Nick Xenophon

Senator
Nick Xenophon
Senator for South Australia
Assumed office
1 July 2008
Member of the South Australian Legislative Council
In office
11 October 1997 – 15 October 2007
Succeeded by John Darley
Personal details
Born Nicholas Xenophou
(1959-01-29) 29 January 1959
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia[1]
Nationality Australian
Political party Independent (1997-2013)
Nick Xenophon Team (2013-current)
Profession Lawyer
Politician
Website www.nickxenophon.com.au

Nicholas "Nick" Xenophon (born Xenophou; 29 January 1959) is an independent Senator for South Australia and leader of the Nick Xenophon Team political party, which will run candidates at the next federal election.

He was elected to the Australian Senate at the 2007 federal election, receiving 14.8 percent statewide. At the 2013 federal election Xenophon received a record vote of 24.9 percent, coming second behind the Liberal Party of Australia and ahead of the Australian Labor Party.[2] Xenophon shared the balance of power with the Australian Greens and Family First Party during the 2008–2011 Senate, with the Greens holding the balance of power from 2011-2014. Since July 2014, Xenophon shares the balance of power with a record 18-member crossbench, which includes the Greens, Palmer United Party, and other minority parties and independents.

While his original 1997 platform centred on a policy of anti-gambling, he has since become an advocate in many other policy areas. These include defence, education, health, infrastructure, regional affairs, foreign policy, and civil liberties.

The Nick Xenophon Team (NXT) has listed many candidates throughout Australia for the next Australian federal election, with further candidate announcements to be made in 2016.[3]

Early life

Xenophon (born Xenophou) was born in Adelaide, South Australia, to Theo Xenophou, from Cyprus and to Georgia, from Greece. He is the older of two children. He has been interested in politics since he was a child.[4]

Education and legal career

Xenophon attended Prince Alfred College and studied law at the University of Adelaide, completing his Bachelor of Laws in 1981. While at university he was for a period a member of the Young Liberals, who used vote rigging to secure him the editorship of the student newspaper On Dit, an incident Xenophon says helped turn him off party politics.[5] The publishers of former Prime Minister Julia Gillard's 2014 memoir were forced to apologise and retract "false" comments made about this incident in February 2015.[6]

From 1982 to 1983, Xenophon worked as a lawyer in private practice. In 1984, he established and became principal of his own law firm, Xenophon & Co., located in Paradise, South Australia, which deals solely with workers compensation and personal injury claims.[7][8] In this field he became successful, and between 1994 and 1997 he served as president of the South Australian branch of the Australian Plaintiff Lawyers' Association. During this time, Xenophon also taught legal practice at the University of South Australia where fellow politician Christopher Pyne was among his students.[9] After legislation was passed in 1992 by the Bannon Labor government that saw the introduction of poker machines (pokies) into South Australia in 1993, the increased incidence of problem gambling came to Xenophon's attention in his legal practice.[10][11][12]

Political views

Xenophon speaks to the media in a courtyard of Parliament House, Canberra.

Xenophon considers himself to be a centrist politician.[13][14] Hansard notes that Xenophon and the Greens have found common ground on a number of issues.[15] Political analysts have noted that Xenophon's vote at each election has been drawn almost equally from the two major parties,[16] and that Xenophon had become the new "third force" in South Australian politics.[17] Xenophon is best known for his many media-friendly publicity stunts that have gained him both deep respect and ardent criticism.[11][18] On social issues beyond gambling, Xenophon is an outspoken advocate for the abolition of the death penalty, as was shown in his opposition to the death sentences of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran being carried out by Indonesia.[19][19] He has also been vocal on the Israel-Palestine conflict,[20] especially since his May 2014 trip to Hebron.[21] In 2012, Xenophon voted for same-sex marriage, although the bill failed to pass the Senate.[22]

Xenophon has also taken a strong stance against wind turbines and has co-sponsored with John Madigan legislation to restrict Government subsidies for wind farms. Xenophon's concerns about wind turbines are predominantly related to health and the reliability of wind-sourced power.[23][24]

The scientific evidence shows that low frequency noise does affect brain activity and can severely affect people’s sleep patterns...The problem with wind energy is that it can never replace coal powered energy because it’s not reliable enough for base-load power. The billions being spent on wind energy take away from investment in base-load renewable energies such as geothermal and tidal energy. Senator Nick Xenophon, Media Release, 2 August 2012.

