Merv Everett

{{Short description|Australian politician and judge}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}

{{Use Australian English|date=January 2016}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Merv Everett

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Merv Everett 1974 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Everett in 1974

| title = Senator for Tasmania

| term_start = 18 May 1974

| term_end = 11 November 1975

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1917|10|7}}

| birth_place = Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1988|10|27|1917|10|7}}

| death_place = Singapore

| nationality =

| spouse =

| party = Labor

| relations =

| children =

| residence =

| alma_mater = University of Tasmania

| occupation =

| profession = Barrister

| religion =

| signature =

| website =

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}}

Mervyn George Everett (7 October 1917 – 27 October 1988{{cite web|last=Carr |first=Adam |title=Australian Election Archive |work=Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive |url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia |year=2008 |access-date=2008-11-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006075129/http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia |archivedate=6 October 2008 }}) was an Australian politician and judge.

Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Everett was educated at the University of Tasmania before becoming a barrister. In 1964, he was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly as the Labor member for Denison. He was Minister for Health 1964–1969, then Deputy Premier, Attorney-General and Minister for Environment, Racing and Gaming 1972–1974.{{cite Tas Parliament|id=everettm557|title=Everett, Mervyn George|access-date=24 July 2022}}

In July and August 1972, during the controversy over the flooding of Lake Pedder in South West Tasmania, Everett twice resigned as Tasmania's Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, stating at the time, "Because I am Attorney-General I clearly have a traditional duty to act as protector of the public interest." Mr Everett resigns again (1972, Wednesday, August 2). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 3. Retrieved March 30, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101997242 This was in response to state cabinet's refusal to allow a Supreme Court challenge by the Lake Pedder Action Committee (LPAC) over the legality of the inundation of the lake by the state's Hydro-Electric Commission.L. Pedder case ban criticised (1972, Saturday, August 5). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 8. Retrieved March 30, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101997929 In late July 1972 the LPAC had sought Attorney-General Everett's fiat for litigation to proceed, and this was opposed by Premier Eric Reece and his cabinet, who wanted instead to introduce retrospective validating legislation.Biography, Mervyn George (Merv) Everett (1917–1988)

by Scott Bennett, in: Australian Dictionary of Biography, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/everett-mervyn-george-merv-12469 Accessed 31 March 2025.

In 1974, Everett transferred to federal politics, winning a Tasmanian seat in the Australian Senate for the Australian Labor Party. He was defeated in 1975.{{cite Au Senate |title=EVERETT, Mervyn George (1917–1988) Senator for Tasmania, 1974–75 |Sen id=everett-mervyn-george |first=Scott |last=Bennett |access-date=2022-08-02 }}

After his retirement from politics, Everett returned to the law. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Tasmania by the Lowe government, serving from 7 November 1978 to 14 March 1984. He was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia by the Hawke Labor government, serving from 27 June 1984 to 4 October 1987. Everett is one of only six politicians to have served in both the Parliament of Australia and the Federal Court of Australia, alongside Nigel Bowen, Robert Ellicott, Tony Whitlam, John Reeves and Duncan Kerr.