Peter Lawlor

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For the hurler, see Peter Lawlor (hurler).
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The Honourable
 Peter Lawlor
 MP
Member for Southport
In office
2001 – present
Preceded by Mick Veivers
Constituency Electoral district of Southport
Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
In office
2009 – present
Preceded by Desley Boyle
Personal details
Born March 1, 1948(1948-03-01)
Ayr
Political party Australian Labor Party
Children 3
Website www.peterlawlor.com.au

Peter Lawlor (born Ayr, Queensland 1 March 1948) is the Queensland Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading and the Australian Labor Party Member for Southport in the Queensland State Parliament. He previously served as a councillor on the Gold Coast City Council.[1]

Contents

[edit] Gold Coast City Council

Lawlor served as a Gold Coast City Counciller for two terms up to 1994; he chaired the Council's Planning Committee for three years.[2] During his time on Council Lawlor campaigned on environmental issues and to preserve the Gold Coast Broadwater.[3]

At the time Gold Coast City Council had nine Aldermen and a Mayor. Areas to the north and west of the Gold Coast came under the separate Shire of Albert until the amalgamation of the Council and Shire in 1995.[4]

In March 1988 Peter Lawlor was elected as Division 3 Alderman. At the same election new Mayor Alderman Lex Bell ousted former Mayor Denis Pie.[5][6] Lex Bell would go on to be elected as the independent Member for Surfers Paradise at a by-election in 2001 soon after Lawlor's own election to Parliament.

Lawlor and Bell were both re-elected in the March 1991 election for a second term. At this election the previously all male Aldermen were joined by three new women Adlermen[6][7]

As Alderman for the Southport area Lawlor campaigned for the preservation of The Spit as "one of the few undeveloped areas on the Gold Coast".[8] Lawlor blamed the previous Waterways Authority and previous State Government for approving resorts that the Council did not want to go ahead, neither had required Council approval. Vacant land to the south of the Sea World car park was zoned as special purposes under the draft development control plan and could have been developed with a low rise resort or international hotel. Chairman of the Finance Committee of Gold Coast City Council was concerned about valid compensation claims against the Council from developers if previous approvals were revoked now that they came under Council control.[8]

Lawlor, Bell and Gary Baildon were the only three Aldermen to vote against the amalgamation of Gold Coast City and Albert Shire.[9]

In 1996 after Bell and Lawlor had been ousted by the new Ray Stevens administration, Stevens proposed a relocation of the Gold Coast Indy Grand Prix from Surfers Paradise to Southport. Lawlor teamed up with the new Premier Rob Borbidge together with local National Party MP and racing driver Allan Grice to oppose the proposed relocation. As the former Planning Committee Chairman Lawlor said that the previous council had decreed that no further commercial development or reclamation of the Broadwater would take place. Mayor Stevens responded that the policy direction of the previous council was irrelevant. Borgidge indicated that the State Government would never support the proposal to reclaim any part of the Broadwater.[10]

[edit] Chair of the Planning and Development Committee

Lawlor served as the Chair of the Planning and Development Committee from 1991 until he left Council in 1994. This period of time was within a national recession however he held the view that "The Gold Coast has always been the last place to be affected by recessions and the first to recover..."[11] Environmental protection was a theme to come from his time as Committee Chair.

The Gold Coast at this time had not yet established one CBD district. As the Council Planning and Development Committee Chairman Alderman Lawlor lead a plan for Southport to become a future CBD heartland of the Gold Coast which would be supported by regional district and local centres appropriately located throughout the urban area. At the time 159ha of the 317ha of zoned commercial land in Southport was vacant. Council lobbied for the creation of a State Government precinct in Southport.[12]

Another victory claimed by Lawlor on behalf of the Council was the 1992 prevention of commercial development proposals for Crown land on South Stradbroke Island, including a golf course by Christopher Skase. Several hundreds of hectares of land were rezoned for environmental use after a five year Council battle. The vacant Crown land on the island was declared an environmental park under joint trusteeship of the council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Meanwhile in 1991 Council acquired 4ha of privately owned land near the southern-most tip of the island and had it rezoned to public open space.[13]

In 1993 Council tightened the town plan to outlaw prostitution in residential areas. At the time prostitution with two or more operators were banned by state law but single operators were not covered, until then Council had gained prosecutions against prostitution by deeming it a business activity in a residential area. The new town plan specifically defined and excluded prostitution from being a home occupation from residential areas.[14]

[edit] Southport

The Electoral District of Southport is based in the northern part of the Gold Coast. It is named for the largest suburb within the electorate of Southport, and also includes the suburbs of Arundel, Ernest, Labrador, Molendinar and Parkwood. It was re-created for the 1977 election after having been a previous electoral district throughout the 1950s. The suburb of Southport was names so because it was the southernmost port of the colony of Queensland.

