Chris Spence (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Edward Francis (Chris) Spence MP (born ca. 1975), an Australia
n politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
representing The Entrance
for the Liberal Party of Australia
since 2011
.
and his wife, federal politician Belinda Neal
were accused of threatening and abusing the staff of Iguana Joe's restaurant. Spence provided the paperwork, and witnessed the statutory declarations of six employees of Iguana Joe's restaurant which was presented as evidence against Della Bosca and Neal. The scandal resulted in John Della Bosca being stood down from his ministerial position, and Belinda Neal being sent to anger management counselling.
. In November, 2009, he was preselected as the Liberal Party's candidate for The Entrance. Spence's endorsement caused uproar in the New South Wales Parliament over his former One Nation political involvement. In Parliament, the Premier, Nathan Rees
attacked the Liberal Party for selecting Spence as a candidate. Eric Roozendaal
said it represented a rise in extremism in the Liberal Party, and called for Spence to be disendorsed as a candidate.
At the 2011 state election, Spence was elected with a swing of 11.1 per cent and won the seat with 62.5 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis. Following the earlier announcement that Grant McBride
, the sitting member would not re-contest the election, Spence's main opponent was David Mehan, representing Labor.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
representing The Entrance
Electoral district of The Entrance
The Entrance is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is represented by Chris Spence of the Liberal Party of Australia who defeated Labor candidate David Mehan at the State Election in 2011...
for the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
since 2011
New South Wales state election, 2011
Elections to the 55th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 26 March 2011. The 16-year incumbent Australian Labor Party government led by Premier Kristina Keneally was defeated in a landslide by the Liberal-National coalition opposition led by Barry O'Farrell.New South Wales has...
.
Early career and background
Before becoming an MP, Spence came to prominence when he played a key role in what became known as the Iguanagate Affair, in which the New South Wales Minister for Education, John Della BoscaJohn Della Bosca
John Joseph Della Bosca is a former Australian politician, representing the Australian Labor Party in the New South Wales Legislative Council...
and his wife, federal politician Belinda Neal
Belinda Neal
Belinda Jane Neal , a former Australian federal politician, was a Member of the House of Representatives representing the electorate of Robertson between 2007 and 2010; and representing the state of New South Wales in the Senate from 1994 to 1998, both of behalf of the Australian Labor...
were accused of threatening and abusing the staff of Iguana Joe's restaurant. Spence provided the paperwork, and witnessed the statutory declarations of six employees of Iguana Joe's restaurant which was presented as evidence against Della Bosca and Neal. The scandal resulted in John Della Bosca being stood down from his ministerial position, and Belinda Neal being sent to anger management counselling.
Politcal career
Spence joined the Liberal Party in his 30's, working as Electoral Officer for Liberal politician Chris HartcherChris Hartcher
Christopher "Chris" Peter Hartcher MP , an Australian politician, is the New South Wales Minister for Resources and Energy, Special Minister of State and Minister for the Central Coast in the O'Farrell-Stoner Liberal/National coalitition government...
. In November, 2009, he was preselected as the Liberal Party's candidate for The Entrance. Spence's endorsement caused uproar in the New South Wales Parliament over his former One Nation political involvement. In Parliament, the Premier, Nathan Rees
Nathan Rees
Nathan Rees MP, , an Australian politician, was the 41st Premier of New South Wales and parliamentary leader of the New South Wales division of the Australian Labor Party from September 2008 to December 2009...
attacked the Liberal Party for selecting Spence as a candidate. Eric Roozendaal
Eric Roozendaal
Eric Roozendaal is an Australian politician, serving as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 2004. He is a former General Secretary of the Australian Labor Party....
said it represented a rise in extremism in the Liberal Party, and called for Spence to be disendorsed as a candidate.
At the 2011 state election, Spence was elected with a swing of 11.1 per cent and won the seat with 62.5 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis. Following the earlier announcement that Grant McBride
Grant McBride
Grant Anthony McBride , a former Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of The Entrance on the New South Wales Central Coast for the Australian Labor Party between 1992 and 2011.-Personal life:McBride is a qualified engineer who...
, the sitting member would not re-contest the election, Spence's main opponent was David Mehan, representing Labor.