Keith Wright (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Keith Webb Wright is a former Australia
n politician and convicted rapist. Born in Toowoomba, Queensland
, he was educated at the University of Queensland
and Kelvin Grove Teachers College
in Brisbane
before becoming a teacher and author.
In 1969, he was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly
as the Labor
member for Rockhampton
. In 1982, he became Leader of the Opposition, with Labor in 1983 coming within one seat (and perhaps 3,000 votes) of toppling the National Party government led by Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen
. Wright remained opposition leader until he left the Assembly in 1984, transferring to federal politics as the Labor MP for Capricornia
in the Australian House of Representatives
.
In 1993, he was charged with child sex offenses and rape
, and as a result lost his Labor endorsement. He contested the 1993 election as an independent
, gaining 5.9% of the vote but losing to endorsed ALP candidate Marjorie Henzell
. In December 1993 he was convicted of child sex offenses and rape and jailed for more than five years.
In 2006, the Australian Electoral Commission
formed a new electoral division, taking territory from Capricornia and the neighbouring divisions of Hinkler
, Maranoa
and Wide Bay
. The Commission suggested naming it the "Division of Wright" in honour of the poet Judith Wright
, but inevitable association with Keith Wright led them to name it instead the Division of Flynn
after John Flynn
, founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service
. A Division of Wright
, named after Judith Wright and based in the Gold Coast Hinterland, was first contested at the 2010 election.
Wright now runs a company, International Language Academy, which trains ESOL teachers in Southeast Asia.
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 and convicted rapist. Born in Toowoomba, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, he was educated at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
and Kelvin Grove Teachers College
Kelvin Grove Teachers College
Kelvin Grove Teachers' College established 1961 provides courses in primary and secondary teacher education. It established from its predecessor the Queensland Teachers' Training College....
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
before becoming a teacher and author.
In 1969, he was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
as the 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 for Rockhampton
Electoral district of Rockhampton
The district of Rockhampton is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland.Wedged between the electoral districts of Keppel to the east and Mirani to the west, Rockhampton encompasses the bulk of the regional city of Rockhampton and many of its outlying...
. In 1982, he became Leader of the Opposition, with Labor in 1983 coming within one seat (and perhaps 3,000 votes) of toppling the National Party government led by Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Sir Johannes "Joh" Bjelke-Petersen, KCMG , was an Australian politician. He was the longest-serving and longest-lived Premier of Queensland, holding office from 1968 to 1987, a period that saw considerable economic development in the state...
. Wright remained opposition leader until he left the Assembly in 1984, transferring to federal politics as the Labor MP for Capricornia
Division of Capricornia
The Division of Capricornia is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the Tropic of Capricorn, which runs through the Division. It is located on the central Queensland coast and its...
in 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....
.
In 1993, he was charged with child sex offenses and rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
, and as a result lost his Labor endorsement. He contested the 1993 election 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...
, gaining 5.9% of the vote but losing to endorsed ALP candidate Marjorie Henzell
Marjorie Henzell
Marjorie Madeline Henzell, , Australian politician.Henzell was elected to represent the Division of Capricornia in the Australian House of Representatives, and served as the member from 13 March 1993 until 2 March 1996. Henzell was the first woman elected to represent this electorate, and held the...
. In December 1993 he was convicted of child sex offenses and rape and jailed for more than five years.
In 2006, the Australian Electoral Commission
Australian Electoral Commission
The Australian Electoral Commission, or the AEC, is the federal government agency in charge of organising and supervising federal elections and referendums. State and local government elections are overseen by the Electoral Commission in each state and territory.The Australian Electoral Commission...
formed a new electoral division, taking territory from Capricornia and the neighbouring divisions of Hinkler
Division of Hinkler
The Division of Hinkler is anAustralian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was created in 1984 and is named for Bert Hinkler, the great pioneer Australian aviator....
, Maranoa
Division of Maranoa
The Division of Maranoa is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the Maranoa River, which runs through the division...
and Wide Bay
Division of Wide Bay
The Division of Wide Bay is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election...
. The Commission suggested naming it the "Division of Wright" in honour of the poet Judith Wright
Judith Wright
Judith Arundell Wright was an Australian poet, environmentalist and campaigner for Aboriginal land rights.-Biography:...
, but inevitable association with Keith Wright led them to name it instead the Division of Flynn
Division of Flynn
The Division of Flynn is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was created in 2006, following a redistribution of seats in the state. It was first contested at the 2007 federal election. The electorate generally extends west from the port city of Gladstone, as far as the...
after John Flynn
John Flynn (minister)
John Flynn OBE was an Australian Presbyterian minister who founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the world's first air ambulance.-Biography:...
, founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service
Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia is an emergency and primary health care service for those living in rural, remote and regional areas of Australia...
. A Division of Wright
Division of Wright
The Division of Wright is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Queensland. The seat was first contested at the 2010 election. The division was created under the Australian Electoral Commission's 2009 Redistribution of Queensland. The division of Wright covers a large area of the Gold...
, named after Judith Wright and based in the Gold Coast Hinterland, was first contested at the 2010 election.
Wright now runs a company, International Language Academy, which trains ESOL teachers in Southeast Asia.