Harper, Neville John (Nev)
Personal
Birth Date:
10 September 1926 (Brisbane, Queensland)
Death Date:
29 September 2023 ()
Parents:
Neville Barclay Harper and Hazel Jane (nee Gardner)
Family:
Married Marjorie Pointon on 12 November 1949 (deceased), 2 daughters, Married to Karen Harper
Education:
New Farm State School; Nundah State School; Brisbane Grammar School
Religion:
Church of England
Career
Registered rural and urban valuer; Developed property for stud and commercial Poll Hereford beef cattle; Manager, Mactaggarts in Cunnamulla, 1952; Stock and station agent with Mactaggarts PPCA, 1952; Managed cattle properties, Barmundu and Kingaroy
Local Government Service:
Councillor, Taroom Shire Council, March 1976 to March 1982
Military Service:
Served in the Royal Australian Navy, 1945 to 1947; Served as a Sub Lieutenant, HMAS Hawkesbury and 20th Minesweeping Flotilla
Party Positions:
- Chairman, Rural Policy Committee. 1981
- Member, State Finance Committee. 1979 - 1980
- Vice-President, National Party (Queensland). 1976 - 1980
- Maranoa Federal Campaign Director, 1974 and 1975.
- Senior Vice-Chairman, Auburn Electoral Council. 1972 - 1980
- President, Maranoa Divisional Council. 1972 - 1977
- Chairman, Roma Electorate Council. 1969 - 1972
- Chairman, Defence and Foreign Affairs Policy Committee. 1977 - 1981
- Member, Rural Beef Industry and Lands Policy committees.
- President, Wandoan Branch.
- Membership Coordinator for Queensland. 1978 - 1980
Parliamentary Representation
| House | Party | Electorate | From | To | Elected/Departure Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly | NP | Auburn | 29 Nov 1980 | 19 Sep 1992 |
Parliamentary Service
| Description | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow Attorney-General | 1991 | |
| Opposition Spokesman on Employment, Training and Industrial Relations, and the Public Service | 1990 | |
| Member, Parliamentary Criminal Justice Committee | 1990 | 1992 |
| Leader of the House | 1989 | |
| Minister for Land Management | 25 Sep 1989 | 7 Dec 1989 |
| Minister for Primary Industries | 9 Dec 1987 | 25 Sep 1989 |
| Minister for Primary Industries (dismissed) | 1 Dec 1986 | 1 Dec 1987 |
| Delegate, Australian Constitutional Convention | 1985 | |
| Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the United States and Canada | 1983 | |
| Minister for Justice and Attorney-General | 19 Aug 1983 | 1 Dec 1986 |
Additional Information
Notes:
Interests include legacy, politics, lawn bowls, horse sports and stud cattle breeding; Past Sub-branch President and Subdistrict Vice-President, Returned and Services League; Member, Legacy Club, Brisbane, since 1961; Foundation Member and Honorary Secretary, Wandoan Bowling Club, 1972 to 1975; As Attorney-General he established an independent Director of Public Prosecutions, appointed more senior judges to the District and Supreme Courts and appointed Executive Officers to lessen the administrative load of senior judges. He also was responsible for legislation including a new Building Societies Act and the development of a Secondary Mortgage Market Board
Sources:
Queensland Parliamentary Library, Queensland Parliamentary Handbook, Brisbane, 1991; Image sourced from the collection of the Queensland Parliamentary Library and Research Service
[Last Modified: Thursday, 05 October 2023]