief Minister Dave Tollner was asked to resign from that position after making several homophobic slurs about a fellow MLA's son. However, a few days later he threatened to move to the crossbench unless he was reinstated, so on 1 September, Chief Minister Adam Giles threw open the leadership and deputy leadership to a party room ballot. Giles was re-elected as CLP leader, and Chandler was voted in as his deputy.[6] Chandler became the fourth deputy chief minister of the CLP government since it won power two years previously in August 2012.[7] However, in February 2015, in the fallout from an unsuccessful leadership challenge against Giles from Willem Westra van Holthe, Chandler was replaced as Deputy Chief Minister by Westra van Holthe.[8]
Chandler lost his seat in his party's landslide defeat 2016 election. He stated "I was resolute that we would probably lose government, given the feedback from the community, I certainly didn't think I would lose my seat", and raised concerns about what he would do now that defeated MPs were no longer entitled to a parliamentary pension, stating "I look at history and I know that there are many former members of parliament who've actually had to leave town...I've got a family to feed, a family to support so I'll be looking for employment opportunities." He was highly critical of Giles' leadership and role in the party's defeat.[9]
Personal life
Chandler enjoys fishing and lives in Palmerston with his wife, Robyn, and four children.
References
- ↑ CHANDLER, The Honourable Peter Glen, Parliament of the Northern Territory
- ↑ "NT Government names Peter Chandler as new deputy, replacing Dave Tollner after gay slur controversy". ABC News. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "NT Major Projects 2014 Speakers". NT Conference. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "Peter Glen CHANDLER MLA". Parliament @ Work. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "Ministries of the Twelfth Assembly" (PDF). Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ↑ "Peter Chandler takes reins as NT's Deputy Chief Minister as Dave Tollner's future remains in doubt". 105.7 ABC Darwin. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ↑ "Tollner rejected, Anderson says Giles phoned PUP". Alice Springs News. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ↑ "NT CLP members rally behind controversial leader Adam Giles". The Australian. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ↑ "NT election: Peter Chandler says Adam Giles should take more responsibility for 'absolute train crash'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
| Northern Territory Legislative Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Burke |
Member for Brennan 2008–2016 |
Succeeded by Tony Sievers |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Dave Tollner |
Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory 2014–2015 |
Succeeded by Willem Westra van Holthe |