Robert Furolo
Encyclopedia
Robert Anthony Furolo is an Australia
n politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
since October 2008, representing the electorate of Lakemba
.
Furolo was born in Sydney
, and grew up in its outer western suburbs. He worked in the transport industry after leaving school, working as a McDonalds manager for a period, before returning to university to study economics and industrial relations. He was appointed as an advisor to his local MLA, member for Hurstville and future Premier Morris Iemma
in 1994. He worked for Iemma for nine years, remaining on his staff after his appointment as a minister in 1999, before leaving to work as a public relations consultant in 2003.
Furolo was elected to the City of Canterbury
council in 1999, and served a stint as its deputy mayor before standing for mayor in the council's first ever popular election in 2004 - (disputed information - first popularly elected Mayor was Ald. John Mountford (West Ward) in 1977). He won that election, and was re-elected in 2008, recording one of the few swings to the Labor Party in an election where the party faced widespread losses across the state.
One week before his re-election as mayor, on 5 September 2008, Iemma was sacked as Premier by the Labor caucus, resulting in widespread speculation that he would resign as the member for Lakemba. After delaying an announcement for two weeks, Iemma announced on 19 September that he would indeed retire; a move reportedly attributed to his efforts to see Furolo, his preferred choice, endorsed as his successor. Furolo subsequently won Labor preselection for what had been Labor's safest seat in the state, and easily won the seat, polling more than 58% of the primary vote, despite a 15% swing against Labor. He was sworn in as a member of the Legislative Assembly on 18 October, and as a member of the Legislative Review Committee on 30 October.
In October 2010, Furolo borrowed a Lamborghini
(reportedly valued at $400,000) from local businessmen, "the Kazzi brothers", for the purposes of a "joyride
". Furolo crashed the vehicle but was unhurt. No other vehicles were involved in the accident and no one was hurt.
Furolo is the father of two children, Isabella, who is thirteen, and Alexander, who is nine. Furolo mentions his beloved children in many of his speeches, including his inaugural speech, made in 2008, when he was originally elected as the Seat for Lakemba. Robert recently was re-elected as the Member for Lakemba on the 16th March 2011.
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 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...
since October 2008, representing the electorate of Lakemba
Electoral district of Lakemba
Lakemba is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales in Sydney's Inner West. It has been held by the Australian Labor Party since its creation in 1927...
.
Furolo was born in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, and grew up in its outer western suburbs. He worked in the transport industry after leaving school, working as a McDonalds manager for a period, before returning to university to study economics and industrial relations. He was appointed as an advisor to his local MLA, member for Hurstville and future Premier Morris Iemma
Morris Iemma
Morris Iemma , is a former Australian politician and 40th Premier of New South Wales, succeeding Bob Carr after he resigned on 3 August 2005. Iemma led the Australian Labor Party to victory in the 2007 election before resigning as Premier on 5 September 2008, and as a Member of Parliament on 19...
in 1994. He worked for Iemma for nine years, remaining on his staff after his appointment as a minister in 1999, before leaving to work as a public relations consultant in 2003.
Furolo was elected to the City of Canterbury
City of Canterbury, New South Wales
The City of Canterbury, previously the Municipality of Canterbury, is a Local Government Area in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It lies southwest of the central business district and forms part of the Greater Sydney metropolitan area....
council in 1999, and served a stint as its deputy mayor before standing for mayor in the council's first ever popular election in 2004 - (disputed information - first popularly elected Mayor was Ald. John Mountford (West Ward) in 1977). He won that election, and was re-elected in 2008, recording one of the few swings to the Labor Party in an election where the party faced widespread losses across the state.
One week before his re-election as mayor, on 5 September 2008, Iemma was sacked as Premier by the Labor caucus, resulting in widespread speculation that he would resign as the member for Lakemba. After delaying an announcement for two weeks, Iemma announced on 19 September that he would indeed retire; a move reportedly attributed to his efforts to see Furolo, his preferred choice, endorsed as his successor. Furolo subsequently won Labor preselection for what had been Labor's safest seat in the state, and easily won the seat, polling more than 58% of the primary vote, despite a 15% swing against Labor. He was sworn in as a member of the Legislative Assembly on 18 October, and as a member of the Legislative Review Committee on 30 October.
In October 2010, Furolo borrowed a Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
(reportedly valued at $400,000) from local businessmen, "the Kazzi brothers", for the purposes of a "joyride
Joyride
Joy Ride may refer to:* Joyride , a crime involving stealing vehicles- Music :* Joyride , 1965* Joyride , 1986* Joyride , 1991...
". Furolo crashed the vehicle but was unhurt. No other vehicles were involved in the accident and no one was hurt.
Furolo is the father of two children, Isabella, who is thirteen, and Alexander, who is nine. Furolo mentions his beloved children in many of his speeches, including his inaugural speech, made in 2008, when he was originally elected as the Seat for Lakemba. Robert recently was re-elected as the Member for Lakemba on the 16th March 2011.