Keith Wright (Australian politician)

Keith Webb Wright (born 9 January 1942) is a former Australian politician and convicted rapist. Born in Toowoomba, Queensland, he was educated at the University of Queensland and Kelvin Grove Teachers College in Brisbane before becoming a teacher and author.

In 1969, he was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly as the Labor member for Rockhampton. In 1982, he became Leader of the Opposition, with Labor in 1983 coming within one seat (and perhaps 3,000 votes) of toppling the National Party government led by Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.^[1] Wright remained opposition leader until he left the Assembly in 1984, transferring to federal politics as the Labor MP for Capricornia in the Australian House of Representatives.

In 1993, he was charged with child sex offenses and rape, and as a result lost his Labor endorsement.^[2] He contested the 1993 election as an independent, gaining 5.9% of the vote but losing to endorsed ALP candidate Marjorie Henzell. In December 1993 he was convicted of child sex offenses and rape and jailed for more than five years.^[1]

In 2006, the Australian Electoral Commission formed a new electoral division, taking territory from Capricornia and the neighbouring divisions of Hinkler, Maranoa and Wide Bay. The Commission suggested naming it the "Division of Wright" in honour of the poet Judith Wright,^[3] but inevitable association with Keith Wright led them to name it instead the Division of Flynn after John Flynn, founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A Division of Wright, named after Judith Wright and based in the Gold Coast Hinterland, was first contested at the 2010 election.

Wright now runs a company, International Language Academy, which trains ESOL teachers in Southeast Asia.^[1]

References

External links

• Personal Web Site