Michael Hodgman

(William) Michael Hodgman, AM QC (16 November 1938 – 19 June 2013) was an Australian Liberalpolitician. He was a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council, the Tasmanian House of Assembly and theAustralian House of Representatives.

Career

Michael Hodgman was born at Hobart, Tasmania in 1938. He first entered politics in 1966 as member for the Tasmanian Legislative Council seat of Huon. He held this position until 1974 when he stood down to run for the Federal electorate of Denison. He was unsuccessful, but won the seat at his second attempt at the 1975 election, and held the seat until 1987, when he was defeated by Duncan Kerr from the Australian Labor Party. He served as Minister for the Capital Territory and Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry and Commerce in the Fraser government from 1980 to 1983.

In 1992 Hodgman returned to state politics in the lower house electorate of Denison, which he held until defeated in 1998, when the size of parliament was reduced from 35 to 25 members. He regained the position in 2001 after a recount of votes due to the retirement of Ray Groom. In the 2002 state election he retained his seat, at the expense of his colleague and leader Bob Cheek.

Hodgman was well known for his strong support for retaining Australia's Constitutional monarchy.[2] He enjoyed wide name-recognition in Hobart; mainly due to his long political career. His wife died in 2003. His sonWill Hodgman is the current Leader of the Liberal Party in Tasmania.

He achieved further fame in 2007 when, during a speech, he rallied fellow party members to give 'the Labor party one right up the bracket'. On the popular Get This radio show, the team have a featured segment using the soundbite 'one right up the bracket', in which callers air their grievances.

On 19 November 2009 Hodgman announced he would not be contesting the 2010 state election. In his farewell speech he spoke briefly about his political career including electorates represented, ministerial offices held, opposition to the invasion of East Timor and flooding of Lake Pedder.

He died in a nursing home in Hobart in 2013. He had terminal emphysema and Alzheimer's disease.

Honours and awards

Member of the Order of Australia (AM) June 2012

Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977

Australian Defence Medal  

Anniversary of National Service 1951–1972 Medal  

Unknown foreign medal