John_Bowler_(politician)

John Bowler (politician)

John Bowler (politician)

Former Western Australian politician

John James Mansell Bowler (born 22 September 1949 in Kalgoorlie) is a former Australian politician who was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2013.[1]

Quick Facts Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, Preceded by ...

Bowler, then a member of the Labor Party, was elected to the legislature from the former seat of Eyre in 2001. He transferred to Murchison-Eyre in 2005, and was appointed as Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, Land Information, Goldfields-Esperance and Great Southern following the re-election of the Labor Government at that year's election[2] and added the Sport and Recreation portfolio in November 2005.[3]

In February 2006, following the election of Alan Carpenter as premier, he was promoted to the portfolios of Resources and Assisting the Minister for State Development; Employment Protection, Goldfields-Esperance and Great Southern.[4]

In December 2006 his portfolios were again reallocated, and he became Minister for Local Government; Employment Protection; Racing and Gaming; Goldfields-Esperance and Great Southern.[5]

Only weeks later, however, Bowler became embroiled in a growing scandal when the Corruption & Crime Commission (CCC) alleged that he had leaked confidential Cabinet information relating to Fortescue Metals Group to disgraced lobbyists and former politicians Julian Grill and Brian Burke. The CCC also alleged that he leaked a draft parliamentary committee report prior to becoming a Minister. He was subsequently asked to resign from both Cabinet and the Labor Party.[6] Despite calls from Premier Alan Carpenter for his resignation, Bowler remained in Parliament as an independent and won the seat of Kalgoorlie as an independent at the 2008 election.

Bowler indicated that he would support the minority Liberal Party government on issues not affecting his electorate.[7]

In September 2009 the CCC reported on its earlier allegations of Bowler leaking Cabinet secrets. The CCC concluded that the information Bowler released could not in fact be considered confidential and that his actions in this instance did not amount to misconduct. His former chief of staff, Simon Corrigan, was also exonerated.[8]

In November 2009 the CCC released its final report into Bowler in relation to BHP's Yeelirrie uranium deposit. The report contained an opinion of serious misconduct against Bowler for agreeing to delay terminating an application over BHP's land by Precious Metals Australia, at the request of Brian Burke and Julian Grill.[9]

Bowler retired from parliament in 2013 and now supports the WA Nationals, being involved with the 2013 state election campaign of Wendy Duncan, MLA for Kalgoorlie, and the campaign of Chub Witham for the seat of O'Connor at the 2013 federal election.

In October 2015, Bowler easily won election as the mayor of Kalgoorlie.[10]

References

  1. [1]
    Parliament of Western Australia - John Bowler - Retrieved 17 September 2009
  2. [2]
    Media Statement - Premier allocates portfolios for his second term Cabinet Archived 14 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 17 September 2009
  3. [3]
    Media Statement - Ministers and parliamentary secretaries sworn in Archived 27 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 17 September 2009
  4. [4]
    Media Statement - Premier unveils new State Cabinet Archived 23 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 17 September 2009
  5. [5]
    Media Statement - Cabinet Reshuffle Archived 23 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 17 September 2009
  6. [6]
    Media Statement - Statement to Parliament from the Premier Archived 23 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 17 September 2009
  7. [7]
    Ex-Labor man Bowler will vote with Liberals Archived 16 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  8. [8]
    CCC Media Statement - Commission says no evidence that Mr John Bowler’s disclosure of information was misconduct - retrieved 17 September 2009
  9. [9]
    CCC Media Statement - Serious misconduct opinion against Mr John Bowler - retrieved 18 November 2009
  10. [10]
    Tomlin, Sam (19 October 2015). "New Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayor John Bowler set to take on Federal policies over antisocial behaviour". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
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