John Herron (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Dr. John Joseph Herron (born 4 September 1932, Home Hill, Queensland), Australian politician, ambassador and surgeon, was a Liberal
member of the Australian Senate
from 1 July 1990 to 5 September 2002, representing Queensland
. From 2002 to 2006 he was the Australian Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See
.
Dr. Herron was educated at the University of Queensland
where he graduated in medicine and surgery. He received registrar training at Royal Brisbane Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital
. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
, The Royal College of Surgeons England, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
and the Australian Medical Association
. He was also chief surgeon at Mater Misericordiae Hospital
in Brisbane, before embarking on his political career.
In 1989, Dr. Herron was appointed the Queensland branch President of the Australian Medical Association
. He has also been Chairman of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
and Chairman of the Australian Association of Surgeons of Queensland. He was an officer in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
and a Squadron Leader
in the Royal Australian Air Force
.
Dr. Herron has been awarded the Bancroft Medal of the A.M.A. (QLD), the Justin Fleming Medal of the Australian Association of Surgeons, and a Citation by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
In 1994, he worked as a volunteer doctor in Rwanda, where he saw the aftermath of some of the atrocities committed there, an experience that would lead him to push strongly for Australia's support for the creation of the International Criminal Court
. For this work he received the Humanitarian Overseas Medal for his service as a Care Australia medical officer during the Rwandan crisis and the Australian Service Medal.
Dr. Herron was president of the Queensland branch of the Liberal Party from 1980 to 1983. In 1990, he ran for the Senate, successfully gaining a Queensland seat. He was one of a group of Coalition members of parliament who founded the Lyons Forum
, a conservative ginger group
. In 1994, he became Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Health and Chairman of the Senate Community Affairs References Committee. When the Coalition
government was elected in 1996, Dr. Herron was appointed as Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, until he was replaced by Philip Ruddock
in a January 2001 ministerial reshuffle.
In April 2000 a scandal occurred when the then Aboriginal Affairs Minister in the conservative Howard Government. Dr. Herron tabled a report in the Australian Parliament that questioned whether or not there ever actually had been a "Stolen Generation", on the semantic distinction that as "at the most only 10% of Aboriginal children" has been removed, they did not constitute an entire "generation". After a week of scathing media commentary and the attempted invasion of parliament by scores of protestors, Dr. Herron apologised for the "understandable offence taken by some people" as a result of his comments, although he refused to alter the report as it had been tabled, and in particular the (disputed) figure of 10%.
The Stolen Generation affair was soon parodied in a web-based game that invited users to virtually steal his ten children, and in reply Dr. Herron threatened the producers of the game (Russ Weakley and Peter Firminger) with legal action in the Supreme Court of Queensland
.
This is to formally let you know that I am instituting proceedings against you for defamation in the Supreme Court of Queensland. The Federal Police will be involved to track this website if I do not receive a response within 24 hours. – John Herron Minister for A.T.S.I. Affairs
Dr. Herron was admonished by Electronic Frontiers Australia
"In a free society, it is completely unacceptable for politicians to use threats of legal action to silence their critics," said EFA Board member, Dale Clapperton. "Senator Herron has completely overreacted to a humorous parody of his handling of the 'Stolen Generation' issue."
Dr. Herron had no further response or action regarding the legal threat; the affair remained a significant moment in his political career.
Dr. Herron became president of the Queensland Liberals again, though he reportedly threatened to resign from the Liberal Party in December 2001 over what he saw as Federal interference in Queensland Liberal affairs.
Dr. Herron successfully recontested his Senate seat in the 2001 election, but resigned a year later to be appointed to a diplomatic posting to Ireland as the Australian Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See
.
Dr. Herron is a Knight Commander of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and during his tenure as Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See was made a Papal Knight of St Gregory.
On his return to Australia, Dr. Herron was appointed chairman of the Australian National Council on Drugs
, and The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation where he continues his work to the present day.
He is married to Jan Herron and has ten children, and 21 grandchildren.
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
from 1 July 1990 to 5 September 2002, representing Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. From 2002 to 2006 he was the Australian Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
.
Dr. Herron was educated at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
where he graduated in medicine and surgery. He received registrar training at Royal Brisbane Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital
Princess Alexandra Hospital
The Princess Alexandra Hospital , is located on Ipswich Road in Woolloongabba, Australia. It is one of the major hospitals in Brisbane and is a teaching hospital of the University of Queensland. It is a tertiary level teaching hospital with all major medical and surgical specialities onsite except...
. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is the body responsible for training and examining surgeons in Australia and New Zealand. The head office of the College is in Melbourne, Australia....
, The Royal College of Surgeons England, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is an organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in surgical practice, through its interest in education, training and examinations, its liaison with external medical bodies and representation of the modern surgical workforce...
and the Australian Medical Association
Australian Medical Association
The Australian Medical Association is a professional association for Australian doctors and medical students.The AMA uses a representative structure involving state branches and committees to work with members to promote and protect the interests of doctors.The mechanisms that allow this include:*...
. He was also chief surgeon at Mater Misericordiae Hospital
Mater Health Services
Mater Health Services is a public and private collocated health care provider located in Brisbane, Australia. Mater Health Services provides care for some 500,000 patients each year. The Mater was established in 1906 by the Sisters of Mercy...
in Brisbane, before embarking on his political career.
