Kevin Conolly
Kevin Conolly MP | |
---|---|
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Riverstone | |
Assumed office 26 March 2011 | |
Preceded by | John Aquilina |
Personal details | |
Born | 31 December 1958 |
Nationality | Australian |
Political party | Liberal Party |
Residence | Bligh Park, New South Wales |
Alma mater | University of New South Wales Australian Catholic University |
Occupation | Education officer |
Website | http://www.kevinconollymp.com.au |
Kevin Francis Conolly (born 31 December 1958),[1] an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Riverstone for the Liberal Party since 2011.[2]
Early years and background[]
Conolly graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales, and was later awarded a Diploma of Education and Graduate Diploma of Religious Education from the Council for Christian Education in Schools. Conolly subsequently graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Education (Administration) from the Australian Catholic University.[3] He worked for the Catholic Education Office in the Diocese of Parramatta before entering state politics.
Political career[]
In September 1999, he was elected to the Hawkesbury City Council. From 2001 to 2004 he served as deputy mayor, while still working as a teaching administrator.[4] Conolly contested the 1999 state election, but was unsuccessful in winning the seat of Londonderry for the Liberal Party.[5]
In 2007 and again in 2011, Conolly contested the normally safe Labor seat of Riverstone in north-western Sydney.[6] In March 2011, Conolly was elected with a two-party swing of 30.2 points—almost unheard of in Australian politics. He ultimately won the seat with 70.2 per cent of the vote, turning it into a comfortably safe Liberal seat in one stroke. His primary-vote margin was actually enough for him to take the seat without the need for preferences.[5] It was the first time in the seat's 30-year history that the seat was not held by Labor. Before the election, the sitting member, John Aquilina, who had held the seat since 1991, announced his retirement.
Policy Positions[]
Abortion[]
Conolly opposed the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019, describing it as "capital punishment for being unwanted"[7] and "a fascist solution in search of a problem".[8] Along with Mulgoa MP Tanya Davies, Conolly threatened to move to the crossbench unless certain amendments were passed, stripping the Liberal Party of their majority.[9]
Same-Sex Marriage[]
Conolly supports traditional marriage, declaring in a 2015 statement that "marriage existed before parliaments and government" and that it was a "relationship that reflects the laws of nature".[10]
References[]
- ^ Kevin Conolly
- ^ "Mr Kevin Francis Conolly, MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- ^ "Kevin Conolly". Member for Riverstone. Liberal Party. Archived from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ "Kevin Conolly". Councillors – Biographical details. Hawkesbury City Council. Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ a b Green, Antony (5 April 2011). "Riverstone". NSW Votes 2011. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
- ^ "Liberal Kevin Conolly's big swing at Riverstone seat". Rouse Hill Times