Peter Wellington
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The Honourable Peter Wellington MP |
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| 38th Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly | |
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Assumed office 24 March 2015 |
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| Deputy | Di Farmer |
| Preceded by | Fiona Simpson |
| Member of the Queensland Parliament for Nicklin |
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Assumed office 13 June 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Neil Turner |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
21 August 1957 Numurkah, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater | Queensland University of Technology |
| Occupation | Police officer |
| Profession | Solicitor |
| Website | www |
Peter William Wellington (born 21 August 1957) is an independent member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, for the Electoral district of Nicklin on the Sunshine Coast and the current Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. Wellington has held the balance of power in the legislature twice in his career, and both times saw him give support to Labor-led minority governments.
Wellington grew up on his family's farm at Belli Park. Before entering parliament, Wellington was a police officer, and a solicitor. His first success in politics was when he was elected to a seat on the Maroochy Shire council.
Wellington's defeat of the incumbent National Party candidate Neil Turner in the closely contested 1998 election reflected the instability in Queensland politics at the time. He was unexpectedly put in a position of considerable power when the Coalition suffered an 11-seat swing, resulting in a hung parliament. Nationals Premier Rob Borbidge could theoretically have formed government with the backing of Wellington, Gladstone independent Liz Cunningham, and the eleven elected members of the One Nation Party. After some deliberation however, Wellington chose to back Labor on matters of supply and confidence, although he would withdraw that support in the event of "any evidence of gross fraud, misappropriation or illegal activities." As a result, state ALP leader Peter Beattie was able to form a minority government.
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Wikipedia