Tony Kelly (politician)

The Honourable
Tony Kelly
ALGA
Member of the
New South Wales Legislative Council
In office
17 September 1997 – 6 June 2011
Preceded by Peter Watkins
Minister for Planning
In office
8 December 2009 – 28 March 2011
Preceded by Kristina Keneally
Succeeded by Brad Hazzard
New South Wales Minister for Lands
In office
3 June 2004 – 28 March 2011
Preceded by Richard Amery
Succeeded by Brad Hazzard
New South Wales Minister for Infrastructure
In office
8 December 2009 – 28 March 2011
Preceded by Joe Tripodi
Succeeded by Brad Hazzard
Personal details
Born Anthony Bernard Kelly
(1948-08-25) 25 August 1948
Nationality Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party (circa 1975–2011)[1][2]
Spouse(s) Anne Kelly
Children 2 sons
Website Legislative Webpage

Anthony Bernard "Tony" Kelly (born 25 August 1948), is an Australian former politician, who was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council representing the Australian Labor Party from 1997 until 2011.

Following an investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption in 2011,[3] it was found that Kelly engaged in corrupt conduct during the government purchase of a beach property in northern Sydney. Kelly did not face criminal charges.[4]

Early life and background

Kelly was educated at St Mary's Catholic School in Wellington, New South Wales and at St Stanislaus' College in Bathurst, New South Wales.[1] He undertook further studies in local government administration at Mitchell College of Advanced Education, now Charles Sturt University.

Kelly worked for 20 years with the Wellington Shire Council.[1]

Political career

Kelly entered the Legislative Council in September 1987 and served until the 1988 election,[5] which his party lost. Kelly re-entered the Council in September 1997 and was re-elected at the 2003 and 2011 elections for eight-year terms; resigning from the Council with immediate effect on 6 June 2011.[6][7]

During his time in parliament, Kelly served as Minister Assisting the Minister for Natural Resources (Lands), 2003 to 2004; Minister for Local Government, 2003 to 2005; Minister for Emergency Services, 2003 to 2009; Minister for Rural Affairs, 2003 to 2008; Minister for Lands, 2004 to 2011; Minister Assisting the Minister for Natural Resources, 2005; Minister for Juvenile Justice, 2005 to 2008; Minister for Justice, 2005 to 2008; Minister for Police, 2008 to 2009; and Minister for Planning and Minister for Infrastructure, 2009 to 2011.[5]

Political controversy

On 20 June 2011, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) announced[8] that it would hold a public inquiry into matters arising from the purchase of property at Currawong, Pittwater by the NSW Government. Concluding the investigation in mid-December, the ICAC found that Kelly engaged in corrupt conduct with respect to the purchase of the property by the NSW Government.[4] The ICAC found that Kelly, as the then Minister for Lands, authorised the purchase even though he knew he was not authorised to do so, and that he backdated a letter to before the caretaker period of government commenced,[9][10] knowing that it would be used by a public servant to falsely represent that written authority had been given to authorise the purchase.[3][11] The allegations generated significant publicity.[12][13] On release of the findings, the Labor Party immediately moved to terminate Kelly's membership.[2][14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kelly, Anthony. "Inaugural Speech, Members" (PDF). Hansard: New South Wales Legislative Council (PDF). Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Ex-minister faces forgery charge over $12m property buy: ICAC". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  3. 1 2 "ICAC has confirmed it will investigate former NSW Labor minister Tony Kelly over the sale of Currawong". The Australian. AAP. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  4. 1 2 Shanahan, Leo (13 December 2011). "Ex-Labor minister Tony Kelly may face charges". The Australian. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  5. 1 2 "The Hon. (Tony) Anthony Bernard KELLY, ALGA MLC". Former members. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  6. ↑ "Former NSW minister Tony Kelly resigns". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  7. ↑ "Former NSW minister quits politics". ABC News. Australia. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  8. ↑ "ICAC public inquiry into matters arising from Currawong property purchase". Current investigations: Operation Napier. Independent Commission Against Corruption. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  9. ↑ Tranter, Chi (6 July 2011). "Kelly backdated letter at café, ICAC told". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  10. ↑ Shanahan, Leo (12 July 2011). "Paying the political price for Currawong". The Australian. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  11. ↑ Nicholls, Sean (20 June 2011). "ICAC to investigate former minister Tony Kelly over purchase of Currawong". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  12. ↑ Nicholls, Sean (22 March 2011). "Labor hit by property scandal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  13. ↑ Shanahan, Leo (8 July 2011). "Former planning minister Tony Kelly vowed to delve into land sale probe". The Australian. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  14. ↑ Foschia, Liz (12 December 2011). "Kelly engaged in corrupt conduct, ICAC finds". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
Political offices
Preceded by
Harry Woods		 Minister for Local Government
2003 – 2005 		Succeeded by
Kerry Hickey
Preceded by
Kristina Keneally		 Minister for Planning
2009 – 2011 		Succeeded by
Brad Hazzard
as Minister for Planning and Infrastructure
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/7/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.