Roger Steele

Roger Michael Steele (born 29 May 1939) is a former Australian politician. He was a Country Liberal Party member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 1974 to 1987, representing Ludmilla until 1983 and Elsey thereafter.^[1]

Steele served as Executive Member for Transport and Industry from 1977 to 1978, Minister for Industrial Development and Minister for Transport and Works from 1978 to 1980, Minister for Primary Production and Minister Assisting the Treasurer from 1980 to 1982, and Minister for Primary Production, Minister for Transport and Works and Minister Assisting the Treasurer in 1982, and Minister for Transport and Works and Minister Assisting the Treasurer from 1982 to 1983.^[2]

He was then Speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 1984 to 1986.^[3] While Speaker, he was a trenchant critic of Chief Minister Ian Tuxworth, and in May 1986 publicly stated that he believed Tuxworth should and would be ousted by caucus, and that he would resign as Speaker if Tuxworth survived. He did not resign when Tuxworth subsequently won a caucus confidence vote, but stepped down when Tuxworth resigned and was replaced as Chief Minister by Stephen Hatton.^[4]

Elsey was abolished ahead of the 1987 election, and Steele nominated for CLP preselection to contest Katherine, essentially the urbanised portion of his old seat. However, he indicated to the preselection committee that he could not guarantee that he would serve a full term if elected. The Opposition Leader, Terry Smith, publicly suggested that Steele had only renominated because this would increase his superannuation. He was one of three incumbent MLAs at that election to be denied preselection by the party's central council; while Noel Padgham-Purich and Denis Collins were re-elected as independents, Steele retired and publicly campaigned for his endorsed successor, Mike Reed.^[5]

References

1. Green, Antony (2005). "Araluen". 2005 Northern Territory Election. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
2. "Northern Territory Government Ministries (CLP)" (PDF). Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
3. "1974 – 2015 Office Holders" (PDF). Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
4. Jaensch, Dean & Loveday, Peter. Challenge from the Nationals: The Territory Election 1987 (PDF). pp. 6–9.
5. Jaensch, Dean & Loveday, Peter. Challenge from the Nationals: The Territory Election 1987 (PDF). pp. 6–9, 132, 135.