Peter Andren
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Peter Andren AM |
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|---|---|
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Calare |
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In office 2 March 1996 – 17 October 2007 |
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| Preceded by | David Simmons |
| Succeeded by | John Cobb |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
28 August 1946 Gulargambone, New South Wales |
| Died | 3 November 2007 (aged 61) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse(s) | Jenny Price (divorced) |
| Children | Greg, Josh |
| Alma mater | Macquarie University |
| Occupation | Teacher, journalist |
Peter James Andren AM (28 August 1946 – 3 November 2007) was an Australian politician. He was an independent member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1996 until October 2007, representing the electorate of Calare, New South Wales.
Peter Andren was born in Gulargambone, New South Wales, and attended Normanhurst Boys' High School and Macquarie University, Sydney. He was a teacher, television reporter, presenter and producer and radio and television news editor with Prime Television and 2GZ before entering politics.
In the 1996 election, he stood for election in Calare. He was not only displeased with the quality of candidates in the field to succeed longtime Labor incumbent David Simmons, but felt that rural Australia was losing its voice in Canberra. It was initially thought that Simmons' retirement gave the Nationals a chance to take the seat. However, owing partly to his name recognition (Prime's service area covered most of the electorate), Andren won the seat after Labor's preferences flowed overwhelmingly to him, taking 63 percent of the two-candidate vote. He held the seat without serious difficulty in the next three elections; his two candidate-preferred vote of over 75 per cent in 2001 made Calare the second-safest seat in Australia.
He attempted to implement changes to politicians' superannuation, involving giving members the opportunity to opt out of the parliamentary scheme. He introduced a Private Member's Bill to this extent, which failed to pass through either house. He had been an active opponent of genetically modified crops, and was involved with the Standing Committee on Primary Industries and Regional Services. Andren was known to join with the other two rural independent members, Bob Katter and Tony Windsor, in raising regional issues with the Parliament and media. He was also a vocal critic of Australia's policy on asylum seekers, and the Iraq War.
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