David Parker (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
David Charles Parker was an Australian politician from Western Australia
, serving as a minister in the Burke Ministry
(1983–1988), then as Deputy Premier
in the Dowding Ministry
(1988–1990). He later served a jail term for perjury
for evidence given to the WA Inc
royal commission.
suburb of Subiaco
on 22 May 1953 to Charles (Lex) Parker, a professor of agriculture at the University of Western Australia
(UWA), and Dorothy Berghiner, a lecturer in anthropology. He attended Nedlands Primary School and Hollywood Senior High School in Perth, boarding at Cambridgeshire High School for Boys
in 1968 and 1969. He then attended UWA, graduating with a BA in History. During his time at UWA, he joined the Australian Labor Party
, and served on the student guild
for several years, including as its president in 1974–1975, and from 1971 was a member of the state executive of the Labor Party. Upon completing his education, he worked as an industrial officer for the Building Workers' Industrial Union, and became a director in Mount Newman Superannuation Pty Ltd. He also rose within the Labor Party, being appointed to its administrative committee in 1976.
Ahead of the 1980 election
, he was preselected for the state seat of Fremantle
to replace John Troy
, who had become controversial through advocating for the Palestinian
cause during his time in Parliament, and on 23 February 1980, he entered parliament. He was appointed to the shadow ministry in September 1981.
Labor came to power under Brian Burke
at the 1983 election
, and Parker was appointed Minister for Employment, Planning and Administrative Services, and Minister Assisting
the Minister Co-ordinating Economic and Social Development. At 29 years, 9 months and 3 days, he was the youngest person ever appointed to a Western Australian ministry. On 23 December 1983, he was appointed Minister for Minerals and Energy, with most of his former portfolios being transferred to Peter Dowding
.
In late 1987, it was announced that Burke and his deputy Mal Bryce
would retire from politics on his fifth anniversary of taking office as premier. Burke preferred a combination of Dowding as Premier and Parker as Deputy Premier to succeed him; this was backed up by a secret opinion poll from March 1987 that identified them as having electoral appeal. On 30 December 1987, they won a caucus leadership ballot unopposed and on 25 February 1988, Parker became Deputy Premier. After the 1989 election
, he also became Treasurer
.
On 12 February 1990, Dowding was forced out of office amid the increasing trouble surrounding WA Inc
and the impending federal election at which the party wanted to minimise any loss of seats. Parker was given a junior role (Resources, Trade and the Arts) in the succeeding Lawrence Ministry
, but ultimately announced his intention to resign from parliament on 5 April 1990 and left on 26 April. The by-election to replace him
resulted in a 7.6% two-party-preferred swing against the government, but left-wing union official Jim McGinty
retained the seat for Labor.
Parker's role in various decisions related to WA Inc while responsible for minerals and energy was investigated by the Royal Commission, which delivered its interim report on 19 October 1992. Parker was ultimately sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment on seven charges of misusing party campaign funds in late 1994. In 1996 he served six months of an 18-month sentence for perjury
over evidence given to the Commission.
In 1997, he moved permanently to Hong Kong and worked in various management roles in energy and chemical companies.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, serving as a minister in the Burke Ministry
Burke Ministry (Western Australia)
The Burke Ministry was the 29th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, led by Labor Premier Brian Burke and deputy Mal Bryce. It commenced on 25 February 1983, six days after the O'Connor ministry, led by Premier Ray O'Connor of the Liberal Party, was defeated at the 1983 election...
(1983–1988), then as Deputy Premier
Deputy Premier of Western Australia
The Deputy Premier of Western Australia is a role in the Government of Western Australia assigned to a responsible Minister in the Australian state of Western Australia. It has second ranking behind the Premier of Western Australia in Cabinet, and its holder serves as Acting Premier during absence...
in the Dowding Ministry
Dowding Ministry
The Dowding Ministry was the 30th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, and was led by Labor Premier Peter Dowding and his deputy, David Parker...
(1988–1990). He later served a jail term for perjury
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
for evidence given to the WA Inc
WA Inc
WA Inc was a political scandal in Western Australia. In the 1980s, the state government, which was led for much of the period by premier Brian Burke, engaged in business dealings with several prominent businessmen, including Alan Bond, Laurie Connell and Warren Anderson...
royal commission.
Biography
David Charles Parker was born in the PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
suburb of Subiaco
Subiaco, Western Australia
Subiaco is an inner western suburb of Perth, Western Australia, situated to the north west of Kings Park. Its Local Government Area is the City of Subiaco.-History:Prior to European settlement the area was home to the Noongar Indigenous people....
on 22 May 1953 to Charles (Lex) Parker, a professor of agriculture at 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...
