John Hodges (Australian politician)
John Hodges | |
|---|---|
| Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs | |
| In office 7 May 1982 – 11 March 1983 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Fraser |
| Preceded by | Ian Macphee |
| Succeeded by | Stewart West |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Petrie | |
| In office 1 December 1984 – 11 July 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Dean Wells |
| Succeeded by | Gary Johns |
| In office 18 May 1974 – 5 March 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Marshall Cooke |
| Succeeded by | Dean Wells |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 October 1937 Brisbane, Queensland |
| Died | 14 November 2024 (aged 87) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Occupation | Pharmacist |
John Charles Hodges (3 October 1937 – 14 November 2024) was an Australian politician. A member of the Liberal Party, he served as Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs in the Fraser government from 1982 to 1983. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1974 to 1983 and from 1984 to 1987, representing the Queensland seat of Petrie.
Early life
[edit]Hodges was born in Brisbane on 3 October 1937.[1] He was raised in Cooktown, Queensland.[2]
Hodges was a pharmaceutical chemist by profession.[3] He served on the Redcliffe City Council from 1967 to 1976, including as deputy mayor from 1970.[1]
Politics
[edit]Hodges was elected to the Liberal Party's Queensland state executive in 1973.[1] The following year, he defeated incumbent single-term MP Marshall Cooke for Liberal preselection in the seat of Petrie.[3] He retained the seat for the Liberal Party at the 1974 election.[1]
In 1978, Hodges was appointed as deputy government whip in the House of Representatives.[1] He was appointed Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs in the Fraser government in May 1982 following a ministerial reshuffle.[4] As immigration minister, he supported the government's official policy of multiculturalism. At a policy forum in August 1982 he stated that Australia had never been a monocultural society, but that "multiculturalism can become a reality only when it is accepted by the nation as a whole"[5]
Hodges lost his seat to the Australian Labor Party (ALP) candidate Dean Wells at the 1983 election.[6] Howoever, he reclaimed Petrie for the Liberal Party at the 1984 election.[7] He supported John Howard against Andrew Peacock in the 1985 Liberal leadership spill.[8] He narrowly lost Petrie a second time at the 1987 election, following the National Party's decision to run a candidate against him in support of "Joh for Canberra" campaign.[7]
Later life
[edit]In 1987, Hodges and his wife purchased what was then the only pharmacy on Bribie Island, located at Bongaree. They eventually came to own or part-own another three pharmacies on the island, before retiring in 2018.[2] Hodges died on 14 November 2024, at the age of 87.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "HODGES, the Hon. John Charles". Parliamentary Library. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ a b Simmonds, Luke (23 March 2018). "John and Margaret Hodges, who opened first pharmacy on Bribie Island, have sold up and retired". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Petrie: Member replaced". The Canberra Times. 8 May 1974.
- ^ "Bigger Cabinet means Killen will stay on". The Canberra Times. 8 May 1982.
- ^ "Minister: Need Understanding". The Australian Jewish News. 6 August 1982.
- ^ "Hodges admits he is beaten". The Canberra Times. 7 March 1983.
- ^ a b "New residents hold key in shaky Brisbane seat". The Canberra Times. 4 July 1987.
- ^ Massey, Murray; Kitney, Geoff (1 June 1989). "Lib brawl still smoulders". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "HODGES, The Honourable John Charles | Funeral Notices | Brisbane". My Tributes. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
