Rene Hidding

Rene Hidding (born 5 February 1953), Australian politician, is the leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition in Tasmania.

Related Topics:
5 February - 1953 - Australia - Liberal Party - Leader of the Opposition - Tasmania

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Hidding (who pronounces his first name "Reen") was born in the Netherlands and came to Tasmania in his youth. He was educated in Launceston, where he gained an Associate Diploma Business (Real Estate). He was a self-employed businessman (his companies included Hidding Trading Pty Ltd, Hiddings Mitre 10, Hiddings Building Services, Span Truss Systems and Hiddings Joinery) before entering politics. He was an Alderman on the Launceston City Council from 1985 to 1992. He was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Franklin in 1993.

Related Topics:
Netherlands - Launceston - Launceston City Council - 1985 - 1992 - Australian House of Representatives - Franklin - 1993

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In 1996 Hidding was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly for the multi-member seat of Lyons, which has the same boundaries as the federal seat of Lyons. He is the first person born in a non-English-speaking country elected to the Assembly. Between 1996 and 1998 Hidding held junior positions in the government of Tony Rundle, including Secretary to Cabinet, Deputy Chairman of Committees and a member of the Cabinet Budget Committee.

Related Topics:
1996 - Tasmanian House of Assembly - Lyons - 1998 - Tony Rundle

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After the Liberals lost office, Hidding was elected to the Opposition front bench as Deputy Opposition Leader in 1999 and in August 2002 he was elected Leader of the Opposition. He is also Shadow Minister for Tourism, Parks and Heritage and Shadow Minister for Resources and Energy.

Related Topics:
1999 - 2002

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