Peter Lawlor has been the Labor endorsed candidate for the Southport Electoral District at every State election since 1992. He marginally lost the 1992, 1995 and 1998 elections against the long term incumbent National Party Member Mick Veivers. Veivers was Minister for Emergency Services and Sport in the Borbidge Government and had been a Rugby League international before being elected to the seat in 1987.[15] Lawlor finally succeeded in gaining the seat from Veivers on behalf of the Labor Party in 2001 with over 60% of the two party preferred vote and maintained that high margin until a swing against him in the 2009 election brought his share of the vote down to 53.48%.

Members for Southport in the Queensland Parliament
First incarnation (1950–1960)
Member Party Term
  Eric Gaven Country Party 1950–1960
Second incarnation (1977–present)
Member Party Term
  Peter White Liberal Party of Australia 1977–1980
  Doug Jennings National Party of Australia 1980–1987
  Mick Veivers National Party of Australia 1987–2001
  Peter Lawlor Australian Labor Party 2001–present

[edit] Candidate

As a sitting Alderman and local solicitor Lawlor (44) ran for the Electoral District of Southport for the first time in 1992 as a candidate for the incumbent Labor Goss Government. Sitting National Party Member Mick Veivers had a 5% margin, the Liberal Party also ran candidate Tim Baker who had previously been a teacher at The Southport School.[16] Veivers' margin was reduced to 2.3% with Lawlor attracting 45% of the primary vote, the conservative opposition won six of the eight Gold Coast electoral districts.[17]

In the lead up to the 1995 election Veivers argued that his small margin was only "on paper" as this campaign would not be a three-cornered contest involving both major conservative parties. Issues raised during the campaign included a government proposed Gold Coast tolled motorway with the Opposition promising an alternative 18 month upgrade to the highway. Additionally Lawlor raised issues of education, crime and health care, he also emphasised that having a local member in the ruling government was the way to capture public funds.[17] During the campaign Veivers' campaign distributed leaflets in the Southport electorate saying that Labor and the Democrats wanted to legalise homosexuals marrying, adopting children and holding mardi gras parades in Southport. Opposition Leader and Member for Surfers Paradise expressed his concerns to Veivers about the leaflets. Mr Veivers said that he was not "poofter-bashing" but was speaking out against militant homosexuals who wanted to force their ideas on everyone. Lawlor said that these issues were not on the agenda, that it was dirty politics and that it misrepresented the facts and Labor policy, "it is absolute lies".[18] Veivers increased his primary vote to 51.7%, the first time Southport had been won on primary votes, however he still only had a 4.81% two party preferred margin. The Gold Coast conservatives all retained their seats with large swings towards them.[19][20][21]

The Goss Government was re-elected with a one seat majority however after a by-election in North Queensland Rob Borbidge was able to form a minority government. Merri Rose was the only Labor Party Member based on the Gold Coast and Premier Borbidge was a local himself. The election was unusual and difficult to predict because the One Nation Party had gained significant momentum locally and across the state. Labor focused the bulk of its Gold Coast campaign funds into Peter Lawlor's campaign for Southport. The Southport area was seen to be a traditional Labor area and local Member Mick Veivers was now a Minister.[21]

The Borbidge Government retained all their seats on the Gold Coast in 1998 however they lost seats elsewhere and the one term government fell to the Labor Party. Peter Beattie became the new Premier, sole Gold Coast MP Rose became the Tourism Minister. Between 1998 and the 2001 election the minority Beattie Government held a knife edge majority in the Parliament relying on an independent.

