John Bowler (politician)
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John Bowler (born Kalgoorlie, 22 September, 1949) is a Western Australian politician who has represented the electoral district of Murchison-Eyre since 2001.
Bowler, then a member of the Australian Labor Party, was appointed as Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, Land Information, Goldfields-Esperance and Great Southern following the re-election of the Labor Government at the 2005 election and added the Sport and Recreation portfolio in November 2005.
In February 2006, following the election of Alan Carpenter as Premier, he was promoted to the portfolios of Resources and Assisting the Minister for State Development; Employment Protection, Goldfields-Esperance and Great Southern.
In December of 2006 his portfolios were again reallocated, and he became Minister for Local Government; Employment Protection; Racing and Gaming; Goldfields-Esperance and Great Southern.
Only weeks later, however, Bowler became embroiled in a growing scandal when it emerged that he had leaked confidential Cabinet information to disgraced lobbyists and former politicians Julian Grill and Brian Burke. He was subsequently sacked from Cabinet and expelled from the Labor Party. Premier Alan Carpenter has called for his resignation from parliament, however Mr Bowler has indicated that he will contest the seat of Kalgoorlie as an independent following Matt Birney's announcement that he would not contest the 2008 state election[1].
