Paul Everingham

Paul Anthony Edward Everingham (4 February 1943— ) was an Australian politician born in Brisbane, Queensland.

Everingham practised law in Alice Springs and Darwin before moving into politics in 1974. He was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative assembly as a member of the Country Liberal Party, and represented the seat of Jingili for the next 10 years. He became leader of the CLP and head of government of the Northern Territory in 1977, and then the first Chief Minister in 1978 as the Territory transitioned to self-governance. His CLP won elections again in 1980 and 1983. 

Everingham's leadership of the Territory was characterised by increasing trade partnerships with Southeast Asia, advocating for Territorian equivalence with the Australian States, and - through intergovernmental conflict with Canberra - instilling a sense of Territorian 'difference' (Carment, 2013). He recognised the need for measures to develop and stabilise the Territorian population, such as a Territorian University (Charles Darwin University, 2014). 

Everingham holds John Howard "fully responsible" for the overturning of the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act by Parliament. Speaking to the Guardian Australia in 2018, Everingham stated that when the Territory was granted self-governance in 1978, then-Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser promised that the Commonwealth would not override Territory law. Howard, who was then Treasurer, held reservations. Howard's government eventually repealed the Territory law (Smee, 2018).

Everingham resigned from the CLP in 1984 and was elected to the House of Representatives, serving on the front bench as Shadow Minister for Local Government and Northern Development. He was a member of the Shadow Ministry until John Howard acceded to the Liberal leadership in September 1985 (Parliament of Australia, [n.d.]). From 1990-1994 he was leader of the Queensland Liberal Party.

Carment, D. (2013). Reconsidering Chief Ministers. https://dcarment.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/northern-territory-chief-ministers.pdf

Charles Darwin University. (2014). Paul Everingham AO. https://www.cdu.edu.au/25th-anniversary/paul-everingham

Martin, C., & Dewar, M. (2012). Speak for Yourself: Eight Chief Ministers Reflect on Northern Territory Self-Government. (1st ed.) Charles Darwin University.

Parliament of Australia. [n.d.]. Biography for EVERINGHAM, the Hon. Paul Anthony Edward. https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2F7R5%22

Smee, B. (August 18, 2018). Euthanasia bill defeat: former territory leaders say Malcolm Fraser's promise broken. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/18/euthanasia-bill-defeat-former-territory-leaders-say-malcolm-frasers-promise-broken