Adele Carles
Adele Simone Carles (born 19 February 1968) is a former Australian politician. She was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 2009 to 2013, representing the electorate of Fremantle. She was initially elected as a Greens WA member at the 2009 Fremantle state by-election, becoming the first Greens candidate to be elected to an Australian state lower house of parliament in a single-member seat. However, she resigned from the Greens on 6 May 2010 to sit as an independent. In November 2010, Carles agreed to guarantee confidence and supply votes for the incumbent Colin Barnett Liberal minority government.[2][3] She ran for re-election as an independent at the 2013 state election, but was defeated, finishing fourth behind the Labor, Liberal and Greens candidates with 5.49% of the vote.
Adele Carles | |
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Member of the Western Australian Parliament for Fremantle | |
In office 16 May 2009 – 9 March 2013 | |
Preceded by | Jim McGinty |
Succeeded by | Simone McGurk |
Personal details | |
Born | Adele Simone Carles 19 February 1968 Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |
Citizenship | Australian |
Political party | Greens Western Australia (until 2010) |
Spouse(s) | Francois Carles |
Domestic partner | Troy Buswell (2010-2012)[1] |
Profession | Lawyer |
2008 state election
Carles, a solicitor before entering politics, was defeated in the 2008 state election. She polled 27.6% of the vote against Labor Attorney-General Jim McGinty (38.7%), marginally less than Liberal candidate Brian Christie (30.2%).[4]
2009 Fremantle by-election
In 2009, Carles was preselected by Greens WA to run again at the 2009 Fremantle state by-election following the retirement of McGinty. With the Liberals not contesting the election, Carles was rated a chance of becoming the first Greens candidate to be elected to an Australian state lower house of parliament in a single-member seat.[5]
Carles won the seat with 44.06% of the primary vote, ahead of Labor candidate and former Fremantle Mayor, Peter Tagliaferri, as well as receiving enough preferences from other candidates to gain an absolute majority of ballots cast.[6] This was the highest primary vote result for the Greens in a state or federal election in Australia, and the first time the Greens had outpolled all other parties on their primary vote. Their previous record vote was 38.96% in the 2005 Marrickville by-election in New South Wales (also not contested by the Liberals).
Buswell affair
In April 2010, Carles publicly acknowledged that Liberal Treasurer Troy Buswell and herself had been engaged in a "mutual, albeit stupid" affair that lasted several months.[7] Carles had previously denied the affair despite persistent rumours, claiming to be a victim of a Labor smear campaign.[8]
On 6 May 2010, she resigned from the Greens to sit as an independent.[9]
In December 2012, Troy Buswell launched a $3 million defamation case against Carles in relation to allegations and counter-claims both made about Buswell's alleged lewd and drunken behaviour at the home of property developer Nigel Satterley in December 2011.[10][11]
At the 9 March 2013 state election Carles was defeated by Labor's Simone McGurk.[12] She finished second from last with only five percent of the primary vote.
References
- General
- "WA politics: the Buswell/Carles scandal". The Week (Australian edition, issue 75). 30 April 2010. p. 19.
- Inline
- Spagnolo, Joe (12 May 2012). "It's all over for Adele Carles". PerthNow. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- Premier Barnett brokers 'secret deal' with Independent MP Adele Carles: PerthNow 6 November 2010
- "Ms Adele Simone Carles MLA BCom, LLB (Hons)". Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- "Western Australian Electoral Commission". Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2008.
- 2009 Fremantle By-election - ABC Elections, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- 2009 Fremantle By-election - Results, Western Australian Electoral Commission
- "WA Greens MP Adele Carles admits affair with Treasurer Buswell". The Australian. 25 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- Perpitch, Nicolas (26 April 2010). "Sniffer's affair with Greens MP puts career as Treasurer in doubt". The Australian. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
- "Carles walks out on Greens". The West Australian. 6 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- Preston, Robyn (16 December 2012). "Defamation case is 'harassment'". WA Today. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- Preston, Robyn (10 December 2012). "Calls to sack Troy Buswell". WA Today. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- Robertson, Katie (10 March 2013). "Adele Carles in hiding, may run for mayor". Sunday Times. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
External links
Western Australian Legislative Assembly | ||
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Preceded by Jim McGinty |
Member for Fremantle 2009–2013 |
Succeeded by Simone McGurk |