South Australian Legislative Council (1997-2008)

At the 1997 state election, Xenophon stood for the South Australian Legislative Council under an Independent No Pokies ticket, advocating the reduction and abolition of poker machines (colloquially known as "pokies"). He received a vote of 2.86 percent, a statewide total of 25,630 votes – much less than the 8.33 per cent needed to be elected in his own right – but by receiving a large number of preferences first from microparties and then from Grey Power, he went from a quota of 0.34 to 1.08 and was therefore elected.[25] This made Xenophon the first independent elected to the Legislative Council in 60 years.[5]

Following the 1997 election, the Olsen Liberal government required the support of an additional two non-Liberal upper house members in order to pass legislation, with the Australian Democrats retaining the balance of power on three seats. However, defectors from Labor in the upper house, Terry Cameron and Trevor Crothers, often brought Xenophon in to play. In 1998, Xenophon voted with Cameron and the government to proceed with the second reading of the ETSA power sale bill.[26][27] The bill became law when Cameron and Crothers voted with the Liberal government.[28] Following the election of the Rann Labor government at the 2002 state election, the government required an additional five non-Labor upper house members to pass legislation, giving a shared balance of power to the Democrats on three seats, incumbent independents Xenophon and Cameron, with the Family First Party winning their first seat.

Xenophon was an activist for a range of issues apart from the elimination of poker machines, speaking out on consumer rights, essential services, the environment, taxation, and perks for politicians.[8] Xenophon was also vocal in the Eugene McGee hit-run affair, becoming an advocate for the victim's wife, with public opinion eventually forcing the Kapunda Road Royal Commission that led to harsher laws for hit-run offences.[29]

At the 2006 state election, he ran an aggressive campaign and attracted considerable publicity through a range of imaginative stunts, including riding a model locomotive "gravy train" outside Parliament House to protest MPs' superannuation entitlements, parading along Rundle Mall wearing a sandwich board to advertise his campaign, and bringing a small goat to Parliament urging voters not to "kid around" with their vote.[30][31] Despite media speculation that he would struggle to be re-elected due to the major parties preferencing against him, he attracted sufficient funding and volunteers to staff most state booths on polling day.[32] He received 190,958 first preferences or 20.51 per cent of the total vote, enough to not only be re-elected himself, but also to elect the second No Pokies candidate, Ann Bressington.[33][34] His total was 5.46 per cent less than the Liberal Party, and he outpolled the Liberals in some booths, including the electoral district of Enfield.[35] With the Labor government requiring four non-Labor upper house members to pass legislation, No Pokies on two seats shared the balance of power with Family First on two seats, the Democrats on one seat, with the SA Greens winning their first seat.

Australian Senate (2008-present)

2007 election campaign

On 11 October 2007, Xenophon called a press conference at the Adelaide Zoo in front of the giraffe enclosure, declaring he would "stick his neck out for South Australia" by announcing his resignation from the South Australian Legislative Council in an attempt to gain election to the Australian Senate at the 2007 federal election.[36] His platform consisted of anti-gambling and pro-consumer protection measures, attention to the water crisis affecting the Murray River, ratifying Kyoto, opposition against a "decrease in state rights", and opposition to WorkChoices.[16][37][38]

