Dennis Hood

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The Honourable
Dennis Hood
MLC
Dennis Hood Portrait 2010.jpg
Member of the South Australian Legislative Council
Assumed office
1 July 2006
Personal details
Born
Dennis Garry Edward Hood

(1970-01-12) 12 January 1970 (age 53)
Salisbury, South Australia, Australia
Political partyLiberal
Other political
affiliations		Australian Conservatives 2017-18 Family First before 2017
SpouseLisa Hood
ChildrenMadeline Hood
Residence(s)Salisbury, South Australia
Alma materUniversity of Adelaide (BA(Politics))
University of Adelaide (BEc)
ProfessionExecutive
Economist

Dennis Garry Edward Hood (born 12 January 1970) is an Australian politician who began his political career in 2006 as a member of the South Australian Legislative Council. Hood became the South Australian state leader of the Australian Conservatives before joining the Liberal Party after the 2018 state election. He currently holds the position of Government Whip in the Legislative Council.

Early life and career

Dennis Hood was born in Salisbury, South Australia, Australia.[1] Hood holds a bachelor's degree in Arts (Politics) and Economics from the University of Adelaide. He became an executive for Johnson & Johnson.

Legislative career

Hood became the federal director of the Family First Party in 2005. He ran for the South Australian Legislative Council in the 2006 state election as the primary candidate for Family First.[2]

In 2009, Hood suggested the removal of compulsory voting, claiming that it is undemocratic to force people to cast a vote; South Australian electoral legislation only requires a voter to attend a polling booth, not to mark a ballot paper.[3] Hood also established a parliamentary committee to evaluate the establishment of marine parks off the coast of South Australia, which examines environmental, economic, and social impacts.[4] In 2011, he advocated for the creation of a police task force to address the backlog of unexecuted arrest warrants,[5] and supported the redevelopment of the Adelaide Oval with some amendments.[6] In 2010, he noted that the state coroner needed more resources to address the backlog in cases.[7]

Hood has advocated increased accountability of government departments, describing the referral of SA—a government organization specializing in sexual health—of disabled clients to a list of prostitutes, as a "gross misuse of taxpayer money",[8] with then-opposition leader, Iain Evans, agreeing that a government-funded agency should never advocate a technically illegal activity. He also raised concerns about the AIDS Council, and questioned Gail Gago on why the government was funding an organization that demanded job applicants use drugs and participate in prostitution as a mandatory prerequisite for employment.[9] He attacked the AIDS Council for stating "children are a blessing [because] you never know when you'll need someone to go out and score [drugs] for you", and that "alcohol is fun, but take drugs instead and you will remember your night out",[10] in what Christopher Pyne described as "foolish and irresponsible".[citation needed] Hood also voted not to provide Auditor-General Ken McPherson—who drafted the report into corruption and bullying at the Burnside Council—a term extension, as he had served 21 years.[11] Hood encouraged the injection of capital into government units that look after vulnerable people who are abused in state care.[12]

Hood promoted policies permitting the right to remove dangerous, sick and dying trees, and endorsed weekly garbage collection, which the Greens party strongly opposed.[13][14][failed verification] He opposed euthanasia legislation introduced by Steph Key,[15] claiming it failed to provide sufficient corroborative evidence of the desire for suicide apart from the killer as the sole witness,[16] and that the elderly and dying could be pressured into suicide if they felt that they became a burden on their family.[17] He also raised the issue that the Greens, who oppose capital punishment, endorse euthanasia.[18] Hood has criticized the high abortion rate, in light of low fertility rates,[19] and encouraged adoption.[20]

Hood rejected the scrapping of parliamentary prayer, saying the practice dates back to the establishment of the Westminster system,[21] and that the brief periods were useful for silent introspection. He also rejected legislation permitting the cloning of human embryos,[22] because new technology could create embryonic stem cells without using human embryos and eggs, thereby making the legislation unnecessary. He opposed the decriminalisation of prostitution.[23] which he states is consistent with his Christian feminist position. Hood also suggested plain-packaged DVDs for content that is restricted by law.[24] He denied speaking with the Australian Sex Party for a preference deal.[25] Hood rejected the Greens' call to name and shame religious schools that discriminate based on sexual orientation on their web site.[26] Although he sometimes failed to block Green legislation, Hood provided enough necessary opposition to challenge status quo, including public consultation.[27] He stated that he would never make a preference deal with the Greens,[28] as their core policies are irreconcilable with the positions of Family First.

