Howard Hobbs

Howard William Thomas Hobbs (born 22 January 1950) is an Australian politician who represented the seat of Warrego in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1 November 1986 until his retirement at the 31 January 2015 state election. He was a member of the National Party of Australia until the Queensland division merged with the Liberal party to form the Liberal National Party of Queensland.

The Hon Howard Hobbs
Minister for Natural Resources of Queensland
In office 26 February 1996 – 13 February 1998
Premier	Rob Borbidge
Preceded by	Tony McGrady (as Minister for Minerals and Energy)
Succeeded by	Lawrence Springborg
Member of the Queensland Parliament for Warrego
In office 1 November 1986 – 31 January 2015
Preceded by	Neil Turner
Succeeded by	Ann Leahy
Personal details
Born	Howard William Thomas Hobbs 22 January 1950 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal National Party
Other political affiliations	National Party
Occupation	Grazier

In February 1996, Hobbs was appointed as the Minister for Natural Resources in the Borbidge government. He resigned two years later, after his wife alleged that her husband was travelling with a young female staff member with whom he was having "an intimate and unprofessional relationship". It was later revealed that the staff member was Ann Leahy, who succeeded Hobbs as the member for Warrego in 2015.[1]

Hobbs was Shadow Minister for Local Government and Planning and for Communities from 28 September 2005 until the LNP entered government following the 2012 election.[2] As the longest-serving member of the Legislative Assembly, he presides at the election of Speakers. When he did so in 2009, Dean Wells equalled him in seniority, but Hobbs had taken the oath first because his name came first alphabetically, so he took the chair as Presiding Member.[3] After Wells lost his seat at the 2012 election, Hobbs was the longest-serving member until his retirement at the 2015 state election.

Prior to parliament

• Chairman, Tambo Shire Council, 1980–1987
• Tambo Shire Shire Councillor 1975-1980
• Served in 49 RQR (Royal Queensland Rifles) at Wacol

Personal life

Hobbs has two children.

References

1. Killoran, Matthew (1 November 2014). "Former mistress of retiring MP Howard Hobbs, Ann Leahy, vies for his seat". Courier-Mail. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
2. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
3. Queensland, Legislative Assembly, Hansard, 21 April 2009 at 4–5.

External links

• Official Biography