Keith O'Connell
Encyclopedia
Keith O'Connell was an Australia
n politician. He was a Labor
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1971 to 1984, representing Gosford
until 1973 and Peats
thereafter.
O'Connell was born in East Greta
and attended government schools at Morisset East
and Newcastle
before becoming an electrical fitter. In 1952 he became a storekeepr at Toukley
. He was elected to Wyong Shire Council
in 1959, where he served until 1971. He was chairman of Brisbane Water
County Council from 1960 to 1971 and a member of the Local Government Electriticy Association from 1960 to 1971, becoming President in his last year. He was also a member of the New South Wales Electricity Authority (1961–1971).
In 1971, O'Connell was selected as the Labor
candidate for Gosford
and defeated sitting Liberal
MP Ted Humphries. In 1973, the creation of Peats
left Gosford with a Liberal majority, and O'Connell contested the new seat instead. He held the seat easily until his retirement in 1984, which allowed Paul Landa
, Labor's leader in the Legislative Council
, to shift to the Assembly.
O'Connell died in 2006.
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 was a Labor
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 New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1971 to 1984, representing Gosford
Electoral district of Gosford
Gosford is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Chris Holstein of the Liberal Party. The former district of Gosford was renamed Terrigal for the 2007 state election...
until 1973 and Peats
Electoral district of Peats
Peats was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1973 to 2007. It was replaced by Gosford for the 2007 state election.-Members:-Election results:...
thereafter.
O'Connell was born in East Greta
Greta, New South Wales
Greta is a small town in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia in Cessnock City Council. It has a population of around 1000 people. It is largely a commuter town located midway between Cessnock, Singleton and Maitland...
and attended government schools at Morisset East
Morisset, New South Wales
Morisset is a commercial centre and suburb of the City of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia, and is located west of Lake Macquarie just off the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway.-History:...
and Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
before becoming an electrical fitter. In 1952 he became a storekeepr at Toukley
Toukley, New South Wales
Toukley is a town in the Central Coast region of the Australian state of New South Wales. It lies approximately 107 km north of Sydney via the F3 freeway. It is located between Tuggerah Lake, Budgewoi Lake, and the Pacific Ocean. The town is within the area of the Wyong Shire...
. He was elected to Wyong Shire Council
Wyong Shire Council
Wyong Shire is located in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, north of Sydney. Wyong Shire's administrative centre is located in the town of Wyong, and the Council maintains service and information centres at The Entrance, Tuggerah and at Lakehaven Shopping Centre...
in 1959, where he served until 1971. He was chairman of Brisbane Water
Brisbane Water
Brisbane Water is the northern arm of Broken Bay on the east coast of New South Wales Australia. Brisbane Water is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales between 1820 and 1825...
County Council from 1960 to 1971 and a member of the Local Government Electriticy Association from 1960 to 1971, becoming President in his last year. He was also a member of the New South Wales Electricity Authority (1961–1971).
In 1971, O'Connell was selected as the Labor
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...
candidate for Gosford
Electoral district of Gosford
Gosford is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Chris Holstein of the Liberal Party. The former district of Gosford was renamed Terrigal for the 2007 state election...
and defeated sitting 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...
MP Ted Humphries. In 1973, the creation of Peats
Electoral district of Peats
Peats was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1973 to 2007. It was replaced by Gosford for the 2007 state election.-Members:-Election results:...
left Gosford with a Liberal majority, and O'Connell contested the new seat instead. He held the seat easily until his retirement in 1984, which allowed Paul Landa
Paul Landa
David Paul Landa, QC was an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1973 to 1984, and the member for Peats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1984...
, Labor's leader in the 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 shift to the Assembly.
O'Connell died in 2006.