(UWA), and Dorothy Berghiner, a lecturer in anthropology. He attended Nedlands Primary School and Hollywood Senior High School in Perth, boarding at Cambridgeshire High School for Boys
Cambridgeshire High School for Boys
The Cambridgeshire High School for Boys was founded as the Cambridge and County School for Boys in Cambridge, England, in 1900.-History:...
in 1968 and 1969. He then attended UWA, graduating with a BA in History. During his time at UWA, he joined the 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...
, and served on the student guild
University of Western Australia Student Guild
The UWA Student Guild is the official student representative body at the University of Western Australia, representing the interests of students to the University, government and the wider community, as well as providing services to students...
for several years, including as its president in 1974–1975, and from 1971 was a member of the state executive of the Labor Party. Upon completing his education, he worked as an industrial officer for the Building Workers' Industrial Union, and became a director in Mount Newman Superannuation Pty Ltd. He also rose within the Labor Party, being appointed to its administrative committee in 1976.
Ahead of the 1980 election
Western Australian state election, 1980
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 23 February 1980 to elect all 55 members to the Legislative Assembly and 16 members to the 32-seat Legislative Council...
, he was preselected for the state seat of Fremantle
Electoral district of Fremantle
Fremantle is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.The district is located in the inner south-west of Perth, centring on the port of Fremantle....
to replace John Troy
John Troy (Australian politician)
John Robert Troy was an Australian politician, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1977 until 1980 representing the seat of Fremantle.-Biography:...
, who had become controversial through advocating for the Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
cause during his time in Parliament, and on 23 February 1980, he entered parliament. He was appointed to the shadow ministry in September 1981.
Labor came to power under Brian Burke
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...
at the 1983 election
Western Australian state election, 1983
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 19 February 1983 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and 18 members to the 34-seat Legislative Council....
, and Parker was appointed Minister for Employment, Planning and Administrative Services, and Minister Assisting
the Minister Co-ordinating Economic and Social Development. At 29 years, 9 months and 3 days, he was the youngest person ever appointed to a Western Australian ministry. On 23 December 1983, he was appointed Minister for Minerals and Energy, with most of his former portfolios being transferred to Peter Dowding
Peter Dowding
Peter McCallum Dowding SC was the 24th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 25 February 1988 until his resignation on 12 February 1990 after an internal party dispute....
.
In late 1987, it was announced that Burke and his deputy Mal Bryce
Mal Bryce
Malcolm John "Mal" Bryce AO was the Labor member for Ascot in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1971 to 1988. He was Deputy Premier to Brian Burke from 1983 to 1988.-References:...
would retire from politics on his fifth anniversary of taking office as premier. Burke preferred a combination of Dowding as Premier and Parker as Deputy Premier to succeed him; this was backed up by a secret opinion poll from March 1987 that identified them as having electoral appeal. On 30 December 1987, they won a caucus leadership ballot unopposed and on 25 February 1988, Parker became Deputy Premier. After the 1989 election
Western Australian state election, 1989
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 4 February 1989 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and all 34 members to the Legislative Council...
, he also became Treasurer
Treasurer of Western Australia
The Treasurer of the State of Western Australia is the title held by the Cabinet Minister who is responsible for the management of Western Australia's public sector finances, and for preparing and delivering the annual State Budget...
.
On 12 February 1990, Dowding was forced out of office amid the increasing trouble surrounding WA Inc
WA Inc
WA Inc was a political scandal in Western Australia. In the 1980s, the state government, which was led for much of the period by premier Brian Burke, engaged in business dealings with several prominent businessmen, including Alan Bond, Laurie Connell and Warren Anderson...
and the impending federal election at which the party wanted to minimise any loss of seats. Parker was given a junior role (Resources, Trade and the Arts) in the succeeding Lawrence Ministry
Lawrence Ministry
The Lawrence Ministry was the 31st Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, and was led by Labor Premier Dr Carmen Lawrence and her deputy Ian Taylor. It succeeded the Dowding Ministry on 18 February 1990, following the resignation of Peter Dowding six days earlier following an open letter...
, but ultimately announced his intention to resign from parliament on 5 April 1990 and left on 26 April. The by-election to replace him
Fremantle state by-election, 1990
The Fremantle state by-election, 1990 was a by-election held on 26 May 1990 for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Fremantle in the southern suburbs of Perth....
resulted in a 7.6% two-party-preferred swing against the government, but left-wing union official Jim McGinty
Jim McGinty
James Andrew McGinty is an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1990 to 2009, representing the district of Fremantle. He was Labor Party leader and Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 1996...
retained the seat for Labor.
Parker's role in various decisions related to WA Inc while responsible for minerals and energy was investigated by the Royal Commission, which delivered its interim report on 19 October 1992. Parker was ultimately sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment on seven charges of misusing party campaign funds in late 1994. In 1996 he served six months of an 18-month sentence for perjury
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
over evidence given to the Commission.
In 1997, he moved permanently to Hong Kong and worked in various management roles in energy and chemical companies.