Chas Hopkins Explained
Charles Hopkins is an Australian politician and businessman. He was the Lord Mayor of Perth from 1988 to 1991.[1]
Hopkins was elected to the City of Perth council in 1975 at the age of 26, making him the youngest Perth councillor ever elected.[2] He served as Deputy Lord Mayor from 1980 to 1981.[3] Hopkins was elected Lord Mayor in 1988, defeating two-term incumbent Mick Michael, and also becoming the youngest Lord Mayor.[4] He ran for re-election in 1991, but was defeated by former Liberal Senator Reg Withers.[5]
Hopkins again ran for Lord Mayor in 2003, his first bid for council since his 1991 loss, but was defeated by incumbent mayor Peter Nattrass.[6] [7] He contested councillor positions for the City of Perth at both the 2009 and 2011 elections, but was unsuccessful on both occasions.[8] [9] Hopkins was the Labor candidate for the federal seat of Cowan at the 2010 election, a late replacement after initial candidate and then Wanneroo mayor Jon Kelly resigned from the race.[10] He attracted attention during the campaign for criticising the Labor government's mining tax as too tough on the resources sector, and promised to lobby for changes.[11] He was defeated by incumbent Liberal MP Luke Simpkins.[12]
Hopkins is a long-time office furniture and design retailer outside politics, and is a former auctioneer.[13] [14] He has also been involved with a number of proposed developments, including an unsuccessful attempt to purchase Raine Square in 2002, a proposed resort in Rockingham, and a housing estate in Sydney.[15] [16] [17] He is the uncle of state Labor MP and former Police Minister Michelle Roberts.[18] Hopkins was made a "Freeman of the City [of Perth]" in 2008.[19]
He contested the 2019 Australian federal election for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party.[20]
Notes and References
- News: Hopkins joins race for mayor . The West Australian . 19 March 2003 . Peace, Bronwyn.
- News: Gen Y rises to dismiss apathy slur . The West Australian . 29 September 2013 . 18 November 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305041102/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/19153700/gen-y-rises-to-dismiss-apathy-slur/ . 5 March 2016 . dmy-all .
- News: Former Lord Mayor joins race . Western Suburbs Weekly . 15 September 2009 . 18 November 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141215024849/http://westernsuburbs.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Former-Lord-Mayor-joins-race/7535746/ . 15 December 2014 . dmy-all .
- News: Who'd want to be Mayor?: The outsiders . The West Australian . 5 April 2003 . Aisbett, Norman.
- News: Withers is Perth's new Lord Mayor . The Age . 6 May 1991 . Waddacor, Gill.
- News: Hopkins joins race for mayor . The West Australian . 19 March 2003 . Peace, Bronwyn.
- News: He's back: Nattrass wins Mayor race . The Sunday Times . 4 May 2003 . Butler, Bruce . Hellard, Peta.
- News: New mayors for Freo, Bayswater . WA Business News . 19 October 2009 . Malongo, Jackline.
- Web site: 2011 Ordinary Election Perth Results . Western Australian Electoral Commission . 18 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129025838/http://www.elections.wa.gov.au/elections/local/669062CC-B843-4173-B089-0821CD33F6DE/results/Perth . 29 November 2014 . dead .
- News: Hopkins gets nod for Cowan . The West Australian . 13 April 2010 .
- News: Miners paying their way on tax: Abbott . The Courier-Mail . 27 May 2010 . Balogh, Stefanie . Chalmers, Emma.
- News: Local issues key to victory . The Sunday Times . 22 August 2010 . Towie, Narelle.
- News: Hopkins joins race for mayor . The West Australian . 19 March 2003 . Peace, Bronwyn.
- News: Race on to run city . The West Australian . 5 April 2003. Kennedy, Elicia.
- News: Group buys Raine Square . The West Australian . 29 May 2002 . Peacock, Sue.
- News: Plug pulled on Raine Square plan . The West Australian . 14 April 2004 . Low, Catie.
- News: Estate tops $1b . Macarthur Chronicle . 3 February 2009 .
- News: Hopkins joins race for mayor . The West Australian . 19 March 2003 . Peace, Bronwyn.
- News: Former Lord Mayor joins race . Western Suburbs Weekly . 15 September 2009 . 18 November 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141215024849/http://westernsuburbs.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Former-Lord-Mayor-joins-race/7535746/ . 15 December 2014 . dmy-all .
- Web site: Chas Hopkins . United Australia Party . 30 August 2019.