Terry Stephens
{{Short description|Australian politician}}
{{for|the Welsh footballer|Terry Stephens (footballer)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = The Honourable
|name = Terry Stephens
|honorific-suffix = MLC
|image = Terry Stephens.png
|party = Liberal Party of Australia (SA)
|office = President of the South Australian Legislative Council
|term_start = 3 May 2022
|term_end =
|predecessor = John Dawkins
|successor =
|term_start1 = 5 February 2020
|term_end1 = 8 September 2020
|predecessor1 = Andrew McLachlan
|successor1 = John Dawkins
|office2 = Member of the Legislative Council
|parliament2 = South Australian
|term_start2 = 9 February 2002
|term_end2 =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|06|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Whyalla, South Australia{{cite web |url=https://www.saliberal.org.au/terry_stephens_mlc |access-date=5 February 2020 |title=Terry Stephens |publisher=Liberal Party of Australia (South Australian Division)}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| spouse = Donna
| children = Courtney and Riley
}}
Terence John Stephens (born 11 June 1959) is an Australian politician, and a member of the South Australian Legislative Council since being elected in 2002, representing the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia. He is the President of the South Australian Legislative Council since May 2022. He previously served in this role from February to September 2020.
Background
Prior to his entry in to politics, Stephens was a company director for 20 years, and was involved in community activities, being a life member of South Whyalla Football Club, life member of the Whyalla Football League, patron of Norwood District Basketball Club, a City of Whyalla Councillor, a member of the Whyalla Chamber of Commerce, and chair of the Westlands Traders Association.
Parliamentary service
Because the Liberals lost the 2002 state election to the Labor Party, and Labor retained government at subsequent elections, Stephens was a member of the opposition until the 2018 South Australian state election was won by the Liberals. He held the role of Shadow Parliamentary Secretary assisting with Industry and Trade, Economic Development and Police from April 2006 to April 2007, was the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Liberal Leader for Business Regulation and Red Tape, and Sport, Recreation & Racing to September 2008, then Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader for Sport, Recreation and Racing, Small Business, and Red Tape Reduction until July 2009. In July 2009, he was promoted to Shadow Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing, and Shadow Minister for Tourism, and added Shadow Minister for Corrections, Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Shadow Minister for Gambling in April 2010. However, he moved to the backbench in a reshuffle in December 2011.{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/south-australia-liberal-party-reshuffles-shadow-cabinet/story-e6frgczx-1226217286168 |title=South Australia Liberal Party reshuffles shadow cabinet |date=8 December 2011 |newspaper=The Australian |access-date=18 August 2016}}
Stephens became Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Recreation & Sport, Racing, Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation in April 2014.{{cite SA-parl |pid=1819 |name=Hon Terry Stephens |former= |access-date=19 August 2022}}
When the Liberal Party won the 2018 election, Stephens was appointed as Government Whip in the Legislative Council. In February 2020, he replaced Andrew McLachlan as President of the South Australian Legislative Council.{{cite news |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/liberal-mp-terry-stephens-set-for-upper-house-president-as-andrew-mclachlan-jumps-to-the-senate/news-story/c2051c15744fa601f7068953c1ca1b9e |title=Liberal MP Terry Stephens set for Upper House president, as Andrew McLachlan jumps to the Senate |first=Daniel |last=Wills |newspaper=The Advertiser |date=2 February 2020 |access-date=5 February 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-par|au-sa}}
{{S-bef| before = Andrew McLachlan}}
{{S-ttl| title = President of the South Australian Legislative Council | years=2020}}
{{S-aft|after=John Dawkins}}
{{S-bef| before = John Dawkins}}
{{S-ttl| title = President of the South Australian Legislative Council | years=2022–present}}
{{S-inc}}
{{S-end}}
{{SACurrentMLCs}}
{{Presiding officers of Australian legislatures}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Terry}}
Category:Members of the South Australian Legislative Council
Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of South Australia
Category:Presidents of the South Australian Legislative Council