Robert Bell

Robert John Bell (22 July 1950 – 6 September 2001) was an Australian schoolteacher, politician and conservationist. He served as a Senator for Tasmania from 1990 to 1996, representing the Australian Democrats. He was the party's last elected official in Tasmania.

Early life Bell was born in Hobart on 22 July 1950. He spent his early years at Bronte Park where his father worked for the Hydro-Electric Commission. Bell was elected state president of the Democrats in 1988 and served on the Hobart City Council from 1988 to 1990. He began working for Senator Norm Sanders as a research officer and also stood unsuccessfully at the 1989 state election.

Senate Bell was elected to a six-year Senate term at the 1990 federal election, replacing Sanders as the Democrats' lead candidate in Tasmania. Sanders resigned his Tasmanian seat in March 1990 in order to stand for election to an Australian Capital Territory seat. Following Sanders' resignation, Bell was appointed to the casual vacancy on 10 April 1990 prior to the start of his statutory term on 1 July 1990. Bell later described Brown's campaign as "vicious, negative and personal" and began defamation proceedings after being portrayed as "pro-logging" by Brown's supporters.

Later life After leaving parliament, Bell operated a general store in Battery Point. He unsuccessfully stood for the state seat of Franklin at the 1998 state election and for the Senate at the 1998 federal election.

Bell died on 6 September 2001, aged 51, after suffering a fatal heart attack while driving between Wollongong and Port Kembla, New South Wales.