Kevin Conolly
Encyclopedia
Kevin Conolly MP, an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
representing Riverstone
for the Liberal Party of Australia
since 2011
.
from the University of New South Wales
, and was later awarded a Diploma of Education
and Graduate Diploma of Religious Education from the Council for Christian Education in Schools
. Conolly subsequently graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Education (Administration) from the Australian Catholic University
. He worked for the Catholic Education Office prior to entering state politics.
, but was unsuccessful in winning the seat of Londonderry
for the Liberal Party.
In 2011, Conolly contested the normally safe Labor
seat of Riverstone in north-western Sydney
. Conolly was elected with a swing of 22.9 per cent and wining the seat with 70.2 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis. It was the first time in the seat's 30-year history that it was not held by Labor. Prior to the election, the sitting member, John Aquilina
, who had held the seat since 1991, announced his retirement.
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 Riverstone
Electoral district of Riverstone
Riverstone is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales.It is a 94.30 km² urban and semi-rural electorate in Sydney's north west, taking in the suburbs of Stanhope Gardens, Rouse Hill, Quakers Hill and Riverstone...
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 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 years and background
Conolly graduated with a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, and was later awarded a Diploma of Education
Diploma of Education
The Diploma of Education, often abbreviated to DipEd or GradDipEd, is a postgraduate qualification offered in many Commonwealth countries including Australia, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom...
and Graduate Diploma of Religious Education from the Council for Christian Education in Schools
Council for Christian Education in Schools
The Council for Christian Education in Schools is an Australian religious organisation which also operates under the name of Access Ministries...
. Conolly subsequently graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Education (Administration) from the Australian Catholic University
Australian Catholic University
Australian Catholic University is a national public university. It has six campuses and offers programs in five faculties throughout Australia.-History:...
. He worked for the Catholic Education Office prior to entering state politics.
Political career
In September 1999, he was elected to the Hawkesbury City Council. From 2001 to 2004 he served as Deputy Mayor, whilst sill working as a teaching administrator. Conolly contested the 1999 state electionNew South Wales state election, 1999
Elections to the 52nd Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 27 March 1999. All seats in the Legislative Assembly and half the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election...
, but was unsuccessful in winning the seat of Londonderry
Electoral district of Londonderry
Londonderry is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Bart Bassett of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for Londonderry:-Election results:...
for the Liberal Party.
In 2011, Conolly contested the normally safe 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...
seat of Riverstone in north-western Sydney
Western Sydney
Western Sydney is a major region of Sydney, Australia. It has a number of different definitions but one consistently used is the region composed of the 11 councils which until recently were all members of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils:* Auburn Council* Bankstown City Council*...
. Conolly was elected with a swing of 22.9 per cent and wining the seat with 70.2 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis. It was the first time in the seat's 30-year history that it was not held by Labor. Prior to the election, the sitting member, John Aquilina
John Aquilina
John Joseph Aquilina , an Australian politician, is a former member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Blacktown between 1981 and 1991 and the electorate of Riverstone between 1991 and 2011 for the Australian Labor Party.Between 1986 and 1988 and again...
, who had held the seat since 1991, announced his retirement.