Grant Tambling

Grant Tambling AM
Member of the Australian Parliament for Northern Territory
In office 18 October 1980 – 5 March 1983
Preceded by	Sam Calder
Succeeded by	John Reeves
Senator for Northern Territory
In office 11 July 1987 – 9 November 2001
Preceded by	Bernie Kilgariff
Succeeded by	Nigel Scullion
Administrator of Norfolk Island
In office 1 November 2003 – 7 August 2007
Preceded by	Michael Stephens
Succeeded by	Owen Walsh
Personal details
Born	(1943-06-20) 20 June 1943 Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Spouse(s)	Sandy Tambling

Grant Ernest John Tambling, AM (born 20 June 1943) is an Australian politician and former Administrator of Norfolk Island.

Tambling was born and raised in Darwin in the Northern Territory, and studied both there and in Adelaide. After a stint in local government on the Darwin City Council, Tambling was elected to the first Northern Territory Legislative Assembly as the Country Liberal Party member for Fannie Bay. Tambling served as Executive Member for Community Development in this first parliament. This was the same as a ministerial position in later years, though that title was not used until self-government was granted in 1978.

In 1975 he became Deputy Majority Leader and despite his position, Tambling was defeated at the 1977 election by Australian Labor Party candidate Pam O'Neil, and began a career in business. He served as the member for the Northern Territory electorate in the House of Representatives from 1980 to 1983, but was again defeated by an ALP rival, John Reeves.

After four years out of parliament, Tambling was once again elected - this time to the Senate - at the 1987 federal election. He ironically replaced Bernie Kilgariff whom he had earlier replaced as Deputy Majority leader. He is the only Territorian to have served in both houses of federal parliament. He spent fourteen years as a Senator, six of them as a parliamentary secretary, before being disendorsed by the CLP at the 2001 election for voting in favour of anti-Internet gaming legislation. Tambling subsequently retired from politics, and after two years working in private consultancy, was appointed as the Administrator of Norfolk Island 1 November 2003 to September 2007. He is married with two adult children.

References

Government offices
Preceded by Michael Stephens	Administrator of Norfolk Island 2003–2007	Succeeded by Owen Walsh
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
New seat	Member for Fannie Bay 1974–1977	Succeeded by Pam O'Neil
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Sam Calder	Member for Northern Territory 1980–1983	Succeeded by John Reeves
Preceded by Bernie Kilgariff	Senator for the Northern Territory 1987–2001 Served alongside: Bob Collins, Trish Crossin	Succeeded by Nigel Scullion