Following the announcement, ABC election analyst Antony Green predicted that Xenophon would easily win a seat, with Centrebet speculating he would begin on a favourable $1.50 for and $2.70 against. Nick Minchin, a Liberal senator from South Australia and a leader of the party's right faction,[39] urged people not to vote for Mr Xenophon.[40] Xenophon attracted preferences from minor parties such as the Greens, Democrats and Family First, whose preferences would be crucial were he to win less than 14.3% of the vote.[41] Due to differences between federal and state electoral laws, Xenophon's name did not appear above the line on the ticket, and he was represented only by the letter "S" above the line, with voters having to search for his details.[42]

As Xenophon had vacated his Legislative Council seat to run for the Senate, a joint sitting of the South Australian parliament was convened for 21 November 2007 to select Xenophon's replacement. The Rann Labor government agreed to Xenophon's choice of former valuer-general John Darley, who had stood as the third candidate on Xenophon's ticket in 2006.[43] During the joint sitting convened to confirm the nomination, Ann Bressington criticised Xenophon, questioning his integrity and suitability for federal parliament, suggesting that his "anti-politician" image was more spin than reality.[44] She also said Xenophon had demanded she contribute $50,000 towards campaign expenses at the 2006 state election. Xenophon said in response that he was "shocked and hurt" and "deeply upset" that she had failed to share her concerns with him in person, saying "privately and publicly, I have been very supportive of her."[45] Some people whose causes Xenophon had championed also came forward to defend Xenophon. Di Gilcrist, whose husband's hit and run death resulted in the Kapunda Road Royal Commission, was vocal in her rejection of Bressington's comments. In an interview the following day, Ms Gilcrist said "based on my experience not only as a victim who's dealt with Nick but also somebody who's worked with Nick and his office over the last two campaigns and in between, Nick is passionate and he cares and he is empathetic. And he is truly committed."[44][46] Lower House independent Kris Hanna also defended Xenophon, arguing Bressington had "obviously been out to do some damage" and injure Xenophon's chances of being elected to the Senate.[47]

During the campaign, Xenophon also complained to the Australian Electoral Commission about political advertisements which falsely claimed he would not support rolling back the unpopular WorkChoices laws if elected.[48]

During the final days of the campaign, Xenophon executed his final campaign stunt – walking a large mule down Rundle Mall, allegedly to demonstrate his stubbornness.[49] Xenophon received a total of 148,789 votes, representing 14.78% of enrolled electors. 30,054 of these – about one in five – voted below the line. Only the Labor and Liberal parties (each receiving about 35%) polled more votes.[50][51]

First term (2008-2013)

Xenophon in September 2008

Xenophon's addition to the Senate in mid-2008 resulted in him sharing the balance of power in the Senate with the Australian Greens on five seats and Family First on one seat, the Rudd Labor government requiring the support of all seven, or the opposition, to pass legislation. Xenophon's election was at the expense of a Liberal candidate, without his presence the Coalition would have held enough Senate seats to block legislation.[52] Xenophon indicated plans to work closely with coalition renegade Barnaby Joyce.[53] Xenophon has been reported in the media as "left-of-centre",[14] whilst Hansard revealed that Xenophon and the Greens find common ground on a number of issues.[15]

In February 2009, the Rudd Government's $42 billion economic stimulus package struggled to see passage through the Senate. After some amendments, the package was supported by Labor, the Greens, and Family First, however Xenophon voted against the package. The package was reintroduced the next morning and this time Xenophon voted with it after some requests were agreed to by the Government. With Xenophon's support the package passed the Senate. Xenophon convinced the government to bring forward $900 million in Murray-Darling basin funds and other water projects, which included $500 million over three years for water buybacks, $200 million in water saving and water management grants for local communities, and $200 million in stormwater harvesting projects.[54][55]

