Kevin Lyons

Kevin Orchard Lyons (7 February 1923 – 24 May 2000) was an Australian politician and member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly representing the seat of Darwin (later renamed Braddon). Born in 1923 in Hobart, he was the son of Joseph Lyons (who would go on to become Premier of Tasmania and later Prime Minister of Australia) and Enid Lyons (who would become the first woman elected to the Australian House of Representatives). Lyons was elected to the House of Assembly for the Liberal Party on 21 August 1948, and from 29 October 1956 to 1 June 1959 was Speaker of the House.

On 7 September 1966, Lyons resigned from the Liberal Party after a dispute arose over preselection for the upcoming election. He formed his own party, the Centre Party, and ran for election retaining his seat in Darwin. [ [http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/php/Almanac.htm On This Day: A Tasmanian Political Almanac] , Parliament of Tasmania.] The 1969 election resulted in a hung parliament, with Lyons' Centre Party holding the balance of power. Lyons agreed to form a coalition government with the Liberals, and was appointed Deputy Premier under Angus Bethune as Premier. Lyons dissolved the coalition in 1972, and was subsequently critical of Bethune, who lost the 1972 election to Labor's Eric Reece.Pearce, Garney: [http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/tas/content/2003/s1186815.htm Bethune Memorial] , "Stateline" (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 27 August 2004.]

Lyons died in Hobart on 24 May 2000. A condolence motion was read in the House the next day.

References

External links

* [http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/History/tasparl/lyonsk500.htm Parliamentary Library profile]