Ben Wyatt
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Sana Wyatt is an Indigenous Australia
n politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party
member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
since March 2006, representing the electorate of Victoria Park
.
, a former public servant and political aspirant who was a member of the Stolen Generations. He is a cousin of Ken Wyatt
, a Liberal
member of the House of Representatives
.
Like his father he attended Aquinas College, Perth
. Wyatt graduated from the University of Western Australia
in 1996 with a Bachelor of Laws
. While studying he briefly worked in a liquor store.
He later attended the London School of Economics
where he completed a Masters Degree in Comparative Politics.
He later joined the Perth office of law firm Minter Ellison. In 2004, while still working for Minter Ellison, Wyatt was elected to the board of Indigenous Business Australia.
resigned, he became the front-runner for preselection in the electorate of Victoria Park
. He is the third Aboriginal
to be elected to the WA Parliament, and the second youngest in the current parliament.
In 2008 Wyatt was cleared by the Corruption and Crime Commission
in relation to dealings with lobbyist Brian Burke
. Burke approached Wyatt in order to launch a parliamentary enquiry that would favour one of Burke's associates.
After Labor's defeat in the 2008 state election he was promoted to the role of Shadow Treasurer in the new shadow cabinet as well as Shadow Minister for Federal-State Relations, Culture and the Arts.
In January 2011 Wyatt intended to challenge WA Labor leader Eric Ripper
, but withdrew after finding minority support amongst caucus.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
since March 2006, representing the electorate of Victoria Park
Electoral district of Victoria Park
The Electoral district of Victoria Park is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Victoria Park is named for the inner southeastern Perth suburb of Victoria Park which falls within its borders.-History:...
.
Early life and education
Wyatt is the son of Cedric WyattCedric Wyatt
Cedric Wyatt is an Australian indigenous rights activist. He is a cousin of Ken Wyatt and the father of Ben Wyatt.-Early life:Wyatt was born to a white Australian father and an Aboriginal mother...
, a former public servant and political aspirant who was a member of the Stolen Generations. He is a cousin of Ken Wyatt
Ken Wyatt
Kenneth George Wyatt AM is a member of the Australian House of Representatives representing the electoral division of Hasluck in Western Australia for the Liberal Party of Australia...
, a Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
.
Like his father he attended Aquinas College, Perth
Aquinas College, Perth
Aquinas College is a Catholic independent, day and boarding school for boys, located in Salter Point, Western Australia. Its sister school is Santa Maria Ladies College located in Attadale...
. Wyatt graduated from the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
in 1996 with a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
. While studying he briefly worked in a liquor store.
He later attended the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
where he completed a Masters Degree in Comparative Politics.
Working life
After being admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1998, Wyatt joined the Western Australian Director of Public Prosecutions Office as prosecutor.He later joined the Perth office of law firm Minter Ellison. In 2004, while still working for Minter Ellison, Wyatt was elected to the board of Indigenous Business Australia.
Politics
In 2006, after Dr. Geoff GallopGeoff Gallop
Geoffrey Ian Gallop, AC is an Australian academic and former politician. He was the Premier of Western Australia from 2001 to 2006. He currently resides in Sydney.-Early life and education:...
resigned, he became the front-runner for preselection in the electorate of Victoria Park
Electoral district of Victoria Park
The Electoral district of Victoria Park is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Victoria Park is named for the inner southeastern Perth suburb of Victoria Park which falls within its borders.-History:...
. He is the third Aboriginal
Australian Aborigines
Australian Aborigines , also called Aboriginal Australians, from the latin ab originem , are people who are indigenous to most of the Australian continentthat is, to mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania...
to be elected to the WA Parliament, and the second youngest in the current parliament.
In 2008 Wyatt was cleared by the Corruption and Crime Commission
Corruption and Crime Commission
The Corruption and Crime Commission is a permanent investigative commission established by the Government of Western Australia in 2003, largely as a result of the findings of a Royal Commission into the state's police service. Its role is to investigate public corruption...
in relation to dealings with lobbyist Brian Burke
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...
. Burke approached Wyatt in order to launch a parliamentary enquiry that would favour one of Burke's associates.
After Labor's defeat in the 2008 state election he was promoted to the role of Shadow Treasurer in the new shadow cabinet as well as Shadow Minister for Federal-State Relations, Culture and the Arts.
In January 2011 Wyatt intended to challenge WA Labor leader Eric Ripper
Eric Ripper
Eric Stephen Ripper is the Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia.He grew up on a wheat/sheep farm near Nyabing. Ripper later attended Churchlands Senior High School and the University of Western Australia, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts and a...
, but withdrew after finding minority support amongst caucus.