John Bowler (politician)
Encyclopedia
John James Mansell Bowler (born 22 September 1949 in Kalgoorlie
) is a Western Australia
n politician who has represented the electoral district of Murchison-Eyre
since 2001.
Bowler, then a member of the Australian Labor Party
, 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 the 2005 election
and added the Sport and Recreation portfolio in November 2005.
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.
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.
Only weeks later, however, Bowler became embroiled in a growing scandal when the Corruption and 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. 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 has indicated that he will support the minority Liberal Party
government on issues not affecting his electorate.
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.
This report also cleared Bowler's former Chief of Staff, Simon Corrigan, of any misconduct.
In November 2009 the CCC released its final report into Bowler in relation to BHP Billiton's
Yeelirrie uranium deposit, This 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
.
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Kalgoorlie, known as Kalgoorlie-Boulder, is a town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, and is located east-northeast of state capital Perth at the end of the Great Eastern Highway...
) is a Western Australia
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...
n politician who has represented the electoral district of Murchison-Eyre
Electoral district of Murchison-Eyre
Murchison-Eyre was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1890 to 1989 and again from 2005 to 2008....
since 2001.
Bowler, then a member of 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...
, 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 the 2005 election
Western Australian state election, 2005
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 26 February 2005 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and all 34 members to the Legislative Council...
and added the Sport and Recreation portfolio in November 2005.
In February 2006, following the election of Alan Carpenter
Alan Carpenter
Alan John Carpenter is a former Australian politician. He was the 28th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 2006 to 2008. He took office following the resignation of Dr Geoff Gallop...
as Premier, he was promoted to the portfolios of Resources and Assisting the Minister for State Development; Employment Protection, Goldfields-Esperance and Great Southern.
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.
Only weeks later, however, Bowler became embroiled in a growing scandal when 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...
(CCC) alleged that he had leaked confidential Cabinet information relating to Fortescue Metals Group
Fortescue Metals Group
Fortescue Metals Group is an Australian iron ore mining company. The company has holdings of more than 87,000 km² in the Pilbara region of Western Australia making it the largest tenement holder in the state. It is listed as FMG on the Australian Securities Exchange .In 2008, the group loaded...
to disgraced lobbyists and former politicians Julian Grill
Julian Grill
Julian Fletcher Grill is a former member of the Australian Labor Party and Member of the Parliament of Western Australia as the Member for Eyre....
and Brian Burke
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...
. 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. Despite calls from Premier Alan Carpenter
Alan Carpenter
Alan John Carpenter is a former Australian politician. He was the 28th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 2006 to 2008. He took office following the resignation of Dr Geoff Gallop...
for his resignation , Bowler remained in Parliament as an independent and won the seat of Kalgoorlie
Electoral district of Kalgoorlie
Kalgoorlie is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.The district includes not only the town of Kalgoorlie, but significant parts of the outback in central and eastern Western Australia....
as an independent at the 2008 election
Western Australian state election, 2008
A general election was held in the state of Western Australia on Saturday 6 September 2008 to elect 59 members to the Legislative Assembly and 36 members to the Legislative Council...
.
Bowler has indicated that he will support the minority Liberal Party
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...
government on issues not affecting his electorate.
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.
This report also cleared Bowler's former Chief of Staff, Simon Corrigan, of any misconduct.
In November 2009 the CCC released its final report into Bowler in relation to BHP Billiton's
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
Yeelirrie uranium deposit, This 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
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...
and Julian Grill
Julian Grill
Julian Fletcher Grill is a former member of the Australian Labor Party and Member of the Parliament of Western Australia as the Member for Eyre....
.