John D'Orazio
Encyclopedia
John Biase D'Orazio was a Western Australia
n politician. A pharmacist by trade, he served as mayor of the City of Bayswater from 1983 until 2000, then was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
electorate of Ballajura
in 2001, where he served until 2008.
Elected as a member of the Australian Labor Party
, D'Orazio briefly served as Minister for Police in the Carpenter Ministry
, but was dumped in May 2006 following a series of personal controversies. In August, he was forced to resign from the party due to corruption allegations, and sat as an independent. He was readmitted to the party in June 2008, but resigned again two months later after failing to win preselection to recontest his seat. He subsequently contested the 2008 state election
as an independent, but was unsuccessful.
In May 2006 D'Orazio was stripped of his portfolios after it was revealed that he had been driving for two months without a licence
after he had had a car accident in a ministerial vehicle. He had lost his licence after failing to pay several speeding fines He was forced to resign from the Party as a result.
By August 2006, D'Orazio was caught up in a corruption
investigation and had to front the Corruption and Crime Commission
to explain phone calls between himself and Pasquale Minniti, who allegedly was using his influence with officers in the Western Australian Police
force to have speeding fines dropped.
D'Orazio won a fight to rejoin the Labor Party in April 2008 when the Party decided it was better to accept his membership than endure a costly legal battle. After losing preselection for the seat of Morley to new Labor party member, Reece Whitby, D'Orazio quit the ALP in June 2008 and announced his decision to contest the seat of Morley as an independent. In the September 2008 election
the seat was won by the Liberals with the help of preferences directed by D'Orazio.
In 2006, D'Orazio introduced a private members bill instigating a three year trial of daylight saving in Western Australia, ahead of a referendum on the issue in 2009.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
n politician. A pharmacist by trade, he served as mayor of the City of Bayswater from 1983 until 2000, then was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
electorate of Ballajura
Electoral district of Ballajura
Ballajura was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1996 to 2005.The district was based in the north-eastern suburbs of Perth...
in 2001, where he served until 2008.
Elected as a member of the Australian Labor Party
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...
, D'Orazio briefly served as Minister for Police in the Carpenter Ministry
Carpenter Ministry
The Carpenter Ministry was the 34th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, and was led by Labor Premier Alan Carpenter and his deputy Eric Ripper...
, but was dumped in May 2006 following a series of personal controversies. In August, he was forced to resign from the party due to corruption allegations, and sat as an independent. He was readmitted to the party in June 2008, but resigned again two months later after failing to win preselection to recontest his seat. He subsequently contested the 2008 state election
Western Australian state election, 2008
A general election was held in the state of Western Australia on Saturday 6 September 2008 to elect 59 members to the Legislative Assembly and 36 members to the Legislative Council...
as an independent, but was unsuccessful.
Biography
Appointed as minister of justice and small business in 2005, he was then given the portfolios for police, emergency services, justice and community safety in February 2006.In May 2006 D'Orazio was stripped of his portfolios after it was revealed that he had been driving for two months without a licence
Driver's license
A driver's license/licence , or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car, truck or a bus, on a public roadway. Most U.S...
after he had had a car accident in a ministerial vehicle. He had lost his licence after failing to pay several speeding fines He was forced to resign from the Party as a result.
By August 2006, D'Orazio was caught up in a corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
investigation and had to front the Corruption and Crime Commission
Corruption and Crime Commission
The Corruption and Crime Commission is a permanent investigative commission established by the Government of Western Australia in 2003, largely as a result of the findings of a Royal Commission into the state's police service. Its role is to investigate public corruption...
to explain phone calls between himself and Pasquale Minniti, who allegedly was using his influence with officers in the Western Australian Police
Western Australia Police
The Western Australia Police services an area of 2.5 million square kilometres, the world's largest non-federated area of jurisdiction. In 2008, its 7,526 employees included 5,647 police officers.-History:-Early history:...
force to have speeding fines dropped.
D'Orazio won a fight to rejoin the Labor Party in April 2008 when the Party decided it was better to accept his membership than endure a costly legal battle. After losing preselection for the seat of Morley to new Labor party member, Reece Whitby, D'Orazio quit the ALP in June 2008 and announced his decision to contest the seat of Morley as an independent. In the September 2008 election
Western Australian state election, 2008
A general election was held in the state of Western Australia on Saturday 6 September 2008 to elect 59 members to the Legislative Assembly and 36 members to the Legislative Council...
the seat was won by the Liberals with the help of preferences directed by D'Orazio.
In 2006, D'Orazio introduced a private members bill instigating a three year trial of daylight saving in Western Australia, ahead of a referendum on the issue in 2009.