[edit] Election

The 2001 Labor election campaign was dominated by the leader Premier Beattie, voters were told to 'just vote 1' in a tactic to deprive the conservatives' the benefit from One Nation preferences.[22]

Controversially Veivers entered into a local preference deal with the One Nation Party for a second time. One Nation had attracted 21.7% of the Southport vote at the 1998 election. Veivers recommended that Southport voters give the One Nation candidate their second preference ahead of both Lawlor and an independent candidate, this deal was in defiance of a ban on such preference deals by Opposition Leader Rob Borbidge.[15][23][24] Days before the election Borbidge announced that Veivers would head a bid for the 2010 World Expo which provided a last minute boost for the veteran MP.[25]

Lawlor defeated Veivers on 17 February 2001 becoming the first non-conservative politician to be elected to the Electoral District.[15] He was one of 66 Labor candidates elected as part of a landslide swing towards the Government.[3] On the Gold Coast Labor won seven of nine electorates, previously they had only had one Government Member.[26]

Peter Lawlor's 2001 campaign office was run by his daughter Jane and his campaign manager was Terry Callaghan.[26] He won all 14 electoral booths with 50.9% of the primary vote (11 245 votes) and 60.8% of the two party preferred vote.[15][27] These results were a 14.1% primary vote swing toward Lawlor and a 13.9% two party preferred swing against the sitting Member Mick Veivers.[15]

[edit] Member

In his inaugural speech to the Queensland Parliament Lawlor identified a Gold Coast light rail system as the answer to the high growth in local population and traffic, indicating that roads and cars alone could not be relied upon, he attacked the Howard federal Government for not supporting the project. The Gold Coast Broadwater was named as "the greatest natural asset of Southport" which needed protection. Lawlor attacked the previous Borbidge government for approving a horizon tank for film making that was to be constructed on public land at the Southport Spit.[26]

In early 2002 Lawlor and Member for Broadwater Peta-Kaye Croft started a campaign opposing a Gold Coast City Council document titled "Harbour Vision 2020", Lawlor estimated that a petition he started on the issue had attracted 1000 signatures in 10 days. The petitioners opposed commercial development on Wave Break Island, the western foreshore and any reclamation. Lawlor criticised on environmental and engineering grounds any possibility of a new bridge being built to Wave Break Island and a possible cruise ship facility on the island. As a former Councillor himself Lawlor criticised the Council on leadership saying that such an important document should not have been left to bureaucrats to write. "The monkeys are taking over the zoo" he said.[28][29] In March 2002 Lawlor publicly supported a proposal to develop a cruise-ship terminal at the northern end of The Spit, the terminal plan was identified by Lawlor as being in the Seaway and not the Broadwater. Both the Gold Coast Bulletin and local Councillor Dawn Crichlow were critical of the perceived about-face.[30] Later that year the State Government ruled out allowing any bridge across the Broadwater to Wave Break Island. The Mayor Gary Baildon attributed the decision to Peter Lawlor's election commitments and subsequent campaign against Harbour Visions 2020.[31]

In the 2004 election he maintained his majority from 2001 against National Party challenger Bob Bennett, a former senior police officer and brother of Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett. 2004 was to be the last time the One Nation Party contested the seat. Lawlor attracted 54.1% of the primary vote, an increase of 3.2% and maintained his two party preferred result of 60%.[32] The Courier-Mail speculated that Lawlor was a front-runner for a Cabinet position immediately after the election but Margaret Keech, the Member for Albert was promoted.[24]

Bennett again challenged Lawlor for the Nationals in the 2006 election. The Government's popularity on the Gold Coast was effected in the lead up to the election by a proposed cruise ship terminal proposed for the Southport Spit. Premier Peter Beattie made two major Gold Coast election announcements in the first week of the campaign; cancelling the cruise ship terminal project on environmental grounds and increasing local hospital upgrade plans from 500 beds for $500 million to 750 beds for $1.23 billion.[23][24] The local electoral results were very similar to 2004, Lawlor maintained 53.3% of the primary vote and 59.1% of the two party preferred vote giving him a 9.1% margin.[33]

An electoral redistribution reduced Lawlor's majority down to 8% when the Southport electoral district was moved slightly southward.[33] Lawlor was challenged in the 2009 election by five other candidates including local marketing and management consultant Tinia Wright for the newly merged Liberal National Party (LNP) opposition and also Brian Morris of the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Party.[33] The Gold Coast Bulletin criticised the LNP for not matching a Government promise of a $60 million stadium upgrade and a tourism package that promised equal funding to the Gold Coast and Mount Isa. The LNP used the stadium upgrade as a key election issue and emphasised a contrasting priority of transport and health on the Gold Coast. Two days from the election internal polling by The Australian predicted a swing of 8-10% against Lawlor.[24] Lawlor was re-elected with a reduced majority, he achieved 45.33% of the primary vote and 53.48% of the two party preferred vote.[34]

