John Knight (Australian politician)

John William Knight (20 November 1943 – 4 March 1981) was an Australian politician and diplomat. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served as a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) from 1975 until his death in 1981, as one of the first two senators from the ACT.

Knight was born and raised in Armidale, New South Wales. He completed a history degree at the University of New England and later undertook postgraduate studies at the University of Hawaii. He joined the Department of External Affairs on graduating and held diplomatic posts in India, Fiji and Saudi Arabia. He also briefly worked as senior private secretary to Liberal opposition leader Billy Snedden.

In 1975, the ACT and the Northern Territory each became entitled to elect two senators to the Senate, and John Knight (Liberal) and Susan Ryan (Labor) were elected as the ACT's first two senators on 13 December 1975. He was re-elected at the 1977 election. John Knight represented the Commonwealth government at the bicentenary celebrations of Captain James Cook's arrival in Hawaii, in January 1978. In March 1978 he was appointed the Government Deputy Whip in the Senate.