Liz Constable
Encyclopedia
Dr Elizabeth Constable (born 2 December 1943 in Sydney, New South Wales
) is an Independent
member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
, firstly representing the electorate of Floreat after winning it at a 1991 by-election following the resignation of Andrew Mensaros
. After the abolition of Floreat in a redistribution in 1994, Constable was elected to the electorate of Churchlands
in 1996 then re-elected in 2001 and 2005.
before becoming an independent.
She left the Liberal Party when it became clear that the favoured candidate of power-broker, Noel Crichton-Browne
, would be given preselection for the safe seat of Floreat in 1991 at her expense. Constable contested the seat as a conservative independent and won easily with 49% of the primary vote.
Minister in the Barnett Ministry
Between November 2008 and December 2010, Constable served as Minister for Education and Tourism in the Barnett Ministry
.
On March 1 2011 when the problem became public, Constable said she would wait until a policy review was completed mid-year before changing her position. On March 2, 2011, when it became know that Constable had been aware of the problem for over one year, she reversed her position.
In both 2003 and 2007 Constable introduced to the Western Australian Parliament the Lobbying Disclosure and Accountability Bill. The Bill had the intent of introducing measures to "ensure openness and accountability of professional lobbying activities directed at Members of Parliament, ministerial staff and other public officials in Western Australia."
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
) is 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...
member of 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....
, firstly representing the electorate of Floreat after winning it at a 1991 by-election following the resignation of Andrew Mensaros
Andrew Mensaros
Andrew Mensaros, , was a politician in Western Australia. Born in Hungary, and educated at the University of Budapest. A member of the Liberal Party of Australia, he served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the division of Floreat from 1968 until his death in 1991...
. After the abolition of Floreat in a redistribution in 1994, Constable was elected to the electorate of Churchlands
Electoral district of Churchlands
The Electoral district of Churchlands is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Churchlands is named for the western suburb of Churchlands which falls within its borders, and was created at the 1994 redistribution, replacing the seat of Floreat which had existed since...
in 1996 then re-elected in 2001 and 2005.
Background
Constable was once a member of the Liberal PartyLiberal 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...
before becoming an independent.
She left the Liberal Party when it became clear that the favoured candidate of power-broker, Noel Crichton-Browne
Noel Crichton-Browne
Noel Ashley Crichton-Browne is a former member of the Australian Senate and political lobbyist.He attended Scotch College, Perth....
, would be given preselection for the safe seat of Floreat in 1991 at her expense. Constable contested the seat as a conservative independent and won easily with 49% of the primary vote.
Minister in the Barnett MinistryBarnett MinistryThe Barnett Ministry is the 35th and current Ministry of the Government of Western Australia. It includes 13 members of the Liberal Party, three members of the National Party of Western Australia and an independent. It is led by the Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, and Deputy Premier Dr...
Between November 2008 and December 2010, Constable served as Minister for Education and Tourism in the Barnett MinistryBarnett Ministry
The Barnett Ministry is the 35th and current Ministry of the Government of Western Australia. It includes 13 members of the Liberal Party, three members of the National Party of Western Australia and an independent. It is led by the Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, and Deputy Premier Dr...
.
Minister for Tourism
Constable was dumped from the Tourism portfolio in December 2010 three months after she was the subject of a critical motion and three hour long debate in the Western Australian Parliament. The motion that read "That this house expresses its grave concern at the continued decline of the Western Australian tourism industry and condemns the Minister for Tourism for her lack of interest and demonstrated failures in this portfolio" focussed on the drop in toruism visitation to Western Australia, questions over the direction of the Deprtment of Tourism and the loss of a major event worth millions to the state's tourism sector.Minister for Education
In 2010 Constable was criticesed for failing to address a Government policy which left children with no air conditioning for new buildings outside of the "air cooling zoe" established by the state Government and regularly subject to internal temperatures of heat above 35 degrees in more than 300 schools. Despite the Commonwealth providing the funding for the Air Conditioning, the WA State Government and Constables department, did not allow schools to install the funded air conditioning in new building. Constable had said if schools arranged for independent contractors to install airconditioning within 12 months of construction, it would void the building warranty.On March 1 2011 when the problem became public, Constable said she would wait until a policy review was completed mid-year before changing her position. On March 2, 2011, when it became know that Constable had been aware of the problem for over one year, she reversed her position.
Government Accountability and Ministerial Conduct
Constable has been a longtime vocal public proponent of open, accountable government and ministerial accountability, believing they are fundamental to good government. Prior to the 2008 Western Australian State Election Constable said that " Open and accountable government is fundamental to good government. In recent times the signs have not always been good." Constable has also highlighted a reluctance of government ministers to respect the spirit of Freedom of Information Legislation. In particular Constable has discussed in the WA Parliament the failings of ministers to abide by high standards of conduct.In both 2003 and 2007 Constable introduced to the Western Australian Parliament the Lobbying Disclosure and Accountability Bill. The Bill had the intent of introducing measures to "ensure openness and accountability of professional lobbying activities directed at Members of Parliament, ministerial staff and other public officials in Western Australia."