[edit] Parliament

Lawlor has been identified as being a Parliamentarian with a quick wit, his one liners have enlivened a number of parliamentary sessions.[35]

Lawlor's first stouch in Parliament was with Opposition racing spokesman Howard Hobbs over an an alleged forged document the opposition had tabled in parliament which was a draft letter from the Queensland Principal Club, Lawlor accused Hobbs of misleading the House by not checking the letter's authenticity.[36] Soon after Lawlor named a Gold Coast man as the mastermind of an international scam purporting to supply humanitarian aid, promising investors returns of 10 to 40 per cent the scam duped Australians and New Zealanders of over $6 million.[37]

In July 2002 Bob Quinn had an unusual advocate in Lawlor, who made an impassioned speech in Parliament in support of the Liberal Leader, Lawlor told the Parliament of a plan by 'branch stackers' in the Liberal Party to drive Mr Quinn out of politics. Mr Lawlor said that he had known Quinn for over 40 years and he was an honest and conscientious person. Allegations were raised of ethnic branch stacking on the Gold Coast within the Liberal Party using the federal Division of Fadden as an example where he alleged 50 Vietnamese had suddenly joined the Springwood business branch as pensioners or students, non of whom lived within the electoral division.[38][39] The next week Peter Beattie followed suit and mocked the Liberal Leader in Parliament saying that he was his number one supporter.[40]

In 2003 long term friend and fellow turf club icon Peter Gallagher (66) died after a six-month battle with cancer. Lawlor wept in State Parliament as Premier Beattie spoke about his achievements, Lawlor went on to give a long speech in honour of his close friend who he had known his whole life.[41]

The Palm Island Select Committee was formed in April 2005 after a death in custody and riot on Palm Island was a bipartisan committee Chaired by Peter Lawlor. The Committee recommended;

  • Appointment of a resource officer to liaise with government.
  • Examine the need to appoint a financial controller for the Palm Island Council.
  • Pursue transferring ownership of the Palm Island retail store from Government.
  • Grant long-term leases to encourage home ownership.
  • Address the housing shortage.
  • Develop an education precinct.
  • Establishing library services.
  • Stage a career expo each year.
  • Comletion of infrastructure work relating to sea transport services.
  • Carry out a suicide audit.
  • Establishment of a community and cultural centre.
  • Improve cultural awareness training for police.
  • Establishment of a safe house for young people.
  • Finalise an Alcohol Management Plan.[42]

[edit] Minister

On 24 March 2009 after the reelection of the Bligh Labor Government the Premier announced that Peter Lawlor would be one of eight Members to be promoted to the Cabinet as a Minister. Lawlor was sworn in by the Governor as the Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading on 26 March 2009.[43][44] The ministerial portfolio of Tourism and Fair Trading holds responsibility for tourism, fair trading, charities, occupational licensing, art unions, Golden Casket, casinos, machine gaming, liquor licensing and racing.[45]

Lawlor is one of 18 Ministers of the Queensland Cabinet, regardless of their own opinions all Ministers must take collective responsibility for, and publicly support decisions made by Cabinet. As a member of the Ministry, Lawlor is a member of Executive Council. Executive Council is the formal means by which the Governor is given advice by Ministers under the Westminster system.[46] As a member of the Queensland Executive Council Lawlor is ranked 31 on the Australian order of precedence. Members of the Executive Council are fifth on the Queensland State Order of Precedence after the Governor, Premier, Prime Minister and Chief Justice of Queensland.[47]

In a high profile interview for The Courier-Mail, new Opposition Leader and Member for Surfers Paradise John-Paul Langbroek used Lawlor as an example of how he did not have enmity with anyone, even his political opponents, by stating "for instance, I like Peter Lawlor... he is a true believer in the Labor ideals, so I admire him for that."[48]


