John Hatton (politician)
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John Hatton AO |
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| Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for South Coast |
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In office 17 November 1973 – 27 February 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Jack Beale |
| Succeeded by | Eric Ellis |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Edward Hatton 29 May 1933 Hammondville, New South Wales |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Independent |
| Website | NSW Legislative Assembly webpage |
John Edward Hatton AO (born 29 May 1933) is former Australian politician, and a National Trust of Australia nominated Australian Living Treasure. He was the independent member of the Legislative Assembly of the New South Wales parliament for the seat of South Coast from 1973 to 1995. Notably, the allegations about police corruption Hatton raised in Parliament resulted in the Wood Royal Commission. He is currently a social activist in his local community.
John Hatton was born in Hammondville, New South Wales, the son of Harry and Florence Hatton. He was educated at Hammondville Public School, Hurlstone Agricultural High School and Armidale Teachers' College.
Hatton was the President of the NSW Shire of Shoalhaven before his entry into state politics. Hatton was the Foundation President and President for 15 years of the Shoalhaven Combined Progress Associations.
Hatton was the member for the New South Wales lower house seat of South Coast between 1973 and 1995. A measure of Hatton's local popularity occurred in the 1976 state election where he polled in excess of 77% of the first preference formal votes. Shortly after becoming elected, Hatton donated a parliamentary pay rise to charity because it had not been granted by an independent body. John Hatton was elected as an independent for this seat for 22 years through the Askin, Lewis, Willis, Wran, Unsworth, Greiner and Fahey governments to 1995.
He used parliamentary privilege to expose organised crime in the Griffith mafia, police corruption and malfeasance within government departments and agencies. In 1994, by 46 votes to 45, he forced the minority Fahey Government to establish the Wood Royal Commission into Police Corruption. This ground-breaking royal commission overcame objections from the Independent Commission Against Corruption, led to widespread reform of the NSW Police Force and the establishment of the Police Integrity Commission.
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