Kevin Conolly

Kevin Francis Conolly MP, an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Riverstone for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2011.^[1]

Early years and background

Conolly graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales, and was later awarded a Diploma of Education and Graduate Diploma of Religious Education from the Council for Christian Education in Schools. Conolly subsequently graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Education (Administration) from the Australian Catholic University.^[2] He worked for the Catholic Education Office prior to entering state politics.

Political career

In September 1999, he was elected to the Hawkesbury City Council. From 2001 to 2004 he served as Deputy Mayor, whilst sill working as a teaching administrator.^[3] Conolly contested the 1999 state election, but was unsuccessful in winning the seat of Londonderry for the Liberal Party.^[4]

In 2007 and again in 2011, Conolly contested the normally safe Labor seat of Riverstone in north-western Sydney.^[5] In March 2011, Conolly was elected with a two party preferred swing of 30.2% per cent and winning the seat with 70.2 per cent of the vote on this two party preferred basis.^[4]This is believed to be the largest swing ever attained by a major-party candidate at a State or Federal level in Australian parliamentary history. It was the first time in the seat's 30-year history that the seat was not held by Labor. Prior to the election, the sitting member, John Aquilina, who had held the seat since 1991, announced his retirement.

External links

Official Website of Kevin Conolly, MP for Riverstone -- http://www.kevinconollymp.com.au

References