Legislation under the portfolio of the Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
Portfolio Legislation as at 30 June 2009[49]
Tourism Tourism Queensland Act 1979 and Traveller Accommodation Providers (Liability) Act 2001
Fair Trading All Saints Church Lands Act 1924, All Saints Church Lands Act 1960, Anglican Church of Australia Act 1895, Anglican Church of Australia Act 1977, Anglican Church of Australia Act 1985 Amendment Act 1901, Anglican Church of Australia Constitution Act 1961, Anglican Church of Australia (Diocese of Brisbane) Property Act 1889, Ann Street Presbyterian Church Act 1889, Associations Incorporation Act 1981, Associations Incorporation Regulation 1999, Bills of Sale and Other Instruments Act 1955, Bills of Sale and Other Instruments Regulation 1999, Bishopsbourne Estate and See Endowment Trusts Act 1898, Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997, Boonah Show Ground Act 1914, Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980, Business Names Act 1962, Business Names Regulation 1998, Charitable Funds Act 1958, Chinese Temple Society Act 1964, Churches of Christ, Scientist, Incorporation Act 1964, Collections Act 1966, Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994, Consumer Credit Regulation 1995, Consumer Credit Code Cooperatives Act 1997, Cooperatives Regulation 1997, Credit Act 1987, Credit (Rural Finance) Act 1996, Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act 1967, Factors Act 1892, Fair Trading Act 1989, Fair Trading Regulation 2001, Fair Trading (Code of Practice - Fitness Industry) Regulation 2003, Funeral Benefit Business Act 1982, Funeral Benefit Business Regulation 2000, Guides Queensland Act 1970, Hire-purchase Act 1959, Introduction Agents Act 2001, Introduction Agents Regulation 2002, Land Sales Act 1984, Land Sales Regulation 2000, Liens on Crops of Sugar Cane Act 1931, Liens on Crops of Sugar Cane Regulation 1999, Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003, Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Regulation 2003, Mercantile Act 1867, Motor Vehicles and Boats Securities Act 1986, Motor Vehicles and Boats Securities Regulation 2005, Partnership Act 1891, Partnership Regulation 2004, Presbyterian Church of Australia Act 1900, Presbyterian Church of Australia Act 1971, Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000, Property Agents and Motor Dealer Regulation 2001, PAMD (Auctioneering Practice Code of Conduct) Regulation 2001, PAMD (Commercial Agency Practice Code of Conduct) Regulation 2001, PAMD (Motor Dealing Practice Code of Conduct) Regulation 2001, PAMD (Property Developer Practice Code of Conduct) Regulation 2001, PAMD (Real Estate Agency Practice Code of Conduct) Regulation 2001, PAMD (Restricted Letting Agency Practice Code of Conduct) Regulation 2001, Queensland Congregational Union Act 1967, Queensland Temperance League Lands Act 1985, Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002, Retirement Villages Act 1999, Retirement Villages Regulation 2000, Returned Servicemen’s Badges Act 1956, Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Act 1956, Residential Services (Accreditation) Regulation 2002, Roman Catholic Church (Corporation of the Sisters of Mercy of the Diocese of Cairns) Lands Vesting Act 1945, Roman Catholic Church (Incorporation of Church Entities) Act 1994, Roman Catholic Church Lands Act 1985, Roman Catholic Church (Northern Lands) Vesting Act 1941, Roman Catholic Relief Act 1830, Sale of Goods Act 1896, Sale of Goods (Vienna Convention) Act 1986, Salvation Army (Queensland) Property Trust Act 1930, Scout Association of Australia Queensland Branch Act 1975, Sea-Carriage Documents Act 1996, Second-hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2003, Second-hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Regulation 2004, Security Providers Act 1993, Security Providers Regulation 2008, Storage Liens Act 1973, Storage Liens Regulation 2008, Trade Measurement Act 1990, Trade Measurement (Miscellaneous) Regulation 1991, Trade Measurement (Measuring Instruments) Regulation 1991, Trade Measurement (Prepacked Articles) Regulation 1991, Trade Measurement (Weighbridges) Regulation 1991, Trade Measurement Administration Act 1990, Trade Measurement Administration Regulation 1991, Travel Agents Act 1988, Travel Agents Regulation 1998, Tourism Services Act 2003, Tourism Services Regulation 2003, Tourism Services (Code of Conduct for Inbound Tour Operators) Regulation 2003, United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Queensland Trustees Act 1942, Uniting Church in Australia Act 1977, Wesleyan Methodist Trust Property Act 1853, Wesleyan Methodists, Independents and Baptists Churches Act 1838
Liquor and Gaming Regulation and Racing Breakwater Island Casino Agreement Act 1984, Brisbane Casino Agreement Act 1992, Cairns Casino Agreement Act 1993, Casino Control Act 1982, Casino Control Regulation 1999, Casino Gaming Rule 1999, Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999, Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Regulation 1999, Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Rule 1999, Eagle Farm Racecourse Act 1998, Gaming Machine Act 1991, Gaming Machine Regulation 2002, Interactive Gambling (Player Protection) Act 1998, Interactive Gambling (Player Protection—Disqualified Persons) Regulation 1999, Interactive Gambling (Player Protection) Regulation 1998, Jupiters Casino Agreement Act 1983, Keno Act 1996, Keno Regulation 2007, Keno Rule 2007, Liquor Act 1992, Liquor (Approval of Adult Entertainment Code) Regulation 2002, Liquor Regulation 2002, Lotteries Act 1997, Lotteries Regulation 2007, Lotteries Rule 1998, Racing Act 2002, Racing Regulation 2003, Racing Venues Development Act 1982, TAB Queensland Limited Privatisation Act 1999, Wagering Act 1998, Wagering Regulation 1999, Wagering Rule 1999, Wine Industry Act 1994 and Wine Industry Regulation 1995

