Denis Napthine

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Denis Napthine

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|AO}}

| image = Premier Denis Napthine.jpg

| order =

| office = 47th Premier of Victoria

| term_start = 6 March 2013

| term_end = 4 December 2014

| deputy = Peter Ryan

| predecessor = Ted Baillieu

| successor = Daniel Andrews

| monarch = Elizabeth II

| governor = Alex Chernov

| order1 = Leader of the Opposition of Victoria

| term_start1 = 26 October 1999

| term_end1 = 20 August 2002

| premier1 = Steve Bracks

| deputy1 = Louise Asher

| predecessor1 = Jeff Kennett

| successor1 = Robert Doyle

| office3 = Leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria

| term_start3 = 6 March 2013

| term_end3 = 4 December 2014

| deputy3 = Louise Asher

| predecessor3 = Ted Baillieu

| successor3 = Matthew Guy

| term_start4 = 26 October 1999

| term_end4 = 20 August 2002

| deputy4 = Louise Asher

| predecessor4 = Jeff Kennett

| successor4 = Robert Doyle

| office5 = Minister for Regional Cities and Racing

| parliament5 = Victorian

| premier5 = Himself

| term_start5 = 13 March 2013

| term_end5 = 4 December 2014

| successor5 = Martin Pakula (Racing)

| office6 = Minister for the Arts

| parliament6 = Victorian

| premier6 = Himself

| term_start6 = 6 March 2013

| term_end6 = 13 March 2013

| predecessor6 = Ted Baillieu

| successor6 = Heidi Victoria

| office7 = Minister for Ports, Regional Cities, Racing and Major Projects

| parliament7 = Victorian

| premier7 = Ted Baillieu
Himself

| term_start7 = 2 December 2010

| term_end7 = 13 March 2013

| predecessor7 = Tim Pallas (Ports, Major Projects)
Rob Hulls (Racing)

| successor7 = David Hodgett (Ports, Major Projects)

| office8 = Treasurer of Victoria

| premier8 = Jeff Kennett

| term_start8 = 7 October 1999

| term_end8 = 20 October 1999

| predecessor8 = Alan Stockdale

| successor8 = Steve Bracks

| office9 = Minister for Youth and Community Services

| premier9 = Jeff Kennett

| term_start9 = 30 March 1996

| term_end9 = 18 September 1999

| predecessor9 = Vin Heffernan (Youth)
Michael John (Community)

| successor9 = Jacinta Allan (Youth)
Christine Campbell (Community)

| constituency_MP10 = South-West Coast

| parliament11 = Victorian

| term_start11 = 30 November 2002

| term_end11 = 3 September 2015

| predecessor11 = New seat

| successor11 = Roma Britnell

| constituency_MP12 = Portland

| parliament12 = Victorian

| term_start12 = 1 October 1988

| term_end12 = 30 November 2002

| predecessor12 = Digby Crozier

| successor12 = Seat abolished

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1952|3|6}}

| birth_place = Geelong, Victoria, Australia

| birthname = Denis Vincent Napthine

| nationality = Australian

| party = Liberal

| spouse = Peggy

| relations =

| children =

| signature = Denis Napthine's Signature.png

| alma_mater = University of Melbourne
Deakin University

| profession = Veterinarian

| website = {{url|denisnapthine.com.au/}}|

| caption = Napthine in 2013

}}

Denis Vincent Napthine {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} (born 6 March 1952) is an Australian former politician and veterinarian who served as the 47th premier of Victoria from 2013 to 2014. He held office as the leader of the Victorian division of the Liberal Party of Australia (LPA) and was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the district of Portland from 1988 to 2002, before transferring to that of South-West Coast from 2002 to 2015.

He was elected leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party on 6 March 2013 following the resignation of Ted Baillieu and was sworn in as premier on the same day. His party lost the Victorian state election on 29 November 2014 and he announced he would step down as leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, with Matthew Guy being elected his successor on 4 December.

