Don Wing

The Honourable Don Wing AM
President of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
In office 2002–2008
Preceded by	Ray Bailey
Succeeded by	Sue Smith
Member of the Legislative Council for Launceston
In office 22 May 1982 – 7 May 2011
Preceded by	Ray Shipp
Succeeded by	Rosemary Armitage
Personal details
Born	(1938-04-27)27 April 1938 Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia
Died	1 October 2026(2026-10-01) (aged 88) Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Party	Independent
Other political affiliations	Liberal Party

Donald George Wing AM (27 April 1938 – 1 October 2026) was an Australian politician. A member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council from 1982 to 2011, representing the electoral division of Launceston (briefly named Paterson), he was President of the Legislative Council from 2002 until 2008. Wing was also Mayor of Launceston from 1983 to 1987.

Early life

Wing was born in Ulverstone to Roy and Ruby Wing. He had two brothers and a sister.

Career

Wing was first elected to the Legislative Council on 22 May 1982. He was a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania and before entering parliament practised as a barrister.^{[citation needed]} He has served as an Alderman of the Launceston City Council and as Mayor thereof; a path that was later followed by fellow conservative independent MLC Ivan Dean. He has vocally supported Dean in the face of criticism for holding both positions at once, arguing that his own experience shows that such a career is workable.^{[citation needed]}

Although Wing was a former president of the Tasmanian branch of the Liberal Party, he has always served as an independent in the Legislative Council due to his party's stance of not endorsing partisan candidates to the body and instead backing conservative independents. He announced that he would not contest his seat at the next election in May 2011, and relinquished the presidency to allow himself more scope to debate issues on the floor of the Legislative Council chamber.^{[citation needed]}

Death

Wing died in Launceston on 1 October 2026, at the age of 88.

External links

• "Wing, Don". Members of the Parliament of Tasmania. Retrieved 24 July 2022.

References