Keith Wright (Australian politician)

Keith Webb Wright (9 January 1942 – 13 January 2015) was an Australian politician, educator and convicted child rapist.[1]

Keith Wright
Member of the Australian Parliament for Capricornia
In office 1 December 1984 – 13 March 1993
Preceded by	Doug Everingham
Succeeded by	Marjorie Henzell
Leader of the Opposition of Queensland
In office 20 October 1982 – 29 August 1984
Preceded by	Ed Casey
Succeeded by	Nev Warburton
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Rockhampton South
In office 17 May 1969 – 27 May 1972
Preceded by	Rex Pilbeam
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Rockhampton
In office 27 May 1972 – 5 November 1984
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Paul Braddy
Personal details
Born	(1942-01-09)9 January 1942 Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Died	13 January 2015(2015-01-13) (aged 73) Vietnam
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s)	1. Jenifer Mary Dawson (1964) 2. Allison Donohue (1987)[1]
Alma mater	University of Queensland
Occupation	Teacher

Biography

Born in Toowoomba, Queensland, he was educated at the University of Queensland and Kelvin Grove Teachers College[1] in Brisbane before becoming a Rockhampton teacher and Baptist preacher.[2]

On 17 May 1969, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland as the Labor member for Rockhampton South and after a seat redistribution, represented Rockhampton (1972–1984).[3] In 1982, he became Leader of the Opposition. Wright remained opposition leader until he left the Assembly in 1984, transferring to federal politics as the Labor MP for Capricornia in the Australian House of Representatives.

In 1993, he was charged with indecently dealing and child rape,[4] and as a result lost his Labor endorsement.[5] He contested the 1993 election as an independent, gaining 5.9% of the vote but losing to endorsed ALP candidate Marjorie Henzell. In December 1993 he was convicted and jailed for nine years for raping and indecently dealing with two young girls.[6][2]

After leaving jail, Wright moved to Vietnam and ran a company, International Language Academy Australia,[7] which trains TESOL teachers in Southeast Asia.[6]

Wright died in Vietnam on 13 January 2015, aged 73.[4]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
2. Keith Wright, former Queensland Labor leader jailed for paedophilia, dies aged 72 | Australia news | The Guardian
3. "Part 2.15 – Alphabetical Register of Members of the Legislative Assembly 1860–2017 and the Legislative Council 1860–1922" (PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Record 2015–2017: The 55th Parliament. Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
4. "Disgraced former Queensland Labor leader Keith Wright dies in Vietnam". Retrieved 13 January 2015.
5. Carr, Adam. "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
6. "Keith Wright says sorry for sexual sins that landed him in jail". The Courier-Mail. 18 December 2009.
7. "International Language Academy Australia".

Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Rex Pilbeam	Member for Rockhampton South 1969–1972	Seat abolished
Seat created	Member for Rockhampton 1972–1984	Succeeded by Paul Braddy
Political offices
Preceded by Ed Casey	Leader of the Opposition in Queensland 1982–1984	Succeeded by Nev Warburton
Party political offices
Preceded by Ed Casey	Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland 1982–1984	Succeeded by Nev Warburton
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Doug Everingham	Member for Capricornia 1984–1993	Succeeded by Marjorie Henzell

External links

• Queensland Parliament biographical information, including brief details of conviction