Steven Chaytor
Encyclopedia
Steven John Chaytor is an Australia
n politician. He was an Australian Labor Party
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 2005 to 2007, representing the southwest Sydney
electorate of Macquarie Fields
.
Chaytor was educated at St Gregory's College
in Campbelltown
and the University of Technology, Sydney
, where he completed degrees in international studies and law. He worked as a solicitor and advisor to former Prime Minister of Australia
Gough Whitlam
, and first entered local politics in 1999, when he was elected to the Campbelltown City Council.
Chaytor was widely expected as a favourite to enter federal politics when Mark Latham
resigned as the member for the safe seat of Werriwa
in 2005. However, after a messy pre-selection battle with Campbelltown
Mayor Brenton Banfield over who would run in the resulting by-election
, Chaytor lost out to compromise candidate Chris Hayes
. There was little challenge possible, however, when Chaytor was nominated several months later to replace Craig Knowles
in a by-election
for his safe state seat of Macquarie Fields. Though he was challenged by whistleblower nurse Nola Fraser
, Chaytor survived a strong swing to the Liberal Party of Australia
to win the seat.
, sought to suspend Chaytor's membership of the Australian Labor Party
.
The case was heard on 15 January 2007 at Campbelltown Local Court, and Chaytor was found guilty four days later. NSW Premier Morris Iemma
announced shortly after that he was to be expelled from the Labor Party and a new candidate found for the coming March state election. That new candidate was Dr Andrew McDonald
, a local paediatrician.
On 30 July 2007, the conviction was quashed on appeal by the District Court
, citing insufficient evidence. The appeal judge found that Chaytor had acted in self defence and was trying to stop his former partner from committing suicide. The NSW branch of the ALP ultimately decided to reinstate Mr Chaytor's ALP membership in light of the legal decision.
Chaytor did not nominate as a candidate for re-election in the 2008 local government elections for Campbelltown City Council.
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. He was an Australian Labor Party
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 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 2005 to 2007, representing the southwest Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
electorate of Macquarie Fields
Electoral district of Macquarie Fields
Macquarie Fields is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, located in the outer south-western suburbs of Sydney. It is currently represented by Dr Andrew McDonald of the Australian Labor Party....
.
Chaytor was educated at St Gregory's College
St Gregory's College, Campbelltown
St Gregory's College is a Catholic, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in Campbelltown, a south-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
in Campbelltown
Campbelltown, New South Wales
Campbelltown is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Campbelltown is located 51 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Campbelltown.- History :Campbelltown...
and the University of Technology, Sydney
University of Technology, Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney is a university in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1981, although its origins trace back to the 1870s. UTS is notable for its central location as the only university with its main campuses within the Sydney CBD...
, where he completed degrees in international studies and law. He worked as a solicitor and advisor to former Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
, and first entered local politics in 1999, when he was elected to the Campbelltown City Council.
Chaytor was widely expected as a favourite to enter federal politics when Mark Latham
Mark Latham
Mark William Latham , an author and former Australian politician, was leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from December 2003 to January 2005....
resigned as the member for the safe seat of Werriwa
Division of Werriwa
The Division of Werriwa is a Federal Electoral Division for the Australian House of Representatives.The name Werriwa derives from a local Aboriginal name for Lake George, which was located in the division when it was established in 1900. The division was one of the original 75 divisions first...
in 2005. However, after a messy pre-selection battle with Campbelltown
City of Campbelltown
The City of Campbelltown refers to several places:*City of Campbelltown – a local government area in the Australian state of New South Wales....
Mayor Brenton Banfield over who would run in the resulting by-election
Werriwa by-election, 2005
A by-election was held in the Werriwa electorate in south-western Sydney on 19 March 2005, after the resignation of Labor MP Mark Latham, who had represented the electorate since 1994...
, Chaytor lost out to compromise candidate Chris Hayes
Chris Hayes (politician)
Christopher Patrick "Chris" Hayes , Australian Labor Party politician, was elected to the Australian House of Representatives on 19 March 2005 in a by-election for the Division of Werriwa, New South Wales, succeeding former party leader Mark Latham.Hayes was educated at De La Salle College,...
. There was little challenge possible, however, when Chaytor was nominated several months later to replace Craig Knowles
Craig Knowles
Craig John Knowles is a former Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1990 to 2005....
in a by-election
Macquarie Fields state by-election, 2005
A by-election was staged in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly district of Macquarie Fields on 22 September 2005. It was triggered by the resignation of sitting member and former minister Craig Knowles...
for his safe state seat of Macquarie Fields. Though he was challenged by whistleblower nurse Nola Fraser
Nola Fraser
Nola Therese Fraser is an Australian small business owner, former nurse and former Liberal candidate on two occasions for the seat of Macquarie Fields. Fraser became a whistleblower at two Sydney hospitals where she worked though none of her claims have been substantiated and have been shown to...
, Chaytor survived a strong swing to 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...
to win the seat.
Assault conviction
On 20 December 2006, Chaytor was charged with assault over an alleged incident which occurred on 10 December. However he claimed that he was attempting to prevent his partner from self-harm. The Premier, Morris IemmaMorris Iemma
Morris Iemma , is a former Australian politician and 40th Premier of New South Wales, succeeding Bob Carr after he resigned on 3 August 2005. Iemma led the Australian Labor Party to victory in the 2007 election before resigning as Premier on 5 September 2008, and as a Member of Parliament on 19...
, sought to suspend Chaytor's membership of the Australian Labor Party
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...
.
The case was heard on 15 January 2007 at Campbelltown Local Court, and Chaytor was found guilty four days later. NSW Premier Morris Iemma
Morris Iemma
Morris Iemma , is a former Australian politician and 40th Premier of New South Wales, succeeding Bob Carr after he resigned on 3 August 2005. Iemma led the Australian Labor Party to victory in the 2007 election before resigning as Premier on 5 September 2008, and as a Member of Parliament on 19...
announced shortly after that he was to be expelled from the Labor Party and a new candidate found for the coming March state election. That new candidate was Dr Andrew McDonald
Andrew McDonald (Australian politician)
Andrew Dominic McDonald is an Australian doctor and politician. He attended St. Leo's Catholic College in Wahroonga, before studying medicine at the University of Sydney. He worked as a paediatrician at Campbelltown Hospital for 17 years prior to joining the Labor Party...
, a local paediatrician.
On 30 July 2007, the conviction was quashed on appeal by the District Court
District Court of New South Wales
The District Court of New South Wales has jurisdiction to hear most indictable offences . It hears appeals from the Local Court and civil claims up to A$750 000. In some circumstances the amount may be higher, e.g. with the consent of the parties or in motor accident claims etc...
, citing insufficient evidence. The appeal judge found that Chaytor had acted in self defence and was trying to stop his former partner from committing suicide. The NSW branch of the ALP ultimately decided to reinstate Mr Chaytor's ALP membership in light of the legal decision.
Chaytor did not nominate as a candidate for re-election in the 2008 local government elections for Campbelltown City Council.