Steve Kons

{{Short description|Australian politician}}

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

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

{{Infobox AM

|honorific-prefix = Alderman

|name = Steve Kons

|honorific-suffix =

|image =

|alt =

|caption =

|office = Deputy Premier of Tasmania

|premier = Paul Lennon

|term_start = 30 October 2006

|term_end = 9 April 2008

|predecessor = Bryan Green

|successor = David Bartlett

|constituency_AM1 = Braddon

|assembly1 = Tasmanian House of

|term_start1 = 29 August 1998

|term_end1 = 20 March 2010

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1962|9|17}}

|birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

|death_date =

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|restingplace =

|restingplacecoordinates =

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|nationality = Australian

|party = Labor Party

|spouse =

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|alma_mater = University of Tasmania

|profession = Lawyer

}}

Steven Kons (born 17 September 1962) is an Australian politician. He was a Labor Party member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1998 until 2010, representing the electorate of Braddon. He served as Deputy Premier under Paul Lennon from 2006 to 2008, and also served as Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Workplace Relations and Minister for Planning. He retired from state politics in 2010, and was elected Mayor of Burnie in 2011 and 2018. He previously served as Mayor of Burnie from 1997 to 1999.

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 successful business career. From 1997 to 1999, he served as Mayor of Burnie.

He was invited to run for the Labor Party at the 1998 state election by then Labor leader Jim Bacon, and was elected second overall, topping the Labor slate.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/tpl/Elections/e1998Brad.htm |title=Results in Braddon for the election held on 29 August 1998 |publisher=Tasmanian Parliamentary Library |accessdate=2013-01-14}} He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, promoted to Secretary to Cabinet, and then to Cabinet as Minister for Primary Industries and Water. He was again promoted to Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Planning and Workplace Relations following the 2006 state election. On 27 October 2006, he was appointed Deputy Premier, replacing Bryan Green.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200610/s1775526.htm Lennon makes A-G his new deputy], ABC News, 27 October 2006.

Kons resigned as Deputy Premier in April 2008 after admitting that he had made "inaccurate statements" to parliament regarding the appointment of a magistrate.[https://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2212445.htm Tas Govt scandal forces second Deputy Premier to resign], ABC Radio - PM Program, 9 April 2008. He announced in July 2009 that he would retire at the 2010 election.{{cite web|last=Ford |first=Sean |url=http://www.theadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/kons-pulling-pin/1558661.aspx |title=Kons pulling pin - Local News - News - General |publisher=The Advocate |date=2009-07-04 |accessdate=2011-05-08}} He has since been an alderman of Burnie City Council, also serving as mayor in 2011-2014 and from 2018.{{cite web|last=Ford |first=Sean |url=http://www.theadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/kons-foreshadows-another-mayoral-tilt/1660929.aspx |title=Kons foreshadows another Mayoral tilt - Local News - News - General |publisher=The Advocate |date=2009-10-28 |accessdate=2011-05-08}}{{cite web|last=Kempton |first=Helen |url=http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/12/01/281215_tasmania-news.html |title=Burnie council GM resigns |publisher=The Mercury |date=2011-12-01 |accessdate=2013-01-14}}{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-31/tasmania-council-early-results/10447508 | title=Tasmanian council elections: Reynolds new mayor of Hobart, as Christie brings up the rear | author=Rhiana Whitson | publisher=ABC News | date=31 Oct 2018}}