Early life

Napthine was born in 1952 to Len and Theresa Napthine in Geelong, Victoria, as the third child in a family of ten children.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-07/who-is-denis-napthine/4557854|title=Who is Denis Napthine?|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=7 March 2013|access-date=7 March 2013|archive-date=9 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909014126/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-07/who-is-denis-napthine/4557854|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23167772|title=Family Notices|newspaper=The Argus|location=Melbourne|date=10 March 1952|access-date=4 December 2013|page=13|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=6 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506142603/http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23167772|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/from-country-paddock-to-top-job-20130307-2fohj.html|title=From country paddock to top job|work=The Age|date=8 March 2013|access-date=8 March 2013|author=Green, Shane|archive-date=25 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425115349/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/from-country-paddock-to-top-job-20130307-2fohj.html|url-status=live}}

Napthine spent his early school years at Winchelsea State School before attending Chanel College, a Catholic boys' school in Lovely Banks near Geelong. After graduating he attended the University of Melbourne, where he studied to be a veterinarian, undertaking a bachelor's and then a master's degree in veterinary science. He later completed a master's degree in business administration from Deakin University.{{cite web|url=http://www.denisnapthine.com.au/premier-denis-napthine/|title=Premier Denis Napthine|work=Denis Napthine: Premier of Victoria; Member for South West Coast|publisher=Liberal Victoria|date=2014|access-date=17 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129041343/http://www.denisnapthine.com.au/premier-denis-napthine/|archive-date=29 November 2014|df=dmy-all}}

Political career

File:Denis Napthine b.jpg

Napthine was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1988 as member for the country seat of Portland. He was re-elected in 1992, 1996 and 1999.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/id/135|title=Members Information – Denis Napthine (South-West Coast)|publisher=Parliament of Victoria|access-date=8 March 2013|archive-date=7 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607180538/http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/id/135|url-status=live}}

Napthine was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health in 1992 and then promoted to Minister for Youth and Community Services in 1996 in Jeff Kennett's Liberal government, a position he held from 1996 to 1999.

Following the defeat of the Liberal Party at the 1999 election, Kennett resigned as Liberal leader and Napthine was elected to take his place. Napthine had briefly served as Deputy Liberal Leader, having been elected to the position just shortly before Kennett stood down as Liberal Leader.{{cn|date=September 2024}} During his term as Opposition Leader the Liberal–National coalition split, fracturing the opposition parties.

Under Napthine's leadership, the Liberal Party did poorly in the polls and made no significant electoral inroads on the ruling Labor government. Shortly before the 2002 state election, Shadow Health Minister Robert Doyle challenged Napthine for the leadership of the Liberal Party.{{cn|date=September 2024}} Doyle won the leadership by a narrow margin. At this election, Napthine ran in South-West Coast, essentially a reconfigured version of Portland. Although it was ancestrally Liberal territory, Napthine only managed to hold onto the seat with a significantly reduced margin which fell from 4.9 to only 0.7 points.{{cn|date=September 2024}} He was re-elected in November 2006 with an increased margin.

After the Liberals won the 2010 Victorian election, Napthine was made a member of the Baillieu cabinet. He served as the Minister for Ports, Racing, Regional Cities and Major Projects.{{cite news|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=age&kw=Peter+Walsh+and+trade&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=AGE1012031D3LB3F0CJQ|title=Baillieu promotes Lib ex-leader|work=The Age|date=3 December 2010|access-date=19 December 2010|last1=Austin|first1=Paul|last2=Colebatch|first2=Tim|archive-date=14 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214120902/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=age&kw=Peter+Walsh+and+trade&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=AGE1012031D3LB3F0CJQ|url-status=live}}

=Premier of Victoria=

File:Συνάντηση του ΥΦΥΠΕΞ Κ.Γεροντόπουλου, με τον Πρωθυπουργό της Πολιτείας της Βικτωρίας κ.Denis Napthine, λίγο πριν την παρέλαση (13354585895).jpg

