John Coates (Australian politician)

John Coates
Member of the Australian Parliament for Denison
In office 2 December 1972 – 13 December 1975
Preceded by	Robert Solomon
Succeeded by	Michael Hodgman
Senator for Tasmania
In office 1 July 1981 – 20 August 1996
Succeeded by	Kerry O'Brien
Personal details
Born	23 March 1944 Melbourne, Victoria
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Alma mater	University of Sydney
Occupation	Biochemist

John Coates (born 23 March 1944) is an Australian retired politician. Born in Melbourne, he was educated at the University of Sydney, after which he became a biochemist at the University of Tasmania. In 1972, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for Denison, defeating sitting Liberal MP Robert Solomon. He was defeated by Liberal candidate Michael Hodgman in 1975, but in 1980 returned to politics when he was elected to the Senate. He remained a Senator until he resigned his place on 20 August 1996, six months after the federal election that had removed Labor from power.^[1]

Coates announced his resignation from the Senate on the same day that his ALP colleague Senator Mal Colston left the party and with Coalition support was elected Deputy President of the Senate. Senator Coates announced his resignation in the Senate just shortly after Colston's election as Deputy Senate President and when Senator Coates made this announcement there was an interjection from across the chamber from Liberal Senator Alan Ferguson. In reference to the Colston defection earlier in the day, Senator Ferguson in response to Senator Coates' announcement said "Another one." Whilst still in the middle of making his resignation speech, Senator Coates responded in kind by saying, "From the Senate not from the Australian Labor Party."

References

1. Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 2008-11-09.