In a speech to the Senate on 17 November 2009, Xenophon labelled the Church of Scientology as a criminal organisation, making allegations of members experiencing blackmail, torture and violence, labour camps and forced imprisonment, and coerced abortions, echoing other criticisms of Scientology.[56][57][58] Xenophon quoted from a letter he received written by Aaron Saxton, a whistleblower on Scientology who had previously served as a senior official within the organisation in Australia and the United States.[59] Kevin Rudd stated he shared some of Xenophon's concerns,[60][61] and would consider the call for a parliamentary inquiry.[62] The federal opposition were not so keen on an inquiry.[63] State Crime Command of New South Wales Police confirmed the following day that they had received statements from Xenophon by seven former members, with investigations commencing.[64] A request for a Senate inquiry was not successful, though the Greens voted with Xenophon in support of the proposal.[65] After a subsequent Senate Committee investigation was carried out, a federal parliamentary committee of the Australian Senate recommended on 7 September 2010 that a charities commission be formed, with the purpose of investigating and monitoring transparency of charitable organisations.[66] This recommendation received bipartisan support.[66] Senator Xenophon commented on the report of the committee, "I believe reform is now inevitable. We can't continue to have business as usual when it comes to organisations that have been beyond any reasonable level of accountability."[66] Xenophon emphasised the investigation began as a result of his concerns about Scientology, "This inquiry came about because of legislation I introduced for a public benefit test for religions and charities, and it was as a direct result of being approached by many victims of the Church of Scientology. Their evidence, their complaints played a key role in triggering this inquiry."[66] In September 2011, Xenophon said he was disappointed with a Fair Work Ombudsman's final report into the Church of Scientology.[67]

From July 2011, Xenophon lost his shared balance of power position to the Greens. He said his lack of power won't translate to a diminished voice... "Most of your influence comes from being able to influence the wider debate on an issue, and if you are successful, you can actually change the way the major parties vote. That's what I have done for the past three years and I will continue to do that. I can honestly say I plan to be a pesky, persistent bastard in and out of the Senate for the next three years".[68][69]

Xenophon's anti-pokies stance was bolstered when independent Andrew Wilkie was elected to the federal lower house seat of Denison at the 2010 election. Wilkie was one of four crossbenchers who supported the Gillard Labor minority government following the hung parliament result. Wilkie campaigned heavily against pokies at the election and immediately began forging ties with Xenophon as soon as it was apparent that he was elected.[70] Wilkie claims that problem gamblers in Australia lose $5 billion each year on pokies.[71] In exchange for Wilkie's support, the Labor government were legislating for mandatory pre-commitment technology which would require people using high-bet machines to pre-commit how much they were willing to bet on a machine before they begin to play,[72] as well as introducing safer $1 maximum bet per spin machines, which would not require pre-commitment.[73] The plan came under sustained attack from sporting clubs and various businesses which financially benefit from poker machine use.[74] Xenophon accused them of misrepresenting plans and creating hype.[75] The Abbott Coalition opposed the plans, with Abbott saying "it is not Liberal Party policy" and it will be "expensive and ineffective." According to polling, the Labor government's plans were supported by a clear majority of voters across the spectrum.[76] AFL boss Andrew Demetriou rejected suggestions that the AFL was joining Clubs Australia in their media campaign.[77][78] Clubs Australia created www.WontWorkWillHurt.com.au as part of their campaign.[79] Commentators from the Nine Network gave planned political arguments without disclosure during commentary of a semi-final NRL game, prompting the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to investigate, stating "Channel Nine broadcast political material without adequately identifying it as such during the NRL first preliminary final". One of the accused commentators stated that the remarks were a "directive from up top that it be read by at least somebody". Investigations were predicted to take months.[80][81][82][83] GetUp attempted to counter the anti-pre-commitment campaign by running political commercials during the NRL grand final.[84][85] Xenophon created a website, www.ItsABigFatLie.com.au, in attempts to counter the attacks.[86] Clubs Australia accidentally posted private content on their website which indicated that clubs were purposely exaggerating the impact of the pre-commitment plans.[87] The Greens proposed a modification of the plan to remove the pre-commitment and simply institute the $1 bet limit side of the plan. Gillard and Wilkie indicated they were open to the change. Clubs Australia, which had so far amassed a $40 million federal election "warchest" including $250,000 from Woolworths, claimed it would do even more harm to clubs.[88]