On 6 March 2013, Baillieu resigned as state leader of the Liberal Party and hence as Premier of Victoria. At an emergency meeting of the Liberal partyroom, Napthine—who had turned 61 that day—was elected his successor.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/baillieu-government-in-crisis-talks-after-mp-geoff-shaw-quits-liberal-party/story-e6frgczx-1226591459409|title=Ted Baillieu resigns as Victoria premier, Denis Napthine takes over as Liberal leader|work=The Australian|date=6 March 2013|access-date=6 March 2013|archive-date=17 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117154126/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/baillieu-government-in-crisis-talks-after-mp-geoff-shaw-quits-liberal-party/story-e6frgczx-1226591459409|url-status=live}} After the resignation of Geoff Shaw from the parliamentary Liberal Party earlier in the day, Napthine began leadership of a minority government, holding 43 seats (44 seats including that of the Speaker) to Labor's 43 seats, with Shaw sitting as an independent politician on the crossbench.

On 28 November 2013 Australian media reported that Napthine had 'secretly assisted' Shaw to draft a Private Member's Bill to change state abortion legislation which Napthine voted against in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.lifevote.org.au/politician.php?id=56&area=Victoria|title=Denis Napthine – South-West Coast (LIB)|work=Life vote|publisher=Australian Family Association|access-date=17 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310042342/http://lifevote.org.au/politician.php?id=56&area=Victoria|archive-date=10 March 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Geoff Shaw dictating Coalition's agenda|date=28 November 2013|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/shaw-dictating-coalitions-agenda/story-e6frfkp9-1226770014975|work=News.com.au|access-date=27 November 2013|archive-date=24 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224185311/http://www.news.com.au/national/shaw-dictating-coalitions-agenda/story-e6frfkp9-1226770014975|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|first=John|last=Ferguson|title=Denis Napthine secretly helped Geoff Shaw over abortion laws – report|date=28 November 2013|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/denis-napthine-secretly-helped-geoff-shaw-over-abortion-laws-report/story-fni0fit3-1226770166340|work=The Herald-Sun|access-date=27 November 2013|archive-date=9 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609223014/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/denis-napthine-secretly-helped-geoff-shaw-over-abortion-laws-report/story-fni0fit3-1226770166340|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first=John|last=Ferguson|title=Geoff Shaw dictating Coalition's agenda|date=28 November 2013|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/shaw-dictating-coalitions-agenda/story-e6frgczx-1226770014975|work=The Australian|access-date=27 November 2013|archive-date=3 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203025117/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/shaw-dictating-coalitions-agenda/story-e6frgczx-1226770014975|url-status=live}} Napthine refuted the allegations and stated his Government had no plans to change abortion laws,{{cite news|first1=Carolyn|last1=Webb|first2=Henrietta|last2=Cook|title=Napthine vows he will not change abortion laws|date=4 December 2013|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/napthine-vows-he-will-not-change-abortion-laws-20131203-2yon9.html|work=The Age|access-date=4 December 2013|archive-date=31 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331134521/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/napthine-vows-he-will-not-change-abortion-laws-20131203-2yon9.html|url-status=live}} nor would he support any such change. In June 2014 Napthine stated:{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/abortion-debate-not-on-denis-napthine-pledges-20140607-39q4w.html#ixzz34QuxMYdg|title=Abortion debate not on, Denis Napthine pledges|work=The Age|date=8 June 2014|author=Tomazin, Farrah|access-date=12 June 2014|archive-date=1 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201062003/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/abortion-debate-not-on-denis-napthine-pledges-20140607-39q4w.html#ixzz34QuxMYdg|url-status=live}}

"...that while I am Premier of this state, I will not allow Mr Shaw to introduce any legislation seeking to change the abortion laws in Victoria."