In becoming the new Tourism Minister Lawlor told the Cairns Post that tourism was the lifeblood of both Cairns and the Gold Coast and that he would fly to Cairns and meet with stakeholders as soon as possible to learn more about issues in the far north. Lawlor became Tourism Minister at the height of the Global Economic Crisis[50]

Body corporate fees structures were challenged in March 2010 by Lawlor in new legislation which prevents penthouse owners from spreading their higher body corporate fees onto smaller unit owners. Lawlor described the previous practice as a loophole being taken advantage of, an example was used of The Pinnacle building on Surfers Paradise where a penthouse window was allegedly shot out in 2009 over a body corporate feud over a bid to have the fees of $3million penthouses halved while doubling the fees for smaller, lower-floor units.[51]

A Liquor Licensing staff member anonymously leaked to the Brisbanetimes.com.au in February 2010 that 500 public servant staff from the Office of Liquor Licensing would shift to Ipswich by 2012 under the State Government's decentralisation policy. Lawlor rejected suggestions that there would be a move of 500 public servants by May 2010 and said that it was early stages of consultation and each employee's situation would be looked at on a case-by-case basis.[52]

[edit] Personal life

Born 1 March 1948 in North Queensland the eldest of five boys, Lawlor moved to Southport as a small child. Lawlor's family were a self-identified 'Labor family', throughout his childhood in the 1950s and 60s the family handed out how-to-vote cards in Southport which was a safe conservative district. In 1962 he attended the only local high school, Southport State High school, for one year and became the junior athletics champion of the school.[9][53] He then completed the last three years of high school as a boarder student at Marist Brothers in Ashgrove, Brisbane. After graduation Lawlor worked for the Commonwealth Bank and studied economics at the University of Queensland but did not complete the degree.[9][26]

In the 1970s Lawlor worked as a clerk for Gold Coast City Council and then travelled to Port Moresby as a customs clerk. After a period working for a small engineering firm in Brisbane he married and moved to work as an accountant in a food franchising company in Durban, South Africa where his first child was born. Lawlor and his family then moved to Brisbane where he worked as an accountant in an insurance company. Through the late 70s he studied law through the Solicitors Board as he could not afford full-time university.[26]

In 1981 he was admitted and became a sole practitioner solicitor until his election to Parliament.[3] As a solicitor Lawlor was also employed as a consultant to Southport law firm Gall Standfield & Smith.[2][26]

Peter Lawlor has two daughters and a son, Ali, Jane and Phil and two grandchildren.[2][3] Ali Lawlor has worked as a journalist for The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and Townsville. All three of his children returned from London and Hong Kong to assist him for his 2001 inaugural victory.[26]

He was a committee member of the Gold Coast Turf Club for 15 years, elected at the 2001 AGM as deputy chairman, in a letter to all committee members before the 2002 AGM Lawlor ended speculation and announced that he would not run for chairman as it would be a conflict with his position as the Member for Southport.[54]

He has been involved in numerous sporting clubs including cricket, rugby league, rugby union and Australian Rules football.[55][56]