In September 2011, Xenophon controversially used parliamentary privilege to accuse a South Australian Catholic priest of rape, in regard to accusations made about events that occurred in the 1960s. Monsignor David Cappo and the Archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson, were accused of failing to properly investigate the allegations when made in 2007. All three men deny the Senator's claims. Xenophon decided to use parliamentary privilege after receiving an "unsatisfactory" response from the Church when advising them of his intentions and ultimatum. Cappo, introduced by Mike Rann early in his premiership as South Australia's head of his Social Inclusion unit, was set to take on a national role by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Due to the claims, Cappo stepped down from the new position after just one week, as well as from the Social Inclusion Board.[89][90][91][92][93] Several days later, after high-level media coverage, Xenophon indicated he might not have used parliamentary privilege had he known the person he accused was about to take a period of leave.[94]

Xenophon voted against the Clean Energy Bill in November 2011. The carbon pricing scheme passed with the Labor government receiving Green support for the legislation in the Senate.[95][96]

In 2012, Xenophon was on a fact-finding mission to Malaysia when he was caught up in anti-government protests in Kuala Lumpur. Subsequently, on 2 May 2012, the New Straits Times published an article written by Roy See Wei Zhi and headed "Observer under scrutiny".[97] The report replaced words from a 2009 speech made by Xenophon and turned it into an attack on Islam, ostensibly to pit Malay-Muslim opinion against the senator, who was a known associate of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. In fact the speech had been an attack on Scientology and is recorded as such in the Hansard of the Australian Senate. Xenophon threatened to sue the New Straits Times for defamation and the newspaper quickly removed the offending article from its website.[98] The gaffe sparked media outrage in both Malaysia and Australia,[99] and has greatly reinforced public perception that the New Straits Times and most mainstream media merely serve as propaganda mouthpieces for the ruling Barisan Nasional. As at 4 May 2012, Senator Xenophon has confirmed that he would sue NST in spite of their apology.[100]

On 16 February 2013, Xenophon was detained on arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport's LCCT and refused entry by the Malaysian immigration authorities. He was deported back to Australia on a flight early the next day. Other members of that Parliament of Australia cancelled their plans to travel to Malaysia while the matter was resolved. Meanwhile, his case had been subject to comment and intervention by the Foreign Minister, Senator Bob Carr.[101][102] The Prime Minister's Department of Malaysia confirmed that Xenophon was not part of the Australian Delegation scheduled to meet Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nazri Aziz submitted to it by an aide to Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition leader in response to claims that it had deliberately denied entry to Xenophon.[103]

2013 election campaign

At the 2013 federal election Xenophon nominated four key policy issues he would pursue if successfully re-elected: gaming machine reforms, stopping palm oil from being sold in Australia, breaking up the supermarket duopoly, and better deals for Riverland irrigators in the Murray-Darling basin rescue plan. Xenophon increased his vote to 24.9 percent, a few percent short of two quotas, with running mate Stirling Griff narrowly missing out on election.[104] From July 2014, Xenophon shared the balance of power with a record crossbench of 18: the Greens on 10 seats, Palmer United on 1 seat, with other minor parties and independents on 7 seats – the LDP's David Leyonhjelm, Family First's Bob Day, Motoring's Ricky Muir, and independents John Madigan, Jacqui Lambie and Glen Lazarus. The Coalition government requires the support of at least 6 non-Coalition Senators to pass legislation through the Senate.

