Darren Webber
Encyclopedia
Darren James Webber MP (born 29 June 1981 in Gosford
, New South Wales
, an Australian
politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
representing Wyong
on the Central Coast for the Liberal Party
since 2011
.
and trade school at Wyong
. Trained as an electrician, Webber owned a business installing home theatre systems and had a long involvement with local Surf Life Saving Club
s. While working, Webber was involved in a serious workplace accident and "experienced first hand the poor state of our hospitals", and subsequently made a decision to run for office.
which fell a month before polling day. At the 2011 state election, Webber was elected with a swing of 14.3 per cent and won the seat with 52.6 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis. Webber's main opponent was incumbent sitting Labor
member, David Harris
and is the first Liberal to represent Wyong.
Gosford, New South Wales
Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 76 km north of the Sydney central business district...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, an Australian
Australian people
Australian people, or simply Australians, are the citizens of Australia. Australia is a multi-ethnic nation, and therefore the term "Australian" is not a racial identifier. Aside from the Indigenous Australian population, nearly all Australians or their ancestors immigrated within the past 230 years...
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 Wyong
Electoral district of Wyong
Wyong is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. The district is a 44,017 km² urban and semi-rural electorate on the Central Coast. The main urban centres are the towns of Wyong, Toukley and Wyee...
on the Central Coast for the Liberal Party
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
With a family history in area dating back over sixty years, Webber attended primary school at Berkeley ValeBerkeley Vale, New South Wales
Berkeley Vale is a suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Wyong Shire local government area.Wyong Road is the main road that runs through Berkeley Vale...
and trade school at Wyong
Wyong, New South Wales
Wyong was proclaimed a town in 1888 and is currently a major northern suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, located approximately 89 km NNE of Sydney. It is the administrative centre for the Wyong Shire local government area.- History :...
. Trained as an electrician, Webber owned a business installing home theatre systems and had a long involvement with local Surf Life Saving Club
Surf Life Saving Club
Surf Life Saving Clubs are volunteer institutions at Australia's beaches. The clubs conduct surf lifesaving services on weekends and public holidays and host many beach sport activities, such as Nippers, surf carnivals and other competitions...
s. While working, Webber was involved in a serious workplace accident and "experienced first hand the poor state of our hospitals", and subsequently made a decision to run for office.
Political career
Preselected in 2010 by the Liberal Party, Webber is single and used this to his advantage during the election campaign by handing roses to potential voters on Valentine's DayValentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
which fell a month before polling day. At the 2011 state election, Webber was elected with a swing of 14.3 per cent and won the seat with 52.6 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis. Webber's main opponent was incumbent sitting Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member, David Harris
David Harris (Australian politician)
David Robert Harris is an Australian politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the electoral district of Wyong from 24 March 2007 until his defeat at the 2011 state election.-Personal life:Harris is one of three children born to...
and is the first Liberal to represent Wyong.