Matt Robson

For the 2000s/2010s footballer, see Matty Robson. For the 1910s/1920s footballer, see Matt Robson (footballer).
The Honourable
Matt Robson
Deputy Leader of the Progressive Party
In office
2002–2012
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Position abolished
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Alliance list
In office
1996  2002
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Progressive Party list
In office
2002  2005
Personal details
Born (1950-01-05) 5 January 1950
Brisbane, Australia
Nationality Australia
New Zealand
Political party Progressive (2002–2012)
Alliance (1991–2002)
Labour (before 1989)
Occupation Teacher
Profession Lawyer

Matthew Peter (Matt) Robson (born 5 January 1950) is a New Zealand politician. He was deputy leader of the Progressive Party, and served in the Parliament from 1996 to 2005, first as a member of the Alliance, then as a Progressive.

Early years

Robson was born in Brisbane, Australia. He attained an MA (Hons) in Political Studies and later studied law, and worked both as a lawyer and a teacher. He also spent three years in the Netherlands as a technical editor.

Robson was originally a member of the Labour Party, holding several positions within the party organisation. He was deeply opposed to the policies of Roger Douglas, the Labour Party's Minister of Finance, and when Jim Anderton, a Labour MP, quit the party, Robson followed him. Robson was heavily involved in the establishment of Anderton's NewLabour Party, which later became the core of the Alliance.

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate List Party
19961999 45th List 7 Alliance
19992002 46th List 3 Alliance
20022005 47th List 2 Progressive

Robson was elected to Parliament as an Alliance list MP in the 1996 election, and again in the 1999 election, having stood in Maungakiekie, and coming in third place at both elections. In the Labour-Alliance coalition government (1999–2002), Robson was Minister of Corrections, Minister for Courts, Minister for Land Information, and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (with responsibility for foreign aid). Towards the end of 1999, however, the Alliance began to collapse, with a rift opening between the party organisation and its parliamentary leadership. In this dispute, Robson sided with the parliamentary leader, Anderton. When Anderton finally left the Alliance and established the Progressive Coalition (later renamed as the Progressive Party), Robson followed him and became the new party's deputy leader. In the 2002 election, the Progressives only won 1.7% of the vote. However, Anderton easily held onto his seat, allowing Robson (standing in Manukau East, where he came fifth), as the 2nd-ranked person on the Progressive list, to return to Parliament. However, the Progressives' strength was considerably weaker compared to that of the Alliance in 1999, so Robson lost his cabinet posts.

Robson has a relatively high public profile, compared to the size of his party, and is known for his views on foreign affairs and justice. Along with the Green Party's Keith Locke, Robson campaigned on behalf of detained asylum-seeker Ahmed Zaoui. In 2002, Robson introduced a Private Member's bill providing for four weeks of paid annual leave for all workers, a proposal that the Labour Party initially opposed. Robson's legislation, however, ultimately forced Labour to either vote in favour of the bill or risk alienating its trade union supporters, who vociferously advocated it. The legislation was passed into law with Labour's support and took effect in 2007. Robson also introduced legislation to raise the minimum alcohol purchasing age to 20, and in Parliament espoused policies to combat drug and alcohol abuse.

In the 2005 election, the Progressive vote collapsed further, and this time was not enough for Robson to remain in Parliament. He returned to practising law. In the 2008 election he was again a candidate in Maungakiekie, but did poorly, finishing fifth, with 2.22% of the vote.[1] The Progressives received just under one percent of the party vote, not enough for Robson to be returned to Parliament.[2]

Despite having achieved high political office in New Zealand, Robson did not become a naturalised citizen until 2000. Under the terms of New Zealand's Electoral Act 1993, anyone permanently resident before August 1975 has the right to vote and stand for election.[3]

References

Political offices
Preceded by
Clem Simich
Minister of Corrections
1999–2002
Succeeded by
Paul Swain
Party political offices
New political party Deputy Leader of the Progressive Party
2002–2012
Party dissolved

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