User:Rebecca/Drafts/Ben Wyatt
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Ben Wyatt is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since March 2006, representing the electorate of Victoria Park.
- born in Kalgoorlie
- indigenous, son of Cue shire president, former chief executive of the Aboriginal Affairs Department and former chairman of the Aboriginal Land Trust Cedric Wyatt
- studied at Aquinas College and law at the University of WA
- graduated in 1996, worked as a lawyer and ATSIC public affairs officer; army reserve officer (attended the Royal Military College Duntroon at some time)
- 2001 - wins a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship worth $44,786 for postgraduate study abroad at London School of Economics; masters degree in economics
- 2003 - nominates to run in Kalgoorlie (state/federal check)
- considered as a possible replacement after Kevin Richards' death in 2004
- 2004 - appointed director of Indigenous Business Australia (had been a lawyer for Minter Ellison); also vice-president of the Labor Lawyers Association
- 2005 - working for the DPP
- 2006 - after Gallop resigns, becomes frontrunner for preselection in Victoria Park (longtime resident (check?) and Town of Victoria Park's Young Citizen of the Year in 2001), with support of centre and right factions (contest with Simon Ward (John Kobelke staffer) and Helne Creed (union boss and left's pick)); also had the support from indigenous national president Warren Mundine and Premier Carpenter [1]
- suffered a 5% swing against (expected due to state position, such as controversy surrounding Police Minister D'Orazio), but easily held the safe seat. 35% of people didn't vote at byelection.
- third Aboriginal to be elected to WA parliament and second-youngest in current parliament
- maiden speech 29 March 2006 - largely about indigenous issues and causes due to poverty; April 1 supports radical change of Department of Indigenous Affairs
