Cherie Burton

The Honourable
Cherie Burton
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Kogarah
In office
27 March 1999 – 6 March 2015
Preceded by Brian Langton
Succeeded by Chris Minns
Personal details
Born Cherie Ann Burton
(1968-11-13) 13 November 1968
Paddington, New South Wales
Nationality Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s) Andrew Murphy
Occupation Union official; political advisor

Cherie Ann Burton (born 13 November 1968) is a former Australian politician, who was a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Kogarah from 1999 to 2015.

Biography

Burton was born in Paddington, New South Wales and brought up in Minto. She graduated from Narrabeen High School in 1986 and became an accounts clerk and an official for the National Union of Workers. She later became an adviser to Premier Bob Carr.[1]

Political life

Burton has been the member for the relatively safe Labor seat of Kogarah since 1999 when she defeated the Liberal candidate, Sam Witheridge after being installed by the head office administrative committee as the Labor candidate on an N40 ruling, bypassing local pre-selection. At the time of her election, aged 30, she was one of the youngest Labor politicians on the back bench, second only to Matt Brown, aged 27.[2]

Burton was the Minister for Housing and the Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) from August 2005 to March 2007.[3] Citing family reasons, Burton announced she had decided to step down from the ministry following the 2007 NSW election. However questions were raised as to whether she was forced to give up her place in the ministry due to a police enquiry into an alleged assault against the nephew of the Liberal candidate for Burton's electorate on polling day.[4]

Burton was criticised in December 2006 for failing to report to police that a staff member was found to have embezzled A$16,000. Michael Han, an employee at Burton's Kogarah electoral office, was forced to resign and repay the money taken.[5]

Burton's driver's licence was suspended for 12 months in mid-2010 for refusing to cooperate with police demands for some of her blood.[6]

Outside politics

Burton is a keen sailor, having sailed since her teens. She is a Patron of the Kogarah Bay Sailing Club. In October 2006 she opened a new pontoon for Sailability Kogarah Bay at Dover Park, Blakehurst.[7]

Burton announced she met her husband, Andrew Murphy, after consulting television psychic John Holland in early 2003.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Burton, Cherie Ann (c. 1968 – )". Australian Women. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
  2. ↑ Robinson, Mark (29 March 1999). "Changes ahead as youth rules". The Daily Telegraph (Australia). p. 6.
  3. ↑ "The Hon. Cherie Ann Burton, MP". Members of Parliament. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
  4. ↑ Benson, Simon (31 March 2007). "Reshuffle clouded as MP accused of assault". The Daily Telegraph. p. 11.
  5. ↑ Benson, Simon (15 December 2006). "Theft not reported to police for years". The Daily Telegraph. p. 9.
  6. ↑ Clennell, Andrew (6 August 2010). "Cherie Burton loses her licence for DUI". The Daily Telegraph. p. 3.
  7. ↑ "Minister Cherie Burton launches Sailability Kogarah Bay". Sailability NSW. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  8. ↑ Markson, Sharri (4 March 2007). "Psychic changed my life". The Daily Telegraph. p. 2.
Parliament of New South Wales
Preceded by
Brian Langton		 Member for Kogarah
1999–2015 		Succeeded by
Chris Minns
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