Steve Kons
Steven Kons (born 17 September 1962) was an Australian Labor politician and member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly in the electorate of Braddon. His positions within the Government of Tasmania included posts as Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Workplace Relations and Minister for Planning.
Kons was born in Melbourne to Greek immigrants who worked in heavy manual employment to help educate him at Caulfield Grammar School. After the family moved to operate a Devonport business, he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Tasmania before returning to Melbourne to practice mainly in the corporate sector.
Kons later returned to Tasmania and established a successsful business career. From 1997 to 1999, he served as Mayor of Burnie.
Invited by Tasmanian Premier Jim Bacon to run for the Labor Party, he was first elected in the 1998 Tasmanian legislative election. Before long he was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, then was given the position of Secretary to Cabinet before being elevated to Minister for Primary Industries and Water.
In October 2004, Kons controversially drank a glass of water contaminated with atrazine after a property in the north-east of Tasmania was accidentally sprayed by a Gunns Limited contractor.[1] His actions were supposedly to prove the water was "safe".
On October 27, 2006, he was appointed Deputy Premier, replacing Bryan Green.[2]
In 2009, Kons ran a campaign to be elected as an alderman in Burnie Tasmania once again, partly motivated by council decisions in recent years. He was successful and was elected in the election. He however did not succeed in gaining the position as Mayor. [3]
Kons has chosen not to stand for re-election for state parliament in the seat of Braddon in the 2010 election. [4]
[edit] References
- ^ Guest, Annie: Timber spraying contaminated drinking water, PM (ABC Radio), 28 September 2004.
- ^ Lennon makes A-G his new deputy, ABC News, 27 October 2006.
- ^ Ford, Sean (2009-10-28). "Kons foreshadows another Mayoral tilt - Local News - News - General". The Advocate. http://www.theadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/kons-foreshadows-another-mayoral-tilt/1660929.aspx. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
- ^ Ford, Sean (2009-07-04). "Kons pulling pin - Local News - News - General". The Advocate. http://www.theadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/kons-pulling-pin/1558661.aspx. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