During September 2014 Napthine and Daniel Andrews told the Australian Christian Lobby that they would allow a conscience vote should a private members bill to repeal section eight of the Victorian abortion laws be introduced. Section eight if removed would mean doctors are not required by law to refer a woman who wants an abortion to an abortion doctor or perform the abortion even if they have a conscientious objection.{{cite web|url=http://www.acl.org.au/2014/09/what-denis-napthine-and-daniel-andrews-told-christians/|title=What Denis Napthine and Daniel Andrews told Christians|work=Voice for values|publisher=Australian Christian Lobby|date=24 September 2014|access-date=17 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006072941/http://www.acl.org.au/2014/09/what-denis-napthine-and-daniel-andrews-told-christians/|archive-date=6 October 2014|df=dmy-all}}

In May 2014 a parliamentary privileges committee found that Shaw was not diligent in the use of his parliamentary car and fuel card.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/documents/assembly/Privileges_Cmt/Recommendation_2_-_Final_report.pdf|type=PDF|title=Inquiry in relation to recommendation 2 of the Ombudsman's report Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001: Investigation into allegations against Mr Geoff Shaw MP|work=Legislative Assembly Privileges Committee|publisher=Parliament of Victoria|location=Melbourne, Victoria|date=May 2014|access-date=13 June 2014|page=6|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714200853/http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/documents/assembly/Privileges_Cmt/Recommendation_2_-_Final_report.pdf|url-status=live}} On 3 June 2014 Shaw told radio station 774 ABC Melbourne that he would support a no confidence motion in the Napthine government.{{cite news|last1=Savage|first1=Alison|title=Napthine-Andrews standoff over 'rorter' Geoff Shaw a battle of nerves|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-04/denis-napthine-daniel--andrews-standoff-geoff-shaw/5498766|access-date=4 June 2014|work=ABC News|publisher=ABC|date=4 June 2014|archive-date=5 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605211344/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-04/denis-napthine-daniel--andrews-standoff-geoff-shaw/5498766|url-status=live}} On 11 June 2014, following a Labor move to expel Shaw from Parliament that was defeated on party lines with the support of the speaker, Napthine's government successfully moved a motion that resulted in the Members of the Legislative Assembly suspending Shaw for a period of eleven days, fined {{AUD}}{{formatnum:6838}} and ordered to apologise to the Parliament upon his return.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2014/s4023612.htm|work=AM|location=Australia|type=streaming audio and transcript|date=12 June 2014|access-date=13 June 2014|title=Vic Parliament suspends Geoff Shaw|author1=Uhlmann, Chris|author-link1=Chris Uhlmann|author2=Donovan, Samantha|archive-date=15 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715045235/http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2014/s4023612.htm|url-status=live}} Shaw's suspension followed a period of political instability under Napthine's leadership.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/rogue-mp-geoff-shaw-suspended-from-parliament-20140611-zs4c4.html|title=Rogue MP Geoff Shaw suspended from Parliament|work=The Age|date=11 June 2014|access-date=12 June 2014|author1=Willingham, Richard|author2=Cook, Henrietta|author3=Gordon, Josh|archive-date=13 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613005846/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/rogue-mp-geoff-shaw-suspended-from-parliament-20140611-zs4c4.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/geoff-shaw-must-be-remorseful-or-be-expelled-denis-napthine-warns-20140612-zs4vw.html#ixzz34Qz8OzFY|title=Geoff Shaw must be remorseful or be expelled, Denis Napthine warns|work=The Age|date=12 June 2014|access-date=12 June 2014|author1=Lillebuen, Steve|archive-date=15 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615232706/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/geoff-shaw-must-be-remorseful-or-be-expelled-denis-napthine-warns-20140612-zs4vw.html#ixzz34Qz8OzFY|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/rebel-victorian-mp-geoff-shaw-suspended-and-fined/story-e6frgczx-1226951295726|title=Rebel Victorian MP Geoff Shaw suspended and fined|work=The Australian|date=12 June 2014|access-date=12 June 2014|author1=Ferguson, John|author2=Baxendale, Rachel|archive-date=12 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612042657/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/rebel-victorian-mp-geoff-shaw-suspended-and-fined/story-e6frgczx-1226951295726|url-status=live}}

