Robert Frank Johnson OAM (born 17 October 1943) is an Australian former politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1993 to 2017. He was elected as a member of the Liberal Party, and served as a minister in the government of Colin Barnett from 2008 to 2012, but resigned from the party in April 2016 to sit as an independent[1] . He was defeated at the 2017 election.
Rob Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Road Safety | |
| In office 23 September 2008 – 29 June 2012 | |
| Member of the Western Australian Parliament for Hillarys | |
| In office 14 December 1996 – 11 March 2017 | |
| Preceded by | New creation |
| Succeeded by | Peter Katsambanis |
| Member of the Western Australian Parliament for Whitford | |
| In office 6 February 1993 – 14 December 1996 | |
| Preceded by | Pam Beggs |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 October 1943 London, England |
| Nationality | English–Australian |
| Political party | Liberal (to 2016) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (from 2016) |
| Profession | Company chairman |
Political career
editLocal politics
editJohnson was born in London, England. At the age of 35, he was elected as a councillor for the London Borough of Sutton and subsequently became Mayor.[2]
Soon after emigrating to Australia in 1988, he was elected as a councillor to the City of Wanneroo in 1991. The following year he was elected Mayor.[2]
Western Australian Parliament
editJohnson was elected as the member for Whitford in 1993 and, following a re-distribution of boundaries, was re-elected for the seat of Hillarys in 1996.[3]
From December 1999 until February 2001, Johnson served in the Court Coalition government, as Minister for Works, Services, Citizenship and Multicultural Interests.[2] He became Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Road Safety with the return to power of the Coalition in September 2008.[3]
Johnson supports reintroducing the Death Penalty, in 2007 he lobbied the Western Australia liberal party to adopt a policy on capital punishment.[4]
In his first two years as minister in the new Barnett government, Johnson introduced 16 bills into the Legislative Assembly.[5] Many of them were controversial and high-profile,[6] including increasing the impounding period of a vehicle for anyone convicted of a "hoon" offence.[7] Other measures were to ensure motorists with a blood alcohol reading of 0.08 or above lost their licence immediately at the roadside,[8] that all revenue from speed and red light cameras would go to road safety projects,[9] and a proposal for Australia's first online sex offender register.[10]
Investigations following a major bushfire in the Perth hills in February 2011, with the loss of 71 homes,[11][12] and another in the Margaret River area, resulted in severe criticism of Johnson, and he was removed from the Emergency Services portfolio.[13]
In May 2012, federal Liberal MP for Canning, Don Randall, attacked Johnson in Federal Parliament, labelling him bumbling, weak and incompetent.[6] In turn, Johnson called for Randall to be sacked over the misuse of travel expenses.[14]
After a cabinet reshuffle by premier Colin Barnett in June 2012, Johnson was removed from the Police and Road Safety portfolio.[3][15][16] At the 2013 Western Australian state election, he was re-elected to the seat of Hillarys.[17]
Business career
editAfter arriving in Australia, Johnson started a family business incorporating an investment firm and a national computer distributorship.[2]
He is a former chair of Radio Lollipop (Australia), a charity that cares for children in hospital.[2]
References
edit- ^ Carmody, Rebecca (15 April 2016). "Outspoken WA MP Rob Johnson steps down from Liberal Party". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Rob Johnson biography". Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
- ^ a b c "Hon. Robert (Rob) Frank Johnson MLA JP". Western Australian Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
- ^ "Liberal calls for death penalty". 3 August 2007.
- ^ Mr R.F. Johnson (25 November 2010). "Liberal–National Government—Law and Order Policies" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Western Australia: Legislative Assembly. pp. 9698b–9699a.
- ^ a b Parker, Gareth (10 May 2012). "Johnson cops more Liberal flak". The West Australian. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- ^ Pownall, Angela (11 September 2011). "First car crushed under licence laws". The West Australian. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ^ "Drink drivers face immediate licence suspension" (Press release). Government of Western Australia. 23 September 2010. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ "Pages - Statement Details". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
- ^ "Government plans public sex offender register". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ "WA fire boss Jo Harrison-Ward sacked after scathing bushfire report". Perth Now. News Limited. AAP. 17 August 2011. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ DeCeglie, Anthony (17 August 2012). "Minister Turned Blind Eye to FESA Failings". Perth Now. News Limited. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- ^ "Johnson dumped from emergency services role". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- ^ "Expenses claim: Don Randall should be sacked - WA Liberal Rob Johnson". Perth Now. News Corp. AAP. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ "Rob Johnson disappointed at Cabinet dumping". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ Parker, Gareth (28 June 2012). "Police Minister axed in Cabinet reshuffle". The West Australian. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- ^ "Hillarys - 2013 Western Australian Election". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 April 2016.