Hood called for a ban of nudist beaches on the basis that children could be inadvertently exposed.[29] He also rejected same-sex parenting because children of same-sex parents would not gain the right to have heterosexual parents,[30][clarification needed] and advocated mandatory parental consent for children getting a body piercing.[31] Hood has advocated for the permission to administer non-sexual smacking of children by their parents,[32][33] and recommended pragmatic child abuse checks by external agencies to address growing dismay related to the Department of Community Services.[34] Despite saying that his party was comfortable with modest age-appropriate sexual education programs,[35] Hood has remained staunchly opposed to the sex education of primary school kids.[36] Hood supported Independent MP Bob Such, who advocated the introduction of a religious education program focusing on compassion, respect, and knowledge of various religions.[37] Hood has also recommended a review of the classification system, and that some content classified general should be upward classified.[38] He has been outspoken about the failure of the Advertising Standards Board to properly screen out material of poor taste, including a liquor advertisement with the exposed buttocks of three adult males, which the Royal Automobile Association agreed was a distraction to driving.[39] Hood worked with Attorney-General John Rau on a number of bills, including the outlawing of minors from practicing scarification.[40]

Hood established a reputation for being tough on crime, particularly drugs,[41] suggesting tougher controls on the growing and possession of cannabis, claiming that possession of commercial quantities ($40,000) would only incur a small fine (with a maximum of $500), and was insufficient disincentive.[42] He also requested on-the-spot fines for users of heroin, methamphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy.[43] He opposed the use of drugs while driving[44] and in public, saying it is a threat to the welfare of residents, businesses, and the individuals themselves.[45] He introduced law to increase police powers to seize a convicted child molester's computer at any time without a court order to examine its contents,[46] shifting the burden of proof onto the accused and replacing it with a reasonable cause to suspect that a sex crime is taking place. Although Labor claimed to be "tough on drugs", Hood stated figures show otherwise.[47] Apart from increased fines, Hood also suggested pragmatic drug testing devices at hotels and nightclubs.[48] Hood passed laws to adopt this stance by setting minimum,[49] as opposed to maximum sentences, which are never implemented by judges.[50] Hood rejected the prescription of marijuana for medicinal purposes, backed by Vickie Chapman, saying the harm outweighs the therapeutic benefits.[51]

At a Family First State Executive meeting on 1 February 2007, Hood replaced Andrew Evans as its parliamentary leader.[52]

Hood called for District Court Judge Marie Shaw to be sacked for failing to impose a sentence on a series of twelve sex offenders she had presided over.[53] To prevent Shaw from taking him to the Supreme Court for defamation over his naming her "South Australia's softest judge",[54] Hood settled with her and gave an apology.[55] Chief Justice John Doyle sided with Shaw, saying that judges should not be held personally responsible for their decisions,[56] that many decisions were the inevitable result of precedence. Hood's interest in the courts was not singular, exhibiting particular interest in the high judicial salaries and pensions that were "out of step with" community expectations, with salaries $540,000 a year, and retired pensions at $114,534 a year.[57]

After the 2010 election, Hood worked with independents Ann Bressington (the No Pokies party) and John Darley in attempts to improve funding for mental health, disability, child protection, and public housing.[58] Hood's proposal draft bill that allows parents to become better informed of their children's Facebook activity,[59] was accepted by Rau and Robert McClelland.[60]

