Ian Tuxworth

Ian Tuxworth
Ian Tuxworth
	Tuxworth in 1984
2nd Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
	In office; 17 October 1984 – 10 May 1986
Deputy	Nick Dondas
Preceded by	Paul Everingham
Succeeded by	Stephen Hatton
Personal details
Born	Ian Lindsay Tuxworth; 18 June 1942; Wollongong, New South Wales
Died	21 January 2020 (aged 77); Perth, Western Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	NT Nationals
Other political; affiliations	Country Liberal Party
Cabinet	Tuxworth Ministry

Ian Lindsay Tuxworth (18 June 1942 – 21 January 2020) was an Australian politician, who was Chief Minister of the Northern Territory of Australia from 17 October 1984 until his resignation on 10 May 1986.[1]

Early life

Tuxworth was born on 18 June 1942 in Wollongong, New South Wales, to Lindsay and historian Hilda Elsie Tuxworth, and moved with his family to Tennant Creek in 1951.[2] He was educated at Tennant Creek Primary School, and Rostrevor College in Adelaide.

Before entering politics, Tuxworth, also known affectionately as "Slim", with his father and brother Robert (Bob), started a soft drink factory in Tennant Creek called Crystal Waters, which was later sold to the Coca-Cola Company. Tuxworth also played baseball and was a member of the 1975 North Australian Kiewaldt team.[3]

Member of the Legislative Assembly

Tuxworth was elected as the Country Liberal Party (CLP) member for the electoral division of Barkly (which included Tennant Creek), in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly at its inaugural election in 1974. As the representative for Barkly, Tuxworth was instrumental in facilitating the government support for the construction of the Mary Ann Dam north of the town of Tennant Creek.[4]

Following the resignation of Paul Everingham, Tuxworth was elected Chief Minister on 17 October 1984. In 1985, he opposed the federal government's move to transfer ownership of Uluru to its traditional owners, the Aṉangu people, however 30 years later he acknowledged the handback had been a success.[5] He resigned as Chief Minister and from the CLP on 10 May 1986 to form the NT Nationals party[1] At the 1987 election Tuxworth was elected as the NT Nationals member for Barkly by 19 votes. His victory was annulled by the Court of Disputed Returns after a successful challenge from losing independent candidate Maggie Hickey. On 5 September 1987, he won a by-election, again defeating Hickey, who was now representing the Labor Party (ALP).[6] After a redistribution turned Barkly into a nominally Labor-held seat, Tuxworth stood unsuccessfully for the seat of Goyder at the 1990 election.[7]

Tuxworth became the first CLP leader who did not lead the party to an election.

After politics

Following his defeat, Tuxworth moved to Perth, Western Australia, where he died on 21 January 2020, aged 77. He was survived by his wife Ruth, children Sonia, Guy and Gemma, and eight grandchildren.[8]

References

"Premiers Past". ABC Radio National. 17 January 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
"New NT Chief Minister denies wowser image – The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995) – 18 Oct 1984". Trove. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Gosling, Luke. "Statements by Members: Tuxworth, Hon. Ian". Open Australia. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
Dunlevie, James; Ellen, Rosa (26 October 2015). "Opponent of Uluru handback changes tune 30 years on". ABC News.
Antony Green (14 August 2008). "Barkly". 2008 Northern Territory Election. ABC News. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
Alex Nelson (6 April 2005). "What Future for Braitling After the Next Election?". Alice Springs News. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
"Ian Tuxworth, the Northern Territory's second chief minister, dies aged 77". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.

Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
New assembly	Member for Barkly 1974–1990	Succeeded by Maggie Hickey
Political offices
Preceded by Paul Everingham	Chief Minister of the Northern Territory 1984–1986	Succeeded by Stephen Hatton
Party political offices
Preceded by Paul Everingham	Leader of the Country Liberal Party 1984–1986	Succeeded by Stephen Hatton

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[pp-1] "Premiers Past". ABC Radio National. 17 January 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2010.

[2] "New NT Chief Minister denies wowser image – The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995) – 18 Oct 1984". Trove. Retrieved 27 August 2016.

[3] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[gosling-4] Gosling, Luke. "Statements by Members: Tuxworth, Hon. Ian". Open Australia. Retrieved 8 December 2020.

[uluru-5] Dunlevie, James; Ellen, Rosa (26 October 2015). "Opponent of Uluru handback changes tune 30 years on". ABC News.

[6] Antony Green (14 August 2008). "Barkly". 2008 Northern Territory Election. ABC News. Retrieved 23 January 2010.

[7] Alex Nelson (6 April 2005). "What Future for Braitling After the Next Election?". Alice Springs News. Retrieved 23 January 2010.

[8] "Ian Tuxworth, the Northern Territory's second chief minister, dies aged 77". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.