John Della Bosca
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Della Bosca (born 18 July 1956) is a former Australia
n politician, representing the Australian Labor Party
in the New South Wales Legislative Council
. From 1999 to 2009, Della Bosca served a range of ministerial portfolios, including Minister for Health and Minister for the Central Coast in the NSW State Government
.
in Cronulla
. Influenced by a visit to his school by Bob Carr
, Della Bosca joined the ALP in January 1973. He rose through his branch and electorate council to take a place on the party's National Executive. Between 1976 and his election to parliament in 1999, Della Bosca worked for the labour movement full-time in various capacities, first as a researcher for Senator Kerry Sibraa
. In 1979 he took on the role of National Research Officer for the Australian Transport Officers' Federation, becoming the union's State Organiser in 1981.
In 1983, Della Bosca became State Organiser for the ALP. In 1985, he was promoted to Assistant Secretary and in 1990 he attained the position of General Secretary, a post he was to hold for nine years.
appointed him Special Minister of State.
Della Bosca's ministerial responsibilities were expanded following the 2003 election
to include Commerce, Finance, Industrial Relations, Ageing and Disability Services. He was also appointed Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.
Following the 2007 election he was appointed Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for the Central Coast.
On 4 September 2007 Della Bosca stated "the NSW government strives to keep (TAFE) fees as low as possible". Despite this, he announced that course fees would be increasing by 6.5% to 9%.
In May, 2008, Della Bosca revealed his probationary driver's licence had been revoked for a period of six months following multiple speeding offences. At the time of the ban Della Bosca was in charge of the Motor Accidents Authority. Later that month, he caused further controversy by swearing at a media photographer who photographed him cycling to work.
On 13 June 2008, Della Bosca was stood down from his position as Minister for Education and Training while police investigated an alleged altercation between Della Bosca and his wife Belinda Neal
(a Federal ALP MP) and staff at Iguana Joe's waterfront bar and nightclub at Gosford
. The nightclub issued an apology to Della Bosca, at least parts of which were reported to have been written by Della Bosca himself. The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions
subsequently found that "there is insufficient evidence to support any criminal charge against NSW law".
On his return to the ministry, Della Bosca was appointed Minister for Health and Minister for the Central Coast, with his former Education portfolio passing to Verity Firth
.
On 29 July 2010, Della Bosca announced that he was resigning from the New South Wales Legislative Council
to become a campaign director for the National Disability and Carers Alliance, and assist in the establishment of a national disability insurance scheme.
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, representing 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...
in the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
. From 1999 to 2009, Della Bosca served a range of ministerial portfolios, including Minister for Health and Minister for the Central Coast in the NSW State Government
Government of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
.
Early life and career
Della Bosca attended school at De La Salle CollegeDe La Salle College (Cronulla, NSW)
De La Salle College Cronulla is a Catholic systemic, senior secondary, co-educational day school, located in Cronulla, a southern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
in Cronulla
Cronulla, New South Wales
Cronulla is a beachside suburb, in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cronulla is located 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Sutherland Shire....
. Influenced by a visit to his school by Bob Carr
Bob Carr
Robert John "Bob" Carr , Australian statesman, was Premier of New South Wales from 4 April 1995 to 3 August 2005. He holds the record for the longest continuous service as premier of NSW...
, Della Bosca joined the ALP in January 1973. He rose through his branch and electorate council to take a place on the party's National Executive. Between 1976 and his election to parliament in 1999, Della Bosca worked for the labour movement full-time in various capacities, first as a researcher for Senator Kerry Sibraa
Kerry Sibraa
Kerry Walter Sibraa, AO was an Australian Senator who represented the Labor Party for the state of New South Wales. He served as a Senator for from 1 July 1975 to 30 June 1978, and then again from 9 August 1978 until 1 February 1994, and was President of the Senate from 17 February 1987 to 1...
. In 1979 he took on the role of National Research Officer for the Australian Transport Officers' Federation, becoming the union's State Organiser in 1981.
In 1983, Della Bosca became State Organiser for the ALP. In 1985, he was promoted to Assistant Secretary and in 1990 he attained the position of General Secretary, a post he was to hold for nine years.
Parliamentary career
In 1999, Della Bosca made his much-anticipated move into parliamentary politics as a candidate for the Legislative Council. Within a month of his election, premier Bob CarrBob Carr
Robert John "Bob" Carr , Australian statesman, was Premier of New South Wales from 4 April 1995 to 3 August 2005. He holds the record for the longest continuous service as premier of NSW...
appointed him Special Minister of State.
Della Bosca's ministerial responsibilities were expanded following the 2003 election
New South Wales state election, 2003
Elections to the 53rd Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday 22 March 2003. All seats in the Legislative Assembly and half the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election...
to include Commerce, Finance, Industrial Relations, Ageing and Disability Services. He was also appointed Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.
Following the 2007 election he was appointed Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for the Central Coast.
On 4 September 2007 Della Bosca stated "the NSW government strives to keep (TAFE) fees as low as possible". Despite this, he announced that course fees would be increasing by 6.5% to 9%.
In May, 2008, Della Bosca revealed his probationary driver's licence had been revoked for a period of six months following multiple speeding offences. At the time of the ban Della Bosca was in charge of the Motor Accidents Authority. Later that month, he caused further controversy by swearing at a media photographer who photographed him cycling to work.
On 13 June 2008, Della Bosca was stood down from his position as Minister for Education and Training while police investigated an alleged altercation between Della Bosca and his wife Belinda Neal
Belinda Neal
Belinda Jane Neal , a former Australian federal politician, was a Member of the House of Representatives representing the electorate of Robertson between 2007 and 2010; and representing the state of New South Wales in the Senate from 1994 to 1998, both of behalf of the Australian Labor...
(a Federal ALP MP) and staff at Iguana Joe's waterfront bar and nightclub at Gosford
Gosford, New South Wales
Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 76 km north of the Sydney central business district...
. The nightclub issued an apology to Della Bosca, at least parts of which were reported to have been written by Della Bosca himself. The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions
Director of Public Prosecutions
The Director of Public Prosecutions is the officer charged with the prosecution of criminal offences in several criminal jurisdictions around the world...
subsequently found that "there is insufficient evidence to support any criminal charge against NSW law".
On his return to the ministry, Della Bosca was appointed Minister for Health and Minister for the Central Coast, with his former Education portfolio passing to Verity Firth
Verity Firth
Verity Helen Firth is the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Education Foundation in Australia and a former politician....
.
Scandal and resignation
On 31 August 2009, Della Bosca resigned from his ministries and as Government leader in the Legislative Council, following the public revelation of a 6-month sexual affair.On 29 July 2010, Della Bosca announced that he was resigning from the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
to become a campaign director for the National Disability and Carers Alliance, and assist in the establishment of a national disability insurance scheme.