Harry Vernon Quick (28 June 1941 – 19 October 2024) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1993 until 2007, representing the electorate of Franklin in Tasmania. He sat as a member of the Labor Party from 1993 to 2007, when he was expelled from the party for failing to pay his membership dues. An outspoken maverick MP, he did not contest the 2007 federal election.

Early life

He was a teacher, education officer and electorate officer before entering politics. He worked for Senator Michael Tate prior to being elected to the House.

Quick was expelled from the ALP on 20 August 2007 for failing to pay his membership fees, and appearing with Liberal party representatives Vanessa Goodwin the candidate for Franklin and minister Joe Hockey when the preselected ALP candidate for Franklin was Tasmanian union official Kevin Harkins who Quick opposed. Harkins subsequently resigned as candidate after more controversy and Julie Collins was preselected as the candidate instead. He sat as an Independent member until his retirement.

In February 2009, Quick was reported to be seeking preselection for the Tasmanian Legislative Council division of Derwent as a representative of the Tasmanian Greens. He had joined the Greens in July 2008. Five days after announcing his intention to contest the seat held by Treasurer Michael Aird, Quick abruptly changed his mind, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

Quick was elected in the 2014 general Tasmanian council elections to Glenorchy City Council as alderman and was elected deputy mayor of Glenorchy, but defeated for both positions in 2018. Quick was elected in the 2022 general Tasmanian council elections to Glenorchy City Council as alderman.

References

  • Personal website