Jonathan O'Dea
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Richard O'Dea MP (born 9 March 1966), an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
representing Davidson
for the Liberal Party of Australia
since 2007.
, and attended the University of Sydney
where he gained a Bachelor of Arts (BA), a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Master of Laws (LLM). He has also undertaken further studies and was awarded a Graduate Diploma of Legal Studies and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD). While at university, O'Dea was the Vice-President of the University of Sydney Students' Representative Council
between 1986 and 1987.
Admitted as a solicitor, O'Dea practiced for five years before moving into commercial and senior management roles. He joined the Liberal Party in 1994, serving in numerous capacities, and was elected as a Councillor
on North Sydney Council
from 1991 until 1995.
In addition to his regular work, from 1995 to 2009 he was a non-executive board director with the private health insurer HCF
. From 2000 to 2004, O'Dea also served part-time as Deputy Convenor for the Australian Classification Review Board.
, following the resignation of the sitting member and Opposition leader, John Brogden. However, O'Dea did not stand in the subsequent by-election and Pittwater fell to Alex McTaggart
, running as an independent
candidate.
In a Liberal Party preselection battle before the 2007 State election, O'Dea defeated the sitting member for Davidson, Andrew Humpherson
. Humpherson had cross-factional backing among many delegates, but had lost support in local branches after reportedly instructing party members to quit branches supportive of O'Dea, thereby reducing their voting power. Despite Humpherson having the support of the Party Leader
, Peter Debnam
, O'Dea won the vote 54 votes to 52 and Humpherson chose to not re-contest the election. In March 2007, O'Dea was elected to Parliament with a majority of 24.7 per cent. In June 2007, he was appointed a Member of the Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). From 2008 in Opposition, O'Dea served as the Chair of the NSW Coalition WasteWatch Committee. In 2011 he was elected Chair of the crucial cross-party Public Accounts Committee of the NSW Parliament.
In September 2009, O'Dea was accused in a local newspaper, the Manly Daily
, of failing to adequately represent his constituents, by Ku Ring Gai
Councillor Tony Hall, who urged O'Dea to "get off his backside" and lobby New South Wales Planning Minister Kristina Keneally
to protect the area from excessive development. O'Dea responded, defending his record: "Along with (Opposition Leader and MP for Ku-ring-gai) Barry O’Farrell I have fought long and hard against inappropriate planning and overdevelopment...in the past 12 months I have taken part in 30 formal meetings with authorities and community representatives regarding Ku-ring-gai planning matters, three involved the planning minister and community representatives".
On 18 October 2010, the Liberal Party announced that O'Dea had been endorsed as the party's candidate for Davidson ahead of the 2011 State election
. O'Dea was elected with a swing of 13.8 per cent and won the seat with 86.5 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis. His main competitor was Labor's Mathew Gilliland.
with his wife Jacqueline and their four children.
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 Davidson
Electoral district of Davidson
Davidson is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Jonathan O'Dea of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for Davidson:-Election results:...
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 2007.
Early life
O'Dea was born in Sydney in 1966 to Michael and Marianne O'Dea, one of nine brothers and sisters. He was educated on the North Shore of Sydney at St Aloysius College and St Ignatius' College, RiverviewSt Ignatius' College, Riverview
Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview is a Roman Catholic, day and boarding school for boys, located in Riverview, a small suburb situated on the Lane Cove River on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, and attended the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
where he gained a Bachelor of Arts (BA), a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Master of Laws (LLM). He has also undertaken further studies and was awarded a Graduate Diploma of Legal Studies and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD). While at university, O'Dea was the Vice-President of the University of Sydney Students' Representative Council
University of Sydney Students' Representative Council
The University of Sydney Students' Representative Council is the representative body for undergraduate students at the University of Sydney.- Structure :...
between 1986 and 1987.
Admitted as a solicitor, O'Dea practiced for five years before moving into commercial and senior management roles. He joined the Liberal Party in 1994, serving in numerous capacities, and was elected as a Councillor
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
on North Sydney Council
North Sydney Council
North Sydney Council is a Local Government Area on the North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.- Demographics :According to the :...
from 1991 until 1995.
In addition to his regular work, from 1995 to 2009 he was a non-executive board director with the private health insurer HCF
HCF Health Insurance
HCF was formed in 1932 to provide health insurance cover to Australians. Since then, it has grown to become one of the country’s largest combined registered private health fund and life insurance organisations...
