Peter Underwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Underwood
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Underwood in 2012
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| 27th Governor of Tasmania | |
| In office 2 April 2008 – 7 July 2014 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Premier | Paul Lennon (2008) David Bartlett (2008–11) Lara Giddings (2011–14) Will Hodgman (2014) |
| Preceded by | William Cox |
| Succeeded by | Kate Warner |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Peter George Underwood
10 October 1937 United Kingdom |
| Died | 7 July 2014 (aged 76) Hobart, Tasmania |
| Citizenship | Australian |
| Spouse | Frances Underwood |
| Alma mater | University of Tasmania |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of Australia |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Royal Australian Navy |
| Rank | Sub-Lieutenant |
Peter George Underwood (10 October 1937 – 7 July 2014) was an important Australian legal expert. He served as the Governor of Tasmania from 2008 until he passed away in 2014. Before that, he was the main judge, known as the Chief Justice of Tasmania, from 2004 to 2008. He had been a judge in Tasmania's highest court, the Supreme Court of Tasmania, since 1984.
Early Life and Legal Career
Peter Underwood was born in the United Kingdom on 10 October 1937. He moved to Australia in 1950. He served in the Royal Australian Navy as a sub-lieutenant.
He studied at the University of Tasmania and finished in 1960. After that, he worked as a lawyer in Hobart. For over 20 years, he was a very skilled lawyer in court trials. In August 1984, he became a judge of the Supreme Court.
Underwood also taught law at the University of Tasmania. He helped lawyers learn how to argue cases in court. He taught in many parts of Australia, and even in Hong Kong and London.
He was very interested in making court rules better and simpler. He was one of the first to use new ways to manage court cases in Tasmania in 1989. He also helped use technology to make a judge's work easier.
Peter Underwood was involved in his community too. He was the chairman for the Friends' School board from 1989 to 1994. He also led the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Board from 1997 to 2006.
In 2001, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. This was to recognize his great work in legal education, the arts, and justice. In June 2002, he was given the Officer of the Order of Australia award.
On 2 December 2004, Underwood became the Chief Justice of Tasmania. This meant he was the most senior judge in the state. He also held other important roles, like being a leader in an Australian judicial group.
Governor of Tasmania
On 3 March 2008, the Premier of Tasmania, Paul Lennon, announced that Peter Underwood would be the next Governor of Tasmania. He officially started this role on 2 April 2008. On 8 June 2009, he received an even higher award, the Companion of the Order of Australia.
In 2010, the state election ended with no single party winning enough seats to form a government. This is called a "hung parliament." The Premier, David Bartlett, suggested that the leader of the other main party, Will Hodgman, should become premier. However, after talking to both leaders, Governor Underwood decided that Bartlett should continue as premier. He explained his decision carefully, noting that the current premier usually gets the first chance to form a government if no party has a clear majority.
On 24 September 2012, Peter Underwood's time as Governor was extended until 1 April 2016.
Anzac Day Speech
On 25 April 2014, Peter Underwood gave a speech on Anzac Day in Hobart. Anzac Day remembers soldiers who served for Australia and New Zealand. In his speech, he said people should not make war seem glorious. He suggested that the 100-year anniversary of the First World War should be called "the Year of Peace." He also called for Australia to create a place to study peace, conflict, and war. He thought some money meant for Anzac celebrations should go to peace studies instead.
His speech caused strong reactions from some people in the media. However, the outgoing president of RSL Tasmania (a group for veterans) praised his speech. Peter Underwood passed away before any further action was taken regarding his speech.
Death
Peter Underwood died while still in office on 7 July 2014. He had surgery in early June to remove a kidney tumor. He returned to work briefly in late June but then became unwell again.
