Paul Osborne

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For the American playwright and screenwriter, see Paul Osborn.

Paul Osborne was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly from 1995 until 2001. He was formerly a police detective and member of the Canberra Raiders rugby league team. For the first of his two terms he ran as an independent proper; for the 1998 ACT election, he formed the Paul Osbourne Independents, and both he and Dave Rugendyke winning seats in the Assembly.

Chief Minister Kate Carnell, from the Liberal Party, formed a minority government with Osbourne's support in both 1995 and 1998. A condition of Osbourne's support in 1998 was abortion law reform, requiring that more explicit, graphic information be provided to women considering the procedure and that there be a 72-hour cooling-off period. This move, while consistent with his Catholic beliefs, damaged his popularity among the suburban voters who had been his chief supporters. (Abortion was decriminalised and the legislation repealed in 2001.)

In 2000, the opposition moved a no-confidence motion against Carnell over the redevelopment of Bruce Stadium (now Canberra Stadium), which it alleges is one of several issues she mismanaged. Osborne supported the motion, effectively bringing down her government. Carnell resigned and Deputy Chief Minister Gary Humphries took over.

[edit] 2001 election on

In 2001 he and Rugendyke again ran under the ticket. They were joined by prominent former Canberra Raiders captain Mal Meninga, who withdrew from the election in an infamous local radio interview, halfway through answering a question. That, coupled with a local shift to more left-wing politics, opposition to his abortion laws, waning popularity (perhaps due to the length of time since he was a sportsman), and the collateral damage of the Carnell no-confidence motion ensured that not any of the candidates under the Paul Osborne Independents banner were elected.

Although in July 2004 he told the Canberra Times that he was considering running for that year's ACT election, he did not, reportedly after being rebuffed from the Liberal Party ticket. He worked as community-relations officer for the Raiders for a time after leaving politics.

In 2005 he was appointed as the CEO of the National Rugby League's Player Manager Accreditation Program. He can also be heard each weekend in his role as a match day commentator on the ABC's Rugby League coverage.