John Maddison

John Clarkson Maddison (4 September 192129 August 1982) was a New South Wales politician, Attorney General, Minister for Justice and Deputy Leader for the Liberal Party of New South Wales in the cabinets of Robert Askin, Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis until the Liberal party lost the 1976 election. Maddison was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the Electoral district of Hornsby in 1962 until 1973 and thereon as member for Ku-ring-gai until his retirement in 1980.

Early life Maddison was born in Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia, in 1921, the son of George Edgar Maddison, a company director from New Zealand, and Frances Mary Maddison (née Patterson). After early education at Sydney Grammar School, Maddison began an arts degree at the University of Sydney but interrupted university studies to enlist upon the outbreak of the Second World War. He later gained his BA in 1942. Maddison was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force, 53rd Anti-Aircraft Regiment, on 2 August 1942, serving in Borneo and the Philippines.

Being discharged on 22 January 1946, he resumed his studies and gained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1948. Maddison was admitted as a solicitor in 1948, with Ralph S.B Sillar and Maddison and became a public notary in 1965. He became the vice president of the Constitutional Association of Australia from 1959 until 1964. Maddison married Suzanne Barry-Smith on 14 October 1953 and together had 2 daughters and a son.

Maddison stood for preselection for the Legislative Assembly seat of Hornsby and gained it over the sitting member, Sydney Storey, who later resigned from the party as stood as an Independent Liberal candidate. Despite this, Maddison was elected at the 1962 election with 54.24% of the vote and went on to hold the seat at a further three elections. Following the Liberal Party victory at the 1965 election under Robert Askin, Maddison was appointed a Minister of the Crown as Minister for Justice, a portfolio he held until the Liberals lost government in 1976. In 1971, Maddison was made a Councillor at Macquarie University, a position which he held until 1978. However, when Coleman emerged as leader he was made Shadow Minister for Justice, Shadow Minister for Federal Affairs, Shadow Minister for Cultural Activities from 20 December 1977 until 7 October 1978, when Coleman was lost his seat. Maddison the contested the vacant leadership against Jim Cameron and acting Leader John Mason. When Mason emerged successful as the new Leader, Maddison expressed that he was "a little aghast" at the result. Despite this, Mason appointed him as Shadow Attorney General and Shadow Minister for Justice on 2 November 1978. It was to be his last political appointment which he held until his retirement from Parliament on 4 July 1980.

After parliament Following his retirement, Maddison continued to involve himself in a wide range of community affairs as a member of the Law Foundation of New South Wales, the Returned Services League of Australia, and as the Chairman of directors of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of New South Wales. He died on 29 August 1982.