Career
He first stood for election in 1972 but was unable to meet the required quota of 4,707 votes. From 1973 to 1974, he worked as a press secretary for Deputy Prime Minister Lance Barnard. In 1974, he stood for election again and was the second candidate elected in the Division of Bass (following Liberal member Neil Robson).
He held his seat from 26 July 1974 until 1992, and was Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly from May 1975 to December 1976.
Holgate only stayed in office for seven months, before being defeated by Robin Gray"s Liberals at the 1982 election--only the second time in 48 years that Labor had been consigned to opposition in Tasmania. Holgate died of cancer in Launceston on 16 March 1997.