A record number of candidates stood at the election.[105] Group voting tickets came under scrutiny because multiple candidates were provisionally elected with the vast majority of their 14.3 percent quotas coming from the preferences of other parties across the political spectrum. "Preference whisperer" Glenn Druery organised tight cross-preferencing between many minor parties.[106][107][108]

Second term (2014–present)

Nick Xenophon speaks with the Rev. Tim Costello, 2014.

Since returning to a balance of power position in the Senate, Xenophon has been predominantly concerned with defence materiel, particularly the Collins-class submarine replacement project,[109] and cuts made by the Abbott Government in the 2014 Australian federal budget.[110] He voted against the tertiary education reforms proposed by Minister for Education and Training Christopher Pyne which would have seen a shift towards privatisation of universities in Australia.[111] Xenophon opposed the amendments to the national security legislative framework, particularly on the issue of telecommunications data retention.[112] In his 2014 "spycatcher" speech to the Senate, Xenophon stated that the new laws would have a chilling effect on investigative journalism in Australia.[113] Xenophon negotiated with then Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison for the reintroduction of the Temporary Protection Visa.[114] In 2015, he travelled to Indonesia with an Adelaide sheikh to seek clemency for the Bali Nine duo who were on death row.[19] Xenophon wrote an article in Bahasa Indonesia in The Sydney Morning Herald, the first time in the paper's 184-year history that it printed an article in a foreign language.[115] These efforts, and those of the Abbott Government, were unsuccessful.[116] Xenophon supported the Abbott Government's Direct Action plan for combating Climate Change, enabling it to pass the Senate.[117] However, he later stated that the plan had been "neutered" because of changes made to it via regulation.[118] Woolworths, which operates over 12,650 poker machines across Australia,[119] has lobbied against Xenophon's push for mandatory pre-commitment technology.[120][121][122] When mandatory pre-commitment was implemented, Woolworths created a loyalty card scheme to offer incentives to frequent gamblers, giving them free food and drink.[123]In late 2014, Xenophon publicly called for Prime Minister Tony Abbott to adopt a more conciliatory and less "confrontational" style in his leadership.[124] On the second anniversary of Tony Abbott's election victory, Xenophon appeared at the entrance to the Australian Senate with a submarine cake he had made to remind the Abbott Government of its pre-election commitment to build 12 submarines in Australia.[125][126][127] On the night Malcolm Turnbull successfully challenged Tony Abbott, becoming the new Prime Minister, Xenophon's first act was to send a letter reminding him of the Government's submarine commitment.[128] On 27 November 2015, Xenophon appeared with former DPP of NSW Nicholas Cowdery QC and former ACT Attorney-General Bernard Collaery to call for a Royal Commission into the 2004 bugging of the East Timorese Cabinet offices. The accusation - made by a former Australian Secret Intelligence Service employee, 'Witness K' - is that the Australian Government, under Prime Minister John Howard, deliberately sought to obtain information through the intelligence agency in order to benefit a privately owned oil company.[129][130] Xenophon joined with the Australian Greens and the Government to support a reform of the Senate election system in order to better reflect actual votes.[131] Other crossbench senators, like John Madigan and David Leyonhjelm, accused Xenophon of "political trickery of the highest order".[132] Xenophon has held this position since September 2013, some nine months before newly elected senators were sworn in.[133] He told the Australian Financial Review: "This puts the power back into the hands of the voters and away from the back-room operators and preference whisperers." [134]

Formation of Nick Xenophon Team (NXT)

Main article: Nick Xenophon Team

On 1 July 2013, Xenophon registered a new political party, the Nick Xenophon Team (NXT).[135] He claimed his motivation was "the electorate's lack of trust in politics and voter disillusionment".[136] The 2014 South Australian election saw Independent "Nick Xenophon Team", without Xenophon as a candidate, win 12.9 percent of the statewide upper house vote. John Darley was re-elected.[137] Xenophon in December 2014 confirmed that by mid-2015 NXT would announce candidates in the South Australian Liberal seats of Sturt, Hindmarsh and Mayo, along with seats in all states and territories, and preference against the government in the upper house, at the next federal election, with Xenophon citing the government's ambiguity on the Collins class submarine replacement project as motivation.[138]