In 1989, Dr. Herron was appointed the Queensland branch President of the Australian Medical Association
Australian Medical Association
The Australian Medical Association is a professional association for Australian doctors and medical students.The AMA uses a representative structure involving state branches and committees to work with members to promote and protect the interests of doctors.The mechanisms that allow this include:*...
. He has also been Chairman of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is the body responsible for training and examining surgeons in Australia and New Zealand. The head office of the College is in Melbourne, Australia....
and Chairman of the Australian Association of Surgeons of Queensland. He was an officer in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
The Royal Australian Army Medical Corps is the branch of the Australian Army responsible for providing medical care to Army personnel. The AAMC was formed in 1902 and has participated in every Australian Army operation...
and a Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
.
Dr. Herron has been awarded the Bancroft Medal of the A.M.A. (QLD), the Justin Fleming Medal of the Australian Association of Surgeons, and a Citation by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
In 1994, he worked as a volunteer doctor in Rwanda, where he saw the aftermath of some of the atrocities committed there, an experience that would lead him to push strongly for Australia's support for the creation of the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
. For this work he received the Humanitarian Overseas Medal for his service as a Care Australia medical officer during the Rwandan crisis and the Australian Service Medal.
Dr. Herron was president of the Queensland branch of the Liberal Party from 1980 to 1983. In 1990, he ran for the Senate, successfully gaining a Queensland seat. He was one of a group of Coalition members of parliament who founded the Lyons Forum
Lyons Forum
The Lyons Forum was a ginger group or informal political faction comprising some federal members of conservative Australian parliamentary parties. It was formed in the early 1990s and was active both in Liberal Party of Australia parliamentary leadership conflict and on family policy issues. The...
, a conservative ginger group
Ginger group
A ginger group is a formal or informal group within, for example, a political party seeking to inspire the rest with its own enthusiasm and activity....
. In 1994, he became Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Health and Chairman of the Senate Community Affairs References Committee. When the Coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
government was elected in 1996, Dr. Herron was appointed as Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, until he was replaced by 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...
in a January 2001 ministerial reshuffle.
In April 2000 a scandal occurred when the then Aboriginal Affairs Minister in the conservative Howard Government. Dr. Herron tabled a report in the Australian Parliament that questioned whether or not there ever actually had been a "Stolen Generation", on the semantic distinction that as "at the most only 10% of Aboriginal children" has been removed, they did not constitute an entire "generation". After a week of scathing media commentary and the attempted invasion of parliament by scores of protestors, Dr. Herron apologised for the "understandable offence taken by some people" as a result of his comments, although he refused to alter the report as it had been tabled, and in particular the (disputed) figure of 10%.
The Stolen Generation affair was soon parodied in a web-based game that invited users to virtually steal his ten children, and in reply Dr. Herron threatened the producers of the game (Russ Weakley and Peter Firminger) with legal action in the Supreme Court of Queensland
Supreme Court of Queensland
The Supreme Court of Queensland, which is based at the Law Courts Complex, is the superior court for the Australian State of Queensland and sits around the middle of the Australian court hierarchy...
.
This is to formally let you know that I am instituting proceedings against you for defamation in the Supreme Court of Queensland. The Federal Police will be involved to track this website if I do not receive a response within 24 hours. – John Herron Minister for A.T.S.I. Affairs
Dr. Herron was admonished by Electronic Frontiers Australia
Electronic Frontiers Australia
Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc. is a non-profit Australian national non-government organisation representing Internet users concerned with online liberties and rights...
"In a free society, it is completely unacceptable for politicians to use threats of legal action to silence their critics," said EFA Board member, Dale Clapperton. "Senator Herron has completely overreacted to a humorous parody of his handling of the 'Stolen Generation' issue."
Dr. Herron had no further response or action regarding the legal threat; the affair remained a significant moment in his political career.
Dr. Herron became president of the Queensland Liberals again, though he reportedly threatened to resign from the Liberal Party in December 2001 over what he saw as Federal interference in Queensland Liberal affairs.
Dr. Herron successfully recontested his Senate seat in the 2001 election, but resigned a year later to be appointed to a diplomatic posting to Ireland as the Australian Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
.
Dr. Herron is a Knight Commander of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and during his tenure as Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See was made a Papal Knight of St Gregory.
On his return to Australia, Dr. Herron was appointed chairman of the Australian National Council on Drugs
Australian National Council on Drugs
The Australian National Council on Drugs describes itself as "the principal advisory body to Government on drug policy and plays a critical role in ensuring the voice of the community is heard in relation to drug related policies and strategies." The Council occupies a unique position by virtue of...
, and The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation where he continues his work to the present day.
He is married to Jan Herron and has ten children, and 21 grandchildren.
External links
- Dr John Herron, Australian National Council on DrugsAustralian National Council on DrugsThe Australian National Council on Drugs describes itself as "the principal advisory body to Government on drug policy and plays a critical role in ensuring the voice of the community is heard in relation to drug related policies and strategies." The Council occupies a unique position by virtue of...