Harry Jenkins
Encyclopedia
Henry Alfred "Harry" Jenkins (born 18 August 1952), an Australia
n politician
, is a member of the House of Representatives
, representing the Division of Scullin
, Victoria
, since the 1986 by-election
for the Australian Labor Party
. He is the longest-serving Labor member of the House of Representatives and the second longest-serving member after Philip Ruddock
.
Jenkins served as the 26th Speaker of the House of Representatives
, from 2008 until his unexpected resignation as Speaker on 24 November 2011.
. His father was Dr Harry Jenkins, who was Member for Scullin from 1969 to 1986 and Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1983 to 1986. Jenkins Jnr was educated at the Australian National University
and was a public servant before entering politics. He succeeded his father in the seat of Scullin in 1986.
Jenkins was Deputy Speaker 1993-1996 and Second Deputy Speaker from 1996 to his election as Speaker in 2008. He was the Opposition candidate for Speaker after the 1996, 1998, 2001 and 2004 elections.
. Although Speakers normally carry the courtesy title 'the Honourable', Jenkins has said his personal preference is that it not be used.
He is the first Speaker to be the second generation of a family to serve in the chair, following his father.
On 31 May 2011, after a contentious debate on carbon pricing
in which Jenkins declared a "general warning" for all members, Liberal MP Bob Baldwin
interjected and was named
by Jenkins. Baldwin was supported by the Coalition and by independent member Rob Oakeshott
and West Australian National
member Tony Crook
. The resulting vote on suspending Baldwin for 24 hours failed 71-72. Convention would normally have required Jenkins to resign as Speaker, but the House of Representatives immediately thereafter approved a motion of confidence in the Speaker and he remained in the position.
He resigned as the Speaker of the House of Representatives on 24 November 2011, stating: "My desire is to be able to participate in policy and parliamentary debate, and this would be incompatible with continuing in the role of Speaker".
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, is a member of the House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
, representing the Division of Scullin
Division of Scullin
The Division of Scullin is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, including Epping, Lalor, Bundoora, Mill Park and Plenty....
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, since the 1986 by-election
Scullin by-election, 1986
A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Scullin on 8 February 1986. This was triggered by the resignation of Labor Party MP and Speaker Harry Jenkins to become Australian Ambassador to Spain....
for the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
. He is the longest-serving Labor member of the House of Representatives and the second longest-serving member after Philip Ruddock
Philip Ruddock
Philip Maxwell Ruddock is an Australian politician who is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the Division of Berowra, New South Wales, for the Liberal Party of Australia...
.
Jenkins served as the 26th Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Parliament of Australia. The presiding officer in the upper house is the President of the Senate....
, from 2008 until his unexpected resignation as Speaker on 24 November 2011.
Biography
Jenkins was born in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. His father was Dr Harry Jenkins, who was Member for Scullin from 1969 to 1986 and Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1983 to 1986. Jenkins Jnr was educated at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
and was a public servant before entering politics. He succeeded his father in the seat of Scullin in 1986.
Jenkins was Deputy Speaker 1993-1996 and Second Deputy Speaker from 1996 to his election as Speaker in 2008. He was the Opposition candidate for Speaker after the 1996, 1998, 2001 and 2004 elections.
42nd Parliament
He was elected by Labor caucus on 29 November 2007 to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 42nd Parliament. This was carried by a formal vote on 12 February 2008. He succeeded Liberal incumbent David HawkerDavid Hawker
David Peter Maxwell Hawker , Australian politician, was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from May 1983 to July 2010, representing the Division of Wannon, Victoria, previously represented by former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. He was born in Adelaide, and was educated at...
. Although Speakers normally carry the courtesy title 'the Honourable', Jenkins has said his personal preference is that it not be used.
He is the first Speaker to be the second generation of a family to serve in the chair, following his father.
43rd Parliament
The Labor Party renominated Jenkins as Speaker in the 43rd Parliament, and he was elected unopposed when the Parliament opened on 28 September 2010.On 31 May 2011, after a contentious debate on carbon pricing
Carbon pricing
Carbon pricing is the generic term for placing a price on carbon through either subsidies, a carbon tax, or an emissions trading system....
in which Jenkins declared a "general warning" for all members, Liberal MP Bob Baldwin
Bob Baldwin
Robert Charles "Bob" Baldwin , Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1996 to October 1998 and again since November 2001, representing theDivision of Paterson in New South Wales...
interjected and was named
Naming (parliamentary procedure)
Naming is a procedure in the British House of Commons whereby the Speaker or one of his deputies proposes a vote on the suspension of a member of the House whom he believes has broken the rules of conduct of the House....
by Jenkins. Baldwin was supported by the Coalition and by independent member Rob Oakeshott
Rob Oakeshott
Robert James Murray "Rob" Oakeshott is an Australian politician. He is the independent Member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Lyne in New South Wales, which he won in the 2008 by-election following the resignation of former Nationals leader and Howard minister Mark Vaile...
and West Australian National
National Party of Western Australia
The National Party of Western Australia is a political party in Western Australia. It is affiliated with the National Party of Australia but maintains a separate structure and identity....
member Tony Crook
Tony Crook (politician)
Anthony John "Tony" Crook is an Australian politician. He has been the member of the Australian House of Representatives seat of O'Connor for the National Party of Western Australia since the 2010 federal election...
. The resulting vote on suspending Baldwin for 24 hours failed 71-72. Convention would normally have required Jenkins to resign as Speaker, but the House of Representatives immediately thereafter approved a motion of confidence in the Speaker and he remained in the position.
He resigned as the Speaker of the House of Representatives on 24 November 2011, stating: "My desire is to be able to participate in policy and parliamentary debate, and this would be incompatible with continuing in the role of Speaker".
External links
- Harry Jenkins MP official site
- Profile at the Parliament of Australia, and as Speaker
- Appearances in Parliament at Open Australia