| Peter Besseling | |
|---|---|
| Member for Port Macquarie | |
| In office 18 October 2008 – 4 March 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Rob Oakeshott |
| Succeeded by | Leslie Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 March 1970 Penrith, New South Wales |
| Nationality | Australian |
Peter Edward Besseling (born 8 March 1970) is an Australian politician. He was also a former professional rugby union player.[1]
Contents |
Besseling played 15 games for the Waratahs from 2000 to 2001 [2]
He was an independent member in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Port Macquarie in New South Wales, which he won in the 2008 Port Macquarie by-election following the resignation of former independent member Rob Oakeshott who successfully ran for the federal division of Lyne. Mr Besseling, a former Waratahs second-rower and 1999 Ken Catchpole Medallist, had worked as a political adviser for his sometime rugby teammate Mr Oakeshott for the previous three years. [3]
Besseling won the seat with 35.9 percent of the primary vote and 54.5 percent of the two party vote.[4][5] Federal Liberal Hume MP Alby Schultz was seen campaigning a few times for Besseling, referring to him as "the pick of the candidates", with similar support from Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan, sparking anger and resentment within the coalition.[6]
In 2011 Besseling lost his seat to National Party candidate Leslie Williams. A swing of 11% against him was put down to his association to Rob Oakeshott, federal member for the Division of Lyne.[7]
Besseling's re-election campaign struck controversy when oil from his campaign bus caused an accident on the Oxley Highway that resulted in three people being seriously injured.[1]
Besseling has since been employed by Rob Oakeshott as a staffer.
| Parliament of New South Wales | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rob Oakeshott |
Member for Port Macquarie 2008 – 2011 |
Succeeded by Leslie Williams |