Keith Wright (Australian politician)
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| Keith Wright | |
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| Member of the Australian Parliament for Capricornia |
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| In office 1 December 1984 – 13 March 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Doug Everingham |
| Succeeded by | Marjorie Henzell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 January 1942 Toowoomba, Queensland |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Alma mater | University of Queensland |
| Occupation | Teacher |
Keith Webb Wright (born 9 January 1942) is a former Australian politician and convicted rapist. Born in Toowoomba, Queensland, he was educated at the University of Queensland and Kelvin Grove Teachers College in Brisbane before becoming a teacher and author.
In 1969, he was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly as the Labor member for Rockhampton. In 1982, he became Leader of the Opposition, with Labor in 1983 coming within one seat (and perhaps 3,000 votes) of toppling the National Party government led by Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.[1] Wright remained opposition leader until he left the Assembly in 1984, transferring to federal politics as the Labor MP for Capricornia in the Australian House of Representatives.
In 1993, he was charged with child sex offenses and rape, and as a result lost his Labor endorsement.[2] He contested the 1993 election as an independent, gaining 5.9% of the vote but losing to endorsed ALP candidate Marjorie Henzell. In December 1993 he was convicted of child sex offenses and rape and jailed for more than five years.[1]
In 2006, the Australian Electoral Commission formed a new electoral division, taking territory from Capricornia and the neighbouring divisions of Hinkler, Maranoa and Wide Bay. The Commission suggested naming it the "Division of Wright" in honour of the poet Judith Wright,[3] but inevitable association with Keith Wright led them to name it instead the Division of Flynn after John Flynn, founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A Division of Wright, named after Judith Wright and based in the Gold Coast Hinterland, was first contested at the 2010 election.
Wright now runs a company, International Language Academy, which trains ESOL[disambiguation needed 
] teachers in Southeast Asia.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Keith Wright says sorry for sexual sins that landed him in jail". The Courier-Mail. 18 December 2009. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/keith-wright-says-sorry-for-sexual-sins-that-landed-him-in-jail/story-e6freoof-1225811521901.
- ^ Carr, Adam. "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/1993/1993repsqld.txt. Retrieved 2011-04-31.
- ^ "Public inquiry to reassess 'Wright' seat name". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 August 2006. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/08/21/1719709.htm. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
| Parliament of Australia | ||
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| Preceded by Colin Carige |
Member for Capricornia 1984–1993 |
Succeeded by Marjorie Henzell |
[edit] External links
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- 1941 births
- Living people
- Australian Labor Party politicians
- Independent politicians in Australia
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Capricornia
- Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
- People from Toowoomba
- Australian politicians convicted of crimes
- Leaders of the Opposition in Queensland
- Australia Labor Party, Representative stubs