[edit] References

  1. ^ MP for Southport, Gold Coast. Peter Lawlor
  2. ^ a b c "Peter Lawlor - Parliamentary Biography". Queensland Parliament. http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/legislativeAssembly/documents/memberBio/LawlorPeter.htm. Retrieved 07-05-2010. 
  3. ^ a b c d "The Hon Peter Lawlor". Queensland Government Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation. http://www.deedi.qld.gov.au/about-us/32.htm. Retrieved 08-05-2010. 
  4. ^ Local Government (Albert, Beaudesert and Gold Coast) Regulation 1994
  5. ^ Nelson, S (30-03-1988). "Former Coast Mayor off to Japan". Courier-Mail (Gold Coast): pp. 14. 
  6. ^ a b Wockner, Cindy (25-3-1991). "Bell Safe on Coast as seats tumble". Courier-Mail: pp. 2. 
  7. ^ Thomas, Shelley; Cindy Wockner (26-03-1991). "Big Winner McDonald leads Coast's women". Courier-Mail: pp. 1. 
  8. ^ a b "Bid to block Spit resort buildings". Sunday Mail: pp. 34. 16-06-1991. 
  9. ^ a b c Lappeman, Sue (10-08-2002). "It's yesterday once more - Old school ties stand test". The Gold Coast Bulletin. 
  10. ^ Dorries, Ben (08-08-1996). "Broadwater move for Indy Car faces steep opposition". Courier-Mail: pp. 11. 
  11. ^ Coates, Stephen (09-12-1992). "$1.2 billion on Coast's homes". Courier-Mail: pp. 31. 
  12. ^ Thomas, Shelley (16-06-1991). "Big investors blind to sun strip potential: BKF". Sunday Mail: pp. 34. 
  13. ^ Thomas, Shelley (18-09-1992). "Council stops development on Straddie". Courier-Mail: pp. 22. 
  14. ^ Bartsch, Phil (16-03-1993). "Coast to push for vice law". Courier-Mail: pp. 31. 
  15. ^ a b c d e "2004 Queensland Election - Details for Southport". ABC Online. http://www.abc.net.au/elections/qld/2004/background/spor.htm. Retrieved 08-05-2010. 
  16. ^ Livingstone, Tess (16-06-1991). "The Heat's on the Gold Coast". Sunday Mail: pp. 34. 
  17. ^ a b Madigan, Michael (07-07-1995). "Colourful Mick holds coast key". Courier-Mail: pp. 11. 
  18. ^ "Borbidge reins in Veivers over gays". Courier-Mail: pp. 13. 13-07-1995. 
  19. ^ Lovell, Darrell (16-07-1995). "Coalition holding on to Coast". Sunday Mail: pp. 5. 
  20. ^ Bartsch, Phil (17-07-1995). "Veivers tips coalition victory". Courier-Mail: pp. 3. 
  21. ^ a b Bartsch, Phil (29-05-1998). "All eyes on crucial coastal electorates". Courier-Mail: pp. 9. 
  22. ^ Bennett, Scott (3.4.2001), "Queensland Election 2001", Current Issues Brief (Parliamentary Library, Parliament of Australia) (15 2000-01), http://www.aph.gov.au/library/Pubs/cib/2000-01/01cib15.htm, retrieved 9.4.2010 
  23. ^ a b "The Poll Bludger - Australian State and Federal Elections". The Poll Bludger. http://www.pollbludger.com/qld2006/southport.htm. Retrieved 09-05-2010. 
  24. ^ a b c d "The Poll Bludger - Queensland State Election 2009". The Poll Bludger. http://www.pollbludger.com/qld2009/southport.htm. Retrieved 08-05-2010. 
  25. ^ Gibbons, Tracy (18-02-2001). "Tourism boss Merri has fingers crossed". Sunday Mail: pp. 7. 
  26. ^ a b c d e f g "Peter Lawlor First Speech". Queensland Parliament. http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/legislativeAssembly/documents/memberBio/InauguralSpeech/Lawlor.PDF. Retrieved 08-05-2010. 
  27. ^ Bennett, Scott (3.4.2001), "Queensland Election 2001", Current Issues Brief (Parliamentary Library, Parliament of Australia) (15 2000-01), http://www.aph.gov.au/library/Pubs/cib/2000-01/01cib15.htm, retrieved 9.4.2010 
  28. ^ "MPs take anger to Parliament". The Gold Coast Bulletin. 07-03-02. 
  29. ^ "Southport broadwater development opposed by Lawlor". ABC News Online - Qld Regional. 27-01-02. 
  30. ^ "MP offered map to clear up confusion (cruise terminal)". Gold Coast Bulletin. 14-03-2002. 
  31. ^ "Wavebreak isle bridges canned". The Gold Coast Bulletin. 21-08-2002. 
  32. ^ "2006 Queensland Election. Southport Electorate Profile.". ABC Online. http://www.abc.net.au/elections/qld/2006/guide/spor.htm. Retrieved 08-05-2010. 