. From 2000 to 2004, O'Dea also served part-time as Deputy Convenor for the Australian Classification Review Board.
Political career
In 2005 O'Dea was the general manager of the Crown Insurance Group and a director with HCF and was named as a potential candidate for the seat of PittwaterElectoral district of Pittwater
Pittwater is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. Located in Sydney's north-east, it is 175.32 km² in size, and comprises the local government area of Pittwater Council and parts of Warringah Council...
, following the resignation of the sitting member and Opposition leader, John Brogden. However, O'Dea did not stand in the subsequent by-election and Pittwater fell to Alex McTaggart
Alex McTaggart
Alex McTaggart MP, a former Australian politician, was an independent member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Pittwater between 2005 and 2007...
, running as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate.
In a Liberal Party preselection battle before the 2007 State election, O'Dea defeated the sitting member for Davidson, Andrew Humpherson
Andrew Humpherson
Andrew Humpherson, is a former Australian politician, elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Davidson from 1992-2007.-Early life:...
. Humpherson had cross-factional backing among many delegates, but had lost support in local branches after reportedly instructing party members to quit branches supportive of O'Dea, thereby reducing their voting power. Despite Humpherson having the support of the Party Leader
Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party
The position of leader of the Liberal Party of Australia's New South Wales division is a formal role held by a Liberal member of the Parliament of New South Wales...
, Peter Debnam
Peter Debnam
Peter John Debnam , is a former Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Vaucluse between 1994 and 2011. Debnam is a former Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Western Sydney,...
, O'Dea won the vote 54 votes to 52 and Humpherson chose to not re-contest the election. In March 2007, O'Dea was elected to Parliament with a majority of 24.7 per cent. In June 2007, he was appointed a Member of the Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). From 2008 in Opposition, O'Dea served as the Chair of the NSW Coalition WasteWatch Committee. In 2011 he was elected Chair of the crucial cross-party Public Accounts Committee of the NSW Parliament.
In September 2009, O'Dea was accused in a local newspaper, the Manly Daily
Manly Daily
The Manly Daily is an Australian local newspaper, covering the local government areas of Manly, Pittwater and Warringah.The paper is one of News Limited's community newspapers in New South Wales...
, of failing to adequately represent his constituents, by Ku Ring Gai
Ku-ring-gai Council
Ku-ring-gai Council is a Local Government Area in the North Shore region of Sydney. It includes the suburbs of Lindfield, Killara, Gordon, Pymble, St Ives, Turramurra, Warrawee, and parts of Roseville, and Wahroonga. The region is named after the Kuringgai tribe who once inhabited the area...
Councillor Tony Hall, who urged O'Dea to "get off his backside" and lobby New South Wales Planning Minister Kristina Keneally
Kristina Keneally
Kristina Kerscher Keneally MP, is an Australian politician and was the 42nd Premier of New South Wales. She was elected leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales and thus Premier in 2009, but went on to lose government to the Liberal/National Coalition at the March 2011 state election...
to protect the area from excessive development. O'Dea responded, defending his record: "Along with (Opposition Leader and MP for Ku-ring-gai) Barry O’Farrell I have fought long and hard against inappropriate planning and overdevelopment...in the past 12 months I have taken part in 30 formal meetings with authorities and community representatives regarding Ku-ring-gai planning matters, three involved the planning minister and community representatives".
On 18 October 2010, the Liberal Party announced that O'Dea had been endorsed as the party's candidate for Davidson ahead of the 2011 State election
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...
. O'Dea was elected with a swing of 13.8 per cent and won the seat with 86.5 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis. His main competitor was Labor's Mathew Gilliland.
Personal life
O'Dea resides in the suburb of LindfieldLindfield, New South Wales
Lindfield is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Lindfield is 13 kilometres north-west of the Sydney Central Business District in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council.- Location and history :...
with his wife Jacqueline and their four children.
External links
- Mr Jonathan Richard O'DEA, BA, LLM, MBA MP - Parliament of New South WalesParliament of New South WalesThe Parliament of New South Wales, located in Parliament House on Macquarie Street, Sydney, is the main legislative body in the Australian state of New South Wales . It is a bicameral parliament elected by the people of the state in general elections. The parliament shares law making powers with...
. - Personal website - Jonathan O'Dea