Peter Webb (politician)
Encyclopedia
Peter William Webb is an Australian politician. He was a National Party of Australia
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1999 to 2003, representing the electorate of Monaro
.
Webb studied at Canberra Grammar School
and Yanco Agricultural College, and was a grazier before entering politics. He served a number of terms on the Shire of Yarrowlumla council, including several years as its mayor. He was subsequently preselected as the National Party candidate for the open local seat of Monaro
, which had been vacated by retiring maverick National MLA Peter Cochran
. Campaigning on the state of the timber industry and the decline of rural infrastructure, he faced a very tight race against the Labor candidate, and emerged successful despite trailing for most of the count, in a result that was not known for days.
Webb, like his predecessor, established a reputation as a maverick MP. He once took a tray of local lamb to the American embassy to protest American agriculture tariffs, called for the abolition of the National Parks and Wildlife Service
with the delegation of its responsibilities to local councils, and suggested letting the state's prison population tame wild brumbies in the Snowy Mountains
. He also had two vocal in-person clashes with Premier Bob Carr
, and was once criticised for signing a petition by the Lyndon LaRouche
-affiliated Citizens Electoral Council
.
He faced a difficult race for re-election at the 2003 state election, with Steve Whan, son of former local federal MP Bob Whan
, preselected as the Labor candidate. After another close race, Whan was declared the winner, in a result that Webb attributed to Labor's advertising budget, the war in Iraq, and the decision of the Greens to direct their preferences to Labor.
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
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...
from 1999 to 2003, representing the electorate of Monaro
Electoral district of Monaro
Monaro is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by John Barilaro of the National Party of Australia....
.
Webb studied at Canberra Grammar School
Canberra Grammar School
Canberra Grammar School is an independent, day and boarding school for boys, located in Red Hill, a suburb of Canberra, the capital of Australia....
and Yanco Agricultural College, and was a grazier before entering politics. He served a number of terms on the Shire of Yarrowlumla council, including several years as its mayor. He was subsequently preselected as the National Party candidate for the open local seat of Monaro
Electoral district of Monaro
Monaro is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by John Barilaro of the National Party of Australia....
, which had been vacated by retiring maverick National MLA Peter Cochran
Peter Cochran (politician)
Peter Lachlan Cochran is a former Australian politician. He was the National Party member for Monaro in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1988 to 1998....
. Campaigning on the state of the timber industry and the decline of rural infrastructure, he faced a very tight race against the Labor candidate, and emerged successful despite trailing for most of the count, in a result that was not known for days.
Webb, like his predecessor, established a reputation as a maverick MP. He once took a tray of local lamb to the American embassy to protest American agriculture tariffs, called for the abolition of the National Parks and Wildlife Service
National Parks and Wildlife Service
National Parks and Wildlife Service may refer to:* National Parks and Wildlife Service * National Parks and Wildlife Service * National Parks and Wildlife Service * Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service...
with the delegation of its responsibilities to local councils, and suggested letting the state's prison population tame wild brumbies in the Snowy Mountains
Snowy Mountains
The Snowy Mountains, known informally as "The Snowies", are the highest Australian mountain range and contain the Australian mainland's highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, which reaches 2,228 metres AHD, approximately 7310 feet....
. He also had two vocal in-person clashes with Premier Bob Carr
Bob Carr
Robert John "Bob" Carr , Australian statesman, was Premier of New South Wales from 4 April 1995 to 3 August 2005. He holds the record for the longest continuous service as premier of NSW...
, and was once criticised for signing a petition by the Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon Hermyle LaRouche, Jr. is an American political activist and founder of a network of political committees, parties, and publications known collectively as the LaRouche movement...
-affiliated Citizens Electoral Council
Citizens Electoral Council
The Citizens Electoral Council of Australia is a minor nationalist political party in Australia affiliated with the international LaRouche Movement, led by American political activist and conspiracy theorist Lyndon LaRouche. It reported having 549 members in 2007...
.
He faced a difficult race for re-election at the 2003 state election, with Steve Whan, son of former local federal MP Bob Whan
Bob Whan
Robert Bruce "Bob" Whan, AM was an Australian politician. He was the Australian Labor Party member for the House of Representatives seat of Eden-Monaro from 1972 until his defeat by Murray Sainsbury in the 1975 election....
, preselected as the Labor candidate. After another close race, Whan was declared the winner, in a result that Webb attributed to Labor's advertising budget, the war in Iraq, and the decision of the Greens to direct their preferences to Labor.