Hood followed Brokenshire to the Australian Conservatives, led by South Australian Senator Cory Bernardi after Family First merged into the party in 2017. However, he defected to the Liberal Party nine days after the 2018 state election. He noted that the Conservatives had only garnered three percent of first preference votes for the House of Assembly, with none of their 33 lower house candidates coming close to being elected. He claimed that the Conservatives were focused almost entirely on federal issues, and were likely to have "no impact" at the state level; at the same time, he praised the vision of the newly elected Liberal government, saying that there was "substantial" overlap with his own platform.[61] Reportedly, Brokenshire had encouraged Hood to consider defecting to the Liberals. When Bernardi learned of Hood's defection, he suspected that the Conservatives had been "white-anted from within."[62]

Family and personal life

Hood was elected to the South Australian Parliament at the age of 34, and was described by Peter Goers as "one of the youngest pollies in State Parliament".[63] In 2006, his wife Lisa gave birth to his daughter, Madeline, and said his good experience with the Women's and Children's Hospital was "fantastic" and "outstanding", and that he could not comprehend why people "whinged" about the system.[64] He has been a conservative voice in South Australia, describing of the ban of the words "ho ho ho" during Christmas as "plain madness", as the word "ho" could be misconstrued as "whore", which a University of South Australia communications senior lecturer agreed was "nonsense",[65]

Hood's parents were apathetic toward religion but he converted to Christianity at 19. Hood attends Rostrevor Baptist Church in Adelaide.[66]