On 29 September 2014, Napthine along with former Minister for Public Transport and Roads Terry Mulder signed what was reported to be a $5.3 billion contract with the now defunct East West Connect consortium to build the controversial East West Link toll road.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-29/east-west-contracts-given-green-light-by-high-court/5776826?nw=0|title=Victorian Government called 'arrogant' over East West Link deal|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=29 September 2014|access-date=4 August 2020|archive-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023092026/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-29/east-west-contracts-given-green-light-by-high-court/5776826?nw=0|url-status=live}} He has since received a lot of criticism for this, not only for his decision to sign on the eve of the month-long caretaker period before the upcoming November 2014 state election and before two legal cases into the planning approval for the project were resolved, but also for his decision, at the insistence of the East West Connect consortium, to direct the then state treasurer Michael O'Brien to sign a "side letter" guaranteeing the consortium compensation of more than $1 billion in the event that the court cases were successful or if for some other reason the contracts were cancelled (which Labor promised to do if it won the election), which was thought to be a contributing factor in the state having to pay what is thought to amount to $1.1 billion to EWC upon the declaration by the then new Andrews government to suspend work in December 2014, and the contracts eventually being terminated in June 2015. It was also revealed upon the contracts termination and release that the real cost of the Eastern section of East West Link amounted to $10.7 billion, $3.9 billion more than the $6.8 billion estimated cost by the Napthine government. In December 2015, the Victorian Auditor General revealed the cost of both sections of the East West Link would have been close to $22.8 billion in nominal terms.{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-09/auditor-general-reports-on-east-west-link-costs/7012618|title=Decision to scrap East West Link 'based of flawed advice': Auditor-general|newspaper=ABC News|date=8 December 2015|access-date=4 August 2020|archive-date=29 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029182635/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-09/auditor-general-reports-on-east-west-link-costs/7012618|url-status=live}}

=In opposition=

On 29 November 2014, after the Victorian state election, Napthine conceded defeat to Labor led by Daniel Andrews.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-29/live-blog-victoria-votes-2014/5928222|title=Victoria votes 2014 live: Labor wins election, Napthine concedes defeat|work=ABC News|date=29 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014|archive-date=1 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101063225/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-29/live-blog-victoria-votes-2014/5928222|url-status=live}}

Napthine stated that he intended to serve a full parliamentary term despite losing the Premiership,{{cite news|last1=Conifer|first1=Dan|title=Denis Napthine 'fully intends' to serve his full term following the Coalition's election defeat|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-01/denis-napthine-fully-intends-to-serve-his-full-term/5929692|access-date=3 February 2015|work=ABC News|date=1 December 2014|archive-date=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029063806/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-01/denis-napthine-fully-intends-to-serve-his-full-term/5929692|url-status=live}} however on 31 August 2015 he announced his resignation from the Victorian Parliament, which triggered a by-election in his electorate of South-West Coast.{{cite news|title=Former Victorian premier Denis Napthine retires from politics|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-31/former-premier-denis-napthine-retires-from-victorian-parliament/6735950|access-date=31 August 2015|work=ABC News|date=31 August 2015|archive-date=27 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827214259/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-31/former-premier-denis-napthine-retires-from-victorian-parliament/6735950|url-status=live}}

Napthine gave money for John Pesutto's legal case with Moira Deeming. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-21/moira-deeming-john-pesutto-defamation-battle-mp-gifts/103492714

Personal life

Napthine and his wife Peggy have three children. His younger brother, Simon, was the unsuccessful ALP candidate for the federal seat of Flinders at the 2004 election.{{cite news | url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/guide/flin.htm | title=2004 Federal Election – Flinders Electorate Profile | work=ABC News | year=2004 | access-date=8 March 2013 | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | archive-date=25 September 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925120138/http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/guide/flin.htm | url-status=live }}

Since childhood, Napthine supports the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-12/geelong-kardinia-park-upgrade-afl-cats-stadium-joel-selwood/103572156|title=After two decades and $340m of funding, Geelong's Kardinia Park upgrade nears end|publisher=ABC News|date=12 March 2024|access-date=18 March 2024}}

One of Napthine's ancestors was convict Joseph Potaski.{{cite book | title=By degrees: a story of the Potaskie/McDonald family 1802–1987 | publisher=M. Purcell | last=Purcell | first=Marie | year=1991 | isbn=0-646-05619-0}}