  33. ^ a b c "Southport - 2009 Queensland Election". ABC Online. http://www.abc.net.au/elections/qld/2009/guide/spor.htm. Retrieved 08-05-2010. 
  34. ^ "Queensland Election 2009 Report Part 1". Electoral Commission of Queensland. http://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=3249. Retrieved 08-05-2010. 
  35. ^ "How does your MP stack up". The Gold Coast Bulletin. 12-07-2003. 
  36. ^ Parnell, Dean (07-12-2001). "PS man gets nod to head up racing". Courier-Mail: pp. 10. 
  37. ^ "Lawlor claims charity a 'scam'". ABC News Online - Qld Regional. 12-12-2001. 
  38. ^ "Quinn has better mates in Labor... than in his own party". The Gold Coast Bulletin. 31-07-2002. 
  39. ^ Lawlor, Peter (30-07-2002). Lawlor spk Southport 20020730-1.PDF "Queensland Liberal Party (Parliamentary speech)" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. http://parlinfo.parliament.qld.gov.au/isysquery/7c66b763-5514-4c73-a73c-cef3ebdd9c9f/1/doc/Peter Lawlor spk Southport 20020730-1.PDF. Retrieved 11-05-2010. [dead link]
  40. ^ "No quiet for Quinn - Beattie uses Libs stouch to stir pot". The Gold Coast Bulletin. 02-08-2002. 
  41. ^ Lappeman, Sue (13-11-2003). "A mate's tearful tribute to Pedro". The Gold Coast Bulletin: pp. 5. 
  42. ^ Campion, Vikki (26-08-2005). "Rebuilding an Island Paradise. Back to basics. Committee calls for new drink venue and community facilities.". Townsville Bulletin: pp. 5. 
  43. ^ Queensland's new Cabinet ABC News Online.
  44. ^ Qld Governor swears in new Bligh Cabinet. ABC News Online.
  45. ^ "Directory of Queensland Ministers and Portfolios". Queensland Government. http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/search.html#meet-your-cabinet. Retrieved 07-05-2010. 
  46. ^ "System of government : Queensland Government". Queensland Government. http://www.qld.gov.au/government/system-of-government.html. Retrieved 14-05-2010. 
  47. ^ "State Order of Precedence - Queensland". Queensland Government. http://www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/other/documents/StateOrderOfPrecedence_000.pdf. Retrieved 14-05-2010. 
  48. ^ Houghton, Des (08-05-2009). "John-Paul survives life-changing identity difference". The Courier-Mail. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/john-paul-had-life-changes/story-e6frerdf-1225710517715. Retrieved 09-05-2010. 
  49. ^ "DEEDI Annual Report 2008-09 Appendix 1: Legislation administered by DEEDI". Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI). http://www.deedi.qld.gov.au/documents/Corporate-Publications/DEEDI-Annual-Report-2008-09-12.pdf. Retrieved 16-05-2010. [dead link]
  50. ^ "I won't favour the Gold Coast, says Lawlor". Cairns Post. 25-03-2009. 
  51. ^ Lappeman, Sue (19-02-2010). "Law cracks down on penthouse fees farce". The Gold Coast Bulletin. 
  52. ^ Moore, Tony (17-02-2010). "More public servants Ipswich-bound". Brisbanetimes.com.au. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/more-public-servants-ipswichbound-20100216-o8v7.html. Retrieved 13-05-2010. 
  53. ^ "Labor team plans to be there for the long haul". The Gold Coast Bulletin. 27-06-2002. 
  54. ^ "Lawlor won't seek top job". The Gold Coast Bulletin. 21-08-2002. 
  55. ^ "Peter Lawlor - State Member for Southport". Australian Labor Party Queensland Branch. http://www.qld.alp.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=379. Retrieved 08-05-2010. 
  56. ^ "Turf Club Chief". Courier-Mail: pp. 10. 20-10-2001. 

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Political offices
Preceded by
Desley Boyle		 Queensland Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
March 2009–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Mick Veivers		 Member for Southport
February 2001–present		 Incumbent
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