Notes

  1. ^ Goers, Peter (12 August 2006). "This Hood's hardly one of the boyz". AdelaideNow.
  2. ^ "Dennis Hood". Liberal South Australia. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  3. ^ Vaughan, Joanna. "Family First MP Dennis Hood wants to scrap compulsory voting". AdelaideNow.
  4. ^ Martin, Sarah (18 May 2011). "Body to study South Australian marine park plans".
  5. ^ McGregor, Ken (10 March 2011). "Hunt down our 13,500 fugitives".
  6. ^ Martin, Sarah (3 June 2011). "Upper House hurdle for Adelaide Oval bill".
  7. ^ Martin, Sarah (29 November 2010). "Coronial delays upsetting families".
  8. ^ Allison, Lisa (14 September 2006). "Sex workers for disabled".
  9. ^ Shepherd, Tory (18 October 2007). "Job seeks sex, drugs experience".
  10. ^ Henderson, Nick (24 June 2007). "Health magazine promoting drug".
  11. ^ Costello, Renato (3 February 2007). "New leader rallies party".
  12. ^ Shepherd, Tory (9 July 2010). "Budget cuts threatens state adoption unit".
  13. ^ Vaughan, Joanna (2 July 2009). "New bid to prune old tree laws".
  14. ^ Jaensch, Dean (16 July 2009). "Principles tossed in rubbish bin".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ Kelton, Greg (28 March 2011). "Euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke eyes death clinic for Adelaide".
  16. ^ "Anderson: Planning for the end of life". 3 April 2011.
  17. ^ Shepherd, Tory (27 October 2009). "Vocal majority should ensure legislation passes".
  18. ^ Shepherd, Tory (1 January 2009). "Adventurer Kym Bonython wants right to die".
  19. ^ Owen, Michael (2 December 2007). "Abortion rate increasing".
  20. ^ "Shock teen abortion rate". 3 January 2008.
  21. ^ Henderson, Nick (10 June 2007). "Prayer 'a waste of time': Atheist MP".
  22. ^ "Push to drop embryo laws". The Advertiser.
  23. ^ Kelton, Greg (2 June 2011). "MP Steph Key confident of success in changing sex worker law".
  24. ^ Pepper, Chris (17 January 2010). "Avert your eyes – R-rated DVD cover-up in South Australia". Sunday Mail.
  25. ^ Martin, Sarah (28 July 2010). "Family First staffer to be counselled over Sex Party approach".
  26. ^ Vaughan, Joanna (8 April 2009). "Greens see red over changes to gay rights in South Australia".
  27. ^ Vaughan, Joanna (26 March 2009). "SA Parliament passes human embryo cloning laws".
  28. ^ Kelton, Greg (4 September 2008). "Mayo preference shock".
  29. ^ Shepherd, Tory (17 October 2007). "Call for nude ban at Maslins".
  30. ^ Martin, Sarah (17 May 2011). "MPs want same-sex adoption rights".
  31. ^ Vaughan, Joanna (13 November 2008). "Parental consent needed for body piercing of SA kids".
  32. ^ McGuire, Michael (5 June 2009). "Way out of whack". The Advertiser.
  33. ^ Owen, Michael (27 February 2008). "Smack is not assault: Police".
  34. ^ Henderson, Nick (17 December 2007). "Child abuse checks ignored".
  35. ^ "Students miss sex program". 25 July 2007.
  36. ^ Kelton, Greg (30 May 2007). "No primary school sex education".
  37. ^ Kelton, Greg (13 November 2006). "Schools need new focus on religion".
  38. ^ "G-rated g-strings". 21 July 2007.
  39. ^ Pengelley, Jill (2 February 2008). "Red light for bare bottoms".
  40. ^ "Body piercing restriction". 18 June 2007.
  41. ^ Way, Ben (15 October 2007). "7 held as drug ring smashed".
  42. ^ Kelton, Greg (4 April 2007). "Tougher controls urged for cannabis".
  43. ^ Martin, Sarah (4 October 2010). "Hard drug users escaping penalties and convictions".
  44. ^ Allison, Lisa (27 September 2006). "Drug drive testing may be widened".
  45. ^ Henderson, Nick (23 March 2007). "Syringe centre 'danger to city traders'".
  46. ^ "Perverts face new bans". Sunday Mail.
  47. ^ Vaughan, Joanna (20 February 2009). "MP blasts soft sentences".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  48. ^ "MP calls for club drug tests". 22 November 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  49. ^ Fewster, Sean (16 November 2009). "Shorter jail terms for killer drivers".
  50. ^ Lower, Gavin (25 February 2008). "MPs unite – set minimum terms for worst killer drivers".
  51. ^ Henderson, Nick (25 April 2007). "AMA backs prescribing cannabis".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  52. ^ Sunday Mail, 4 February 2007
  53. ^ Fewster, Sean (19 May 2008). "Controversial sex predator Christopher Niehus avoids jail – again".
  54. ^ Hunt, Nigel (29 November 2008). "Mary Shaw wins 'softest judge' case: The Advertiser 30 November 2008". News Ltd.
  55. ^ "Dennis Hood apologises to Judge Marie Shaw". AdelaideNow. 13 December 2007.
  56. ^ Fewster, Sean (6 May 2010). "New Attorney-General challenges judges".
  57. ^ Vaughan, Joanna (13 November 2007). "Judges' pay inquiry call".
  58. ^ Novak, Lauren (14 May 2010). "Independent MPs threaten to block key Government legislation".
  59. ^ "Australian MP takes on Facebook so parents can monitor children". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 June 2011.
  60. ^ "Facebook May Be Banned for Australian Teens". Bloomberg News. 16 June 2011.
  61. ^ "Dennis Hood dumps Cory Bernardi's Australian Conservatives to join SA Liberals". ABC News. 26 March 2017.
  62. ^ "Cory Bernardi lashes out at former colleagues over 'plans to defect to Liberals'". ABC News. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  63. ^ Goers, Peter (12 August 2006). "This Hood's hardly one of the boyz". AdelaideNow.
  64. ^ Anderson, Laura (31 December 2006). "Polling takes second place".
  65. ^ Castello, Renato (10 November 2007). "Santa ho, ho, ho gets heave-ho". Sunday Mail.
  66. ^ Polling takes second place to parenthood; The Advertiser. 1 January 2007

External links

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