Grant Ernest John Tambling, AM (born 20 June 1943) is an Australian politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1980 to 1983 and then a Senator for the Northern Territory from 1987 to 2001, representing the Country Liberal Party. In federal parliament, he sat with the National Country Party, later renamed National Party. He later served as Administrator of Norfolk Island from 2003 to 2007.
Grant Tambling | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Northern Territory | |
| In office 18 October 1980 – 5 March 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Sam Calder |
| Succeeded by | John Reeves |
| Senator for Northern Territory | |
| In office 11 July 1987 – 9 November 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Bernie Kilgariff |
| Succeeded by | Nigel Scullion |
| Administrator of Norfolk Island | |
| In office 1 November 2003 – 7 August 2007 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor‑General | Michael Jeffery |
| Preceded by | Michael Stephens |
| Succeeded by | Owen Walsh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 June 1943 Wondai, Queensland, Australia |
| Political party | Country Liberal Party (1974−2003; 2007-present)[a]
National Party (federal) |
| Spouse | Sandy Tambling |
Early life
editTambling was born in Wondai,[2] Queensland and raised in Darwin in the Northern Territory. He attended Darwin High School and Adelaide Boys' High School, returning to Darwin before moving to Sydney for work.[3]
Politics
edit| Years | Term | Electoral division | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974–1977 | 1st | Fannie Bay | Country Liberal | |
After a stint in local government on the Darwin City Council, Tambling was elected to the first Northern Territory Legislative Assembly as the Country Liberal Party member for Fannie Bay. Tambling served as Executive Member for Community Development in that first parliament. Executive members were the equivalent of ministers in later years, though that title was not used until self-government was granted in 1978.[4]
In 1975, he became deputy leader of the CLP and hence Deputy Majority Leader (deputy premier) under Majority Leader Goff Letts. Despite that, Tambling was defeated at the 1977 election by Labor Party candidate Pam O'Neil, and began a career in business. He served as the member for the Northern Territory electorate in the House of Representatives from 1980 to 1983, but was again defeated by an ALP rival, John Reeves.[4] He sat with the parliamentary National Country Party like his predecessor Sam Calder.[5]
After four years out of parliament, Tambling was once again elected—this time to the Senate—at the 1987 federal election. As a senator, he replaced Bernie Kilgariff, who he had earlier replaced as Deputy Majority leader. Unlike Kilgariff who sat with the Liberal Party, Tambling continued to sit with the parliamentary National Party (since renamed from National Country Party), as he did previously as member for Northern Territory. He is the only Territorian to have served in both houses of federal parliament. He was also the deputy National Party leader in the Senate between 10 April 1990 and 23 March 1993, and a second time between 11 May 2000 and 9 November 2001. He also spent almost six years as parliamentary secretary in the Howard government, between 11 March 1996 and 26 November 2001.[6]
Tambling spent fourteen years as a Senator before being disendorsed by the CLP at the 2001 election for voting in favour of anti-Internet gaming legislation.[7] Tambling subsequently retired from politics and worked for two years in private consultancy.
Norfolk Island
editTambling was appointed as the Administrator of Norfolk Island, for a term lasting from 1 November 2003 to September 2007.
Personal life
editHe is married with two children.[4]
Notes
edit- ^ Tambling was required to resign his party membership from 2003−2007 when he was Administrator of Norfolk Island.[1]
References
edit- ^ "Former Administrator addresses the Norfolk Island Liberal Party" (PDF). Norfolk Island Government. p. 8.
- ^ Davey, Paul. "TAMBLING, Grant Ernest John" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2016.
- ^ Davey, Paul. "TAMBLING, Grant Ernest John (1943 - )" (PDF). Territory Stories. Northern Territory Library. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "Administrator of Norfolk Island". Archived from the original on 20 March 2008.
- ^ Davey, Paul (2017). "TAMBLING, Grant Ernest John (1943– )". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Former Senator Grant Tambling". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ Shane, McLeod (4 July 2001). "Grant Tambling shafted". AM Archive. Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). Retrieved 19 January 2023.