John Hodges (Australian politician)

Australian politician (1937–2024)

The HonourableJohn Hodges

Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs
In office 7 May 1982 – 11 March 1983
Prime Minister	Malcolm Fraser
Preceded by	Ian Macphee
Succeeded by	Stewart West
Member of the Australian Parliament for Petrie
In office 1 December 1984 – 11 July 1987
Preceded by	Dean Wells
Succeeded by	Gary Johns
In office 18 May 1974 – 5 March 1983
Preceded by	Marshall Cooke
Succeeded by	Dean Wells

Personal details
Born	(1937-10-03)3 October 1937 Brisbane, Queensland
Died	14 November 2024 (aged 87)
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Occupation	Pharmacist

John Charles Hodges (3 October 1937 – 14 November 2024) was an Australian politician. A member of the Liberal Party, he served as Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs in the Fraser government from 1982 to 1983. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1974 to 1983 and from 1984 to 1987, representing the Queensland seat of Petrie.

Early life

Hodges was born in Brisbane on 3 October 1937. He was raised in Cooktown, Queensland.

Hodges was a pharmaceutical chemist by profession. He served on the Redcliffe City Council from 1967 to 1976, including as deputy mayor from 1970.

Politics

Hodges was elected to the Liberal Party's Queensland state executive in 1973. The following year, he defeated incumbent single-term MP Marshall Cooke for Liberal preselection in the seat of Petrie. He retained the seat for the Liberal Party at the 1974 election.

In 1978, Hodges was appointed as deputy government whip in the House of Representatives. He was appointed Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs in the Fraser government in May 1982 following a ministerial reshuffle. As immigration minister, he supported the government's official policy of multiculturalism. At a policy forum in August 1982 he stated that Australia had never been a monocultural society, but that "multiculturalism can become a reality only when it is accepted by the nation as a whole"

Hodges lost his seat to the Australian Labor Party (ALP) candidate Dean Wells at the 1983 election. Howoever, he reclaimed Petrie for the Liberal Party at the 1984 election. He supported John Howard against Andrew Peacock in the 1985 Liberal leadership spill. He narrowly lost Petrie a second time at the 1987 election, following the National Party's decision to run a candidate against him in support of "Joh for Canberra" campaign.

Later life

In 1987, Hodges and his wife purchased what was then the only pharmacy on Bribie Island, located at Bongaree. They eventually came to own or part-own another three pharmacies on the island, before retiring in 2018. Hodges died on 14 November 2024, at the age of 87.

References

^ "HODGES, the Hon. John Charles". Parliamentary Library. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
^ Simmonds, Luke (23 March 2018). "John and Margaret Hodges, who opened first pharmacy on Bribie Island, have sold up and retired". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
^ "Petrie: Member replaced". The Canberra Times. 8 May 1974.
"Bigger Cabinet means Killen will stay on". The Canberra Times. 8 May 1982.
"Minister: Need Understanding". The Australian Jewish News. 6 August 1982.
"Hodges admits he is beaten". The Canberra Times. 7 March 1983.
^ "New residents hold key in shaky Brisbane seat". The Canberra Times. 4 July 1987.
Massey, Murray; Kitney, Geoff (1 June 1989). "Lib brawl still smoulders". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
"HODGES, The Honourable John Charles | Funeral Notices | Brisbane". My Tributes. Retrieved 20 November 2024.

Political offices
Preceded byIan Macphee	Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs 1982–1983	Succeeded byStewart West
Parliament of Australia
Preceded byMarshall Cooke	Member for Petrie 1974–1983	Succeeded byDean Wells
Preceded byDean Wells	Member for Petrie 1984–1987	Succeeded byGary Johns

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