The Nick Xenophon Team (NXT) has listed many candidates throughout Australia for the next Australian federal election, with further candidate announcements to be made in 2016.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Parliament House of Australia. "Biography for XENOPHON, Nicholas (Nick)". Retrieved 30 November 2009.
  2. ↑ "Senate Results: South Australia". ABC News.
  3. 1 2 2016 NXT candidates: NXT.org.au
  4. ↑ The Australian (28 June 2008). "From brash Young Liberal to Senate linchpin for Nick Xenophon". Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  5. 1 2 Walker, Jamie (28 June 2008). "From brash Young Liberal to Senate linchpin for Nick Xenophon". The Australian. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  6. ↑ "Publisher of Julia Gillard's book retracts Nick Xenophon allegations". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. ↑ "Xenophon & Co Lawyers website". Xenlaw.com.au. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  8. 1 2 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (24 July 2008). "Welcome to the Senate". Q&A: Adventures in Democracy. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  9. ↑ "Quick on the law". The Advertiser (Adelaide, Australia). 7 November 1998. p. 53.
  10. ↑ Holland, Jesse J. (12 June 1998). "Australian lawmaker visits S.C. to see anti-gambling efforts". Associated Press.
  11. 1 2 Davis, Mark (12 October 2007). "Anti-pokies MP could call shots in the Senate". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 7.
  12. ↑ 5 Minutes 10 Minutes (8 December 2010). "Not a pokie in sight: The Australian 8 December 2010". The Australian. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  13. ↑ "Nick Xenophon's NXT party faces same challenges as Independents". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  14. 1 2 Doherty, Ben (18 October 2007). "Recognise these men? They may hold balance of power". The Age (Australia). Retrieved 18 November 2009.
  15. 1 2 Smith, Tony (December 2008). "New fangs for the platy-tiger? The Senate and the Rudd Government in 2008" (PDF). Democratic Audit of Australia. ISSN 1835-6559. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
  16. 1 2 Debelle, Penelope (12 October 2007). "Fearful of Xenophon in Senate". The Age (Australia).
  17. ↑ Lloyd, Megan (19 March 2006). "Election 2006: Mr X has the very last laugh". The Advertiser.
  18. ↑ McGuire, Michael (3 July 2009). "X marks his spot". Adelaide Advertiser.
  19. 1 2 3 Kate Lamb. "Nick Xenophon appeals to Indonesian Muslims to support Bali Nine reprieve". the Guardian.
  20. ↑ "Article on Israeli Settlements - Nick Xenophon - Independent Senator for South Australia". nickxenophon.com.au.
  21. ↑ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/hebron-heartbreaking-for-xenophon/story-e6frg6nf-1226912413779
  22. ↑ "Senate rejects gay marriage bill". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  23. ↑ http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN010008/2.%20Post-Submission/Representations/Further%20information%20requested%20by%20the%20Examining%20Authority/Lynette%20Morris.pdf
  24. ↑ National Wind Watch. "Win(d) for common sense: Stony Gap wind farm knocked back - Wind Energy News". National Wind Watch.
  25. ↑ Green, Antony. "Legislative Council Background. South Australia Election 2006". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  26. ↑ "South Australia: The Australian Journal of Politics and History June 1999". Findarticles.com. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  27. ↑ "Australia debates sell offs as elections loom: Petroleum Economist 2 October 1998". Petroleum-economist.com. 2 October 1998. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  28. ↑ Power politics: the electricity crisis and you. Google Books. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  29. ↑ "Legal eagles discuss justice system". Stateline (ABC). 13 May 2005. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  30. ↑ Ahwan, Lauren (6 February 2006). "SA: Stunt MP turns human sandwich board". Associated Press.
  31. ↑ Anderson, Laura (18 March 2006). "Vote for me, I kid you not, is Nick's message". The Advertiser. p. 11.
  32. ↑ Manning, Dr Haydon (December 2006). "Australian Political Chronicle: January–June 2006". Australian Journal of Politics and History 52 (4): 668. ISSN 0004-9522.
