Geoff Prosser
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Daniel Prosser (born 6 November 1948), Australian
politician, was a Liberal
member of the
Australian House of Representatives
from July 1987 until the 2007 election, representing the Division of Forrest
, Western Australia.
Prosser was born in Bunbury
, Western Australia, and was a self-employed businessman and company director before entering politics. He was a member of the Bunbury City Council
1979–85.
Prosser was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry from 1990 to 1996. After the Liberal Party
's election at the March 1996 election, he was appointed Small Business and Consumer Affairs
in the Howard ministry
. On the basis of Liberal prime minister John Howard
's 1996 Guide on Key Elements of Ministerial Behaviour Geoff Prosser had to resign in July 1997 because of improper business dealings. He continued to be a major retail landlord, and this was seen to conflict with his responsibilities as Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs.
Prosser was believed to have been one of the wealthiest politicians in Federal Parliament, if not the wealthiest during his time as the member for Forrest.
On Saturday, 3 March 2007 The Australian
Newspaper published allegations made by former Western Australia Premier Brian Burke
that Prosser was a client of his and that Prosser had paid for lobbying services. There was no truth to the allegation. The paper also alleged that Prosser was recently seen dining with Julian Grill
, Burke's business partner.
Prosser retired at the 2007 federal election.
politician, was a Liberal
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...
member of the
Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
from July 1987 until the 2007 election, representing the Division of Forrest
Division of Forrest
The Division of Forrest is an Australian Electoral Division in Western Australia. The division was created in 1922 and is named for Sir John Forrest, the first Premier of Western Australia and a federal Cabinet minister. It is located in the south-western corner of the state, including the towns of...
, Western Australia.
Prosser was born in Bunbury
Bunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
, Western Australia, and was a self-employed businessman and company director before entering politics. He was a member of the Bunbury City Council
City of Bunbury
The City of Bunbury is a Local Government Area in the South West region of Western Australia, covering an area of along the coast about south of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. The council is responsible for just over half of the Greater Bunbury metropolitan area, and the Port of Bunbury...
1979–85.
Prosser was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry from 1990 to 1996. After 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...
's election at the March 1996 election, he was appointed Small Business and Consumer Affairs
Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Small Business is Nick Sherry, appointed on 14 September 2010. The Minister administers his portfolio through the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research...
in the Howard ministry
First Howard Ministry
The First Howard Ministry was the sixty-first Australian Commonwealth ministry....
. On the basis of Liberal prime minister John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
's 1996 Guide on Key Elements of Ministerial Behaviour Geoff Prosser had to resign in July 1997 because of improper business dealings. He continued to be a major retail landlord, and this was seen to conflict with his responsibilities as Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs.
Prosser was believed to have been one of the wealthiest politicians in Federal Parliament, if not the wealthiest during his time as the member for Forrest.
On Saturday, 3 March 2007 The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
Newspaper published allegations made by former Western Australia Premier Brian Burke
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...
that Prosser was a client of his and that Prosser had paid for lobbying services. There was no truth to the allegation. The paper also alleged that Prosser was recently seen dining with Julian Grill
Julian Grill
Julian Fletcher Grill is a former member of the Australian Labor Party and Member of the Parliament of Western Australia as the Member for Eyre....
, Burke's business partner.
Prosser retired at the 2007 federal election.