Stephen Paul Hatton (born 28 January 1948) is an Australian politician, who was Chief Minister of the Northern Territory of Australia from 1986 to 1988.[1] From 1983 until his retirement in 2001, he was MLA for the seat of Nightcliff. He first became a minister in December 1984 in the Ian Tuxworth government.[2]

Stephen Hatton
3rd Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
In office
15 May 1986 – 13 July 1988
DeputyBarry Coulter (1986–1987, 1987–1988)
Ray Hanrahan (1987)
Preceded byIan Tuxworth
Succeeded byMarshall Perron
Member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
for Nightcliff
In office
3 December 1983 – 17 August 2001
Preceded byDawn Lawrie
Succeeded byJane Aagaard
Personal details
Born
Stephen Paul Hatton

(1948-01-28) 28 January 1948 (age 76)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyCountry Liberal Party
Alma materUniversity of New South Wales
CabinetHatton Ministry
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Years Term Electoral division Party
1983–1987 4th Nightcliff Country Liberal
1987–1990 5th Nightcliff Country Liberal
1990–1994 6th Nightcliff Country Liberal
1994–1997 7th Nightcliff Country Liberal
1997–2001 8th Nightcliff Country Liberal

He played an important role in the referendum for statehood for the Northern Territory in 1998. He had served for many years on a bipartisan committee of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, which had recommended a constitution and an elected Constitutional Assembly to give it further consideration. The then Chief Minister, Shane Stone put forward a different constitution to a non-elected Constitutional Assembly. Steve Hatton was prominent in opposing this kind of statehood. The referendum failed, and he was reported as saying "One of the campaign slogans at the time was: 'we want statehood, not Stonehood'".[3]

References

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Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Nightcliff
1983–2001
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
1986–1988
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Country Liberal Party
1986–1988
Succeeded by