  33. ↑ McCarthy, Dr Greg (20 March 2006). "Victory for Labor and Xenophon (Media Release)". Retrieved 17 November 2009. McCarthy is a senior lecturer in politics at the University of Adelaide.
  34. ↑ Electoral Commission of South Australia (5 April 2006). "Results for Legislative Council". Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  35. ↑ "The Poll Vault: Xenophon looking good". ABC News Online: Elections. 18 March 2006. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  36. ↑ "Colourful independent seeks move to Canberra". ABC Online. 11 October 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  37. ↑ Royal, Simon (12 October 2007). "Mr X goes to Canberra". Stateline SA (ABC). Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  38. ↑ Henschke, Ian (12 October 2007). "Live Interview Senator Natasha Stott Despoja; Megan Lloyd (Messenger Newspapers)". Stateline SA (ABC). Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  39. ↑ Owen, Michael (4 June 2009). "Nick Minchin stirs SA Senate tensions". The Australian. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  40. ↑ Haxton, Nance (12 October 2007). "No Pokies MP odds-on for Senate seat". ABC Online. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  41. ↑ Nankervis, David (4 November 2007). "Minor parties prefer Mr X". The Advertiser.
  42. ↑ "Libs to put heat on Xenophon: analyst". ABC Online. 12 October 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  43. ↑ "SA Govt agrees to Xenophon's choice". ABC Online. 13 November 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  44. 1 2 "MPs stunned by Xenophon blast". ABC Online. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  45. ↑ "Nick Xenophon's running mate unleashes extraordinary attack". The Advertiser. 1 November 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  46. ↑ Haxton, Nance (22 November 2007). "State MP launches scathing attack on Xenophon". World Today (ABC). Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  47. ↑ "Xenophon 'hurt and bewildered' by Parliament attack". ABC Online. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  48. ↑ "Xenophon sues over ad". The Australian. 21 November 2007. p. 5.
  49. ↑ "The X factor". Farm Weekly (Fairfax). 28 June 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  50. ↑ Australian Electoral Commission (20 December 2007). "Senate – First Preferences by Candidate – SA". Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  51. ↑ Manning, Dr Haydon (20 December 2007). "South Australians at the polls: The 2007 national election result analysed". Retrieved 17 November 2009. School of Political and International Studies, Flinders University.
  52. ↑ Can the Coalition win Control of the Senate through a Half-Senate Election?: Antony Green ABC 1 September 2011
  53. ↑ "Xenophon, Joyce in early Senate talks". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 20 December 2007. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
  54. ↑ Hudson, Phillip (13 February 2009). "Senate passes stimulus plan". The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, Australia). Retrieved 18 November 2009.
  55. ↑ Gout, Hendrik (20 February 2009). "Senator Xenophon's audacious bluff". The Independent Weekly (Adelaide, Australia). Retrieved 18 November 2009.
  56. ↑ Xenophon, Nick (18 November 2009). "Australian Senator Nick Xenophon's speech on Church of Scientology in full". The Times (London, United Kingdom). Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  57. ↑ Bita, Natasha (18 November 2009). "Scientology criminal, says senator Nick Xenophon". The Australian. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
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  126. ↑ http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2015/09/07/xenophon-cooks-storm-govt-anniversary/
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  128. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-15/nick-xenophon-writes-to-malcolm-turnbull-on-sa-submarines/6776498
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  130. ↑ http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-06/22/c_134345841.htm
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  137. ↑ "2014 State Election - Legislative Council state summary - Past state election results - Electoral Commission SA". ecsa.sa.gov.au.
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