Michael Armitage (politician)
Dr Michael Harry Armitage (born 3 May 1949) is a former Australian politician. He was a Liberal Party member of the South Australian House of Assembly between 1989 and 2002, representing the electorate of Adelaide. He won the seat at the 1989 state election, becoming the first non-Labor member to win it in its single-member incarnation.
Armitage was comfortably reelected in the 1993 election as the Liberals swept to power in a landslide. Over the next nine years he held portfolios including Minister for Health, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Administrative and Information Services, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Premier for Information Economy, Minister for Government Enterprises and Minister for Information Economy.
Armitage is notorious for a racial slur that created scandal in parliament. Armitage stated during parliament November 22nd 2004 "like a n**ger in a wood pile". He was a target for abuse and was forced to step back from his position. https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=3072&page=3 <https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=3072&page=3</>
Armitage was narrowly reelected in 1997. After a redistribution ahead of the 2002 election made Adelaide even more marginal, Armitage tried to transfer to Bragg, the safest Liberal seat in Adelaide. He was soundly defeated for Liberal preselection by Vickie Chapman. Meanwhile, his replacement as Liberal candidate in Adelaide, Deputy Mayor Michael Harbison, lost the seat to former Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith.[1][2]
In 2005 he was appointed[3] as CEO of Private Healthcare Australia (formerly the Australian Health Insurance Association) and remained in that role until October 2015.
References
| Parliament of South Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Michael Duigan |
Member for Adelaide 1989–2002 |
Succeeded by Jane Lomax-Smith |