Andrew McLachlan

The Honourable Andrew McLachlan CSC, CStJ, LLB, LLM, MBA, MLC
Member of the South Australian Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 March 2014
Preceded by	Ann Bressington
Personal details
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia (SA)
Residence	Adelaide, South Australia
Alma mater	University of Adelaide
Occupation	Lawyer, Business Executive & Army Officer
Awards	Conspicuous Service Cross[1][2] Commander of the Venerable Order of Saint John[3] Australian Active Service Medal (with ICAT clasp) Afghanistan Medal Defence Long Service Medal Australian Defence Medal NATO Medal (with ISAF clasp)
Website	Official Website
Military service
Allegiance	Commonwealth of Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Australian Army Legal Corps

Andrew Lockhart McLachlan is an Australian politician and has been a member of the South Australian Legislative Council since the 2014 state election, representing the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia. Prior to entering Parliament, McLachlan was a lawyer, army officer and a businessman working in the financial services industry.

Education

McLachlan holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Adelaide, a Master of Laws from the University of Edinburgh and a Master of Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management (University of Sydney and University of New South Wales).^[4][5]

Career prior to politics

He commenced his legal career as a young lawyer in regional South Australia, based in Port Augusta.

McLachlan has held senior leadership and executive positions in the financial services industry. He also served on the national executive of the Trustee Corporations Association of Australia and on the compliance and investment boards of the Financial Services Council. He served as the Director of the International Centre for Financial Services at the University of Adelaide. Prior to taking up executive appointments, McLachlan worked as a lawyer specialising in superannuation, banking and finance law. McLachlan is also a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

Political career

McLachlan was elected to the South Australian Legislative Council at the 2014 state election for an eight-year term.^[6]

In March 2015, the 99-year grave licence at Centennial Park for an ANZAC World War I veteran who had fought at Gallipoli expired. No family was located to pay for the continuation of the lease, and there was a possibility of the site being reused. As a fellow veteran, McLachlan paid the licence renewal fee to preserve the historical site.^[7]

In July 2015, McLachlan crossed the floor and voted against the Statutes Amendment (Serious and Organised Crimes) Amendment Bill 2015, better known at the time as the 'Bikies Bill', which was contrary to the Liberal Party's position at the time. McLachlan had argued that Parliament should not act like a court and the provision in the Bill breached the principle of the separation of powers. He was the only Liberal Member of Parliament to vote against the Bill.^[8] McLachlan is a strong supporter of the rule of law.

In late 2015 McLachlan introduced a Bill that would give legal protections to the identity of individuals who provide sensitive information to journalists. This is a common protection in other Australian jurisdictions, however; in South Australia the current law requires journalists to identify sources during court proceedings or commissions of inquiry, otherwise face a potential prison sentence.^[9] The Bill was ultimately not supported by the Government.

References

1. Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) entry for McLachlan, Andrew Lockhart, Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 11 June 2007, http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1135319&showInd=true. Retrieved 22 July 2015, "For outstanding achievement as South Australian Panel Leader, Australian Army Legal Corps, in support of Australian Defence Force units in South Australia, in particular the 9th Brigade." 
2. McNamara, Lindy; Bosio, Ivana (July 2011). "Tour of Duty". Bulletin (Law Society of South Australia) 33 (6): 9. ISSN 1038-6777.(subscription required)
3. "Admissions and Promotions 2014 - The Priory in Australia of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem". Commonwealth Government Notices Gazette. ComLaw. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
4. "The Honourable Andrew McLachlan CSC MLC". Liberal Party of Australia SA Division. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
5. "Queen's Birthday Honours 2007". Adelaide onLion. University of Adelaide. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
6. "SA Legislative Council Results". South Australian Election 2014. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
7. The Advertiser, 5th March 2015, Page 11, 'Lib MP digs into his own pocket to save ANZAC grave', Sarah Rohweder.
8. "Anti-bikie legislation passes South Australian Parliament". Statutes Amendment (Serious and Organised Crimes) Amendment Bill 2015. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
9. "Secret state: Government refusing to pass shield laws for journalists after being passed by Upper House". Evidence (Journalists) Amendment Bill 2015. The Advertiser. Retrieved 29 January 2016.

External links

• Parliamentary profile: SA Parliament website