John Della Bosca

The Hon. John Della Bosca
BA (UNSW) MLC
Minister for Health
In office
8 September 2008 – 31 August 2009
Preceded by Reba Meagher
Succeeded by Carmel Tebbutt
Minister for the Central Coast
In office
2 April 2007 – 31 August 2009
Preceded by Grant McBride
Personal details
Born 18 July 1956 (1956-07-18) (age 55)
Political party Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s) Belinda Neal
Children 2 sons
Residence Phegans Bay, New South Wales
Website NSW Parliamentary Profile

John Joseph Della Bosca (born 18 July 1956) is a former Australian politician, representing the Australian Labor Party in the New South Wales Legislative Council. From 1999 to 2009, Della Bosca served a range of ministerial portfolios, including Minister for Health and Minister for the Central Coast in the NSW State Government.

Contents

Early life and career

Della Bosca attended school at De La Salle College in Cronulla.[1] Influenced by a visit to his school by Bob Carr,[2] Della Bosca joined the ALP in January 1973. He rose through his branch and electorate council to take a place on the party's National Executive. Between 1976 and his election to parliament in 1999, Della Bosca worked for the labour movement full-time in various capacities, first as a researcher for Senator Kerry Sibraa. In 1979 he took on the role of National Research Officer for the Australian Transport Officers' Federation, becoming the union's State Organiser in 1981.

In 1983, Della Bosca became State Organiser for the ALP. In 1985, he was promoted to Assistant Secretary and in 1990 he attained the position of General Secretary, a post he was to hold for nine years.

Parliamentary career

In 1999, Della Bosca made his much-anticipated move into parliamentary politics as a candidate for the Legislative Council. Within a month of his election, premier Bob Carr appointed him Special Minister of State.

Della Bosca's ministerial responsibilities were expanded following the 2003 election to include Commerce, Finance, Industrial Relations, Ageing and Disability Services. He was also appointed Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.

Following the 2007 election he was appointed Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for the Central Coast.

On 4 September 2007 Della Bosca stated "the NSW government strives to keep (TAFE) fees as low as possible". Despite this, he announced that course fees would be increasing by 6.5% to 9%.[3]

In May, 2008, Della Bosca revealed his probationary driver's licence had been revoked for a period of six months following multiple speeding offences.[4] At the time of the ban Della Bosca was in charge of the Motor Accidents Authority.[5] Later that month, he caused further controversy by swearing at a media photographer who photographed him cycling to work.[6]

On 13 June 2008, Della Bosca was stood down from his position as Minister for Education and Training while police investigated an alleged altercation between Della Bosca and his wife Belinda Neal (a Federal ALP MP) and staff at Iguana Joe's waterfront bar and nightclub at Gosford.[7] The nightclub issued an apology to Della Bosca, at least parts of which were reported to have been written by Della Bosca himself.[8][9] The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently found that "there is insufficient evidence to support any criminal charge against NSW law".[10]

On his return to the ministry, Della Bosca was appointed Minister for Health and Minister for the Central Coast, with his former Education portfolio passing to Verity Firth.

Scandal and resignation

On 31 August 2009, Della Bosca resigned from his ministries and as Government leader in the Legislative Council, following the public revelation of a 6-month sexual affair.[11][12]

On 29 July 2010, Della Bosca announced that he was resigning from the New South Wales Legislative Council to become a campaign director for the National Disability and Carers Alliance, and assist in the establishment of a national disability insurance scheme.[13]

References

  1. ^ Feneley, Rick; Clennell, Andrew (2009-09-02). "How a woman scorned her ministerial lover". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/national/how-a-woman-scorned-her-ministerial-lover-20090901-f700.html. 
  2. ^ http://www.hawkerbritton.com/hawker-britton-media/media-2007/true-believer.htm
  3. ^ "TAFE fee rise 'excludes students'". Australian Broadcasting Commission. 4 September 2007. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/04/2023187.htm?site=nsw. Retrieved 2007-09-06. 
  4. ^ Clennell, Andrew (2008-05-13). "Education minister reveals he lost licence". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/education-minister-reveals-he-lost-licence/2008/05/13/1210444415894.html. Retrieved 2008-05-13. 
  5. ^ Clennell, Andrew (2008-05-15). "Banned minister urged to drop motoring role". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/banned-minister-urged-to-drop-motoring-role/2008/05/14/1210444530195.html. Retrieved 2008-05-15. 
  6. ^ Australian minister sets appalling example - Asia-Pacific
  7. ^ "Della Bosca and MP wife in scrap with restaurant". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2008-06-08. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/della-bosca-and-mp-wife-in-scrap-with-restaurant/2008/06/07/1212259192382.html. Retrieved 2008-10-24. 
  8. ^ "Club offers apology after NSW MP flags legal action". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2008-06-08. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/apology-for-della-bosca/2008/06/08/1212863429807.html. Retrieved 2008-06-08. 
  9. ^ Robins, Brian (2008-06-13). "Iguanagate: Della dumped". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/iguanagate-della-dumped/2008/06/13/1213321594982.html. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
  10. ^ Welch, Dylan (2008-09-03). "Iguana's affair: Neal and Della off the hook". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/iguanas-affair-neal-and-della-off-the-hook/2008/09/03/1220121306755.html. Retrieved 2008-09-03. 
  11. ^ Watson, Rhett (2009-09-01). "John Della Bosca quits over sex scandal". The Daily Telegraph (News Limited). http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/john-della-bosca-quits-over-sex-scandal/story-e6freuy9-1225768138799. Retrieved 2009-09-03. 
  12. ^ Clennell, Andrew (2009-09-01). "Della Bosca quits after sex scandal: 'I've taken my medicine". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). http://www.smh.com.au/national/della-bosca-quits-after-sex-scandal--ive-taken-my-medicine-20090901-f5fa.html. Retrieved 3 September 2009. 
  13. ^ "Della Bosca confirms he’s quitting". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). 2010-07-29. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/della-bosca-confirms-hes-quitting-20100729-10xlq.html. Retrieved 2010-07-29. 

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Reba Meagher
Minister for Health
2008-2009
Succeeded by
Carmel Tebbutt
Preceded by
Minister for Industrial Relations
2000-2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Carmel Tebbutt
Minister for Education and Training
2007-2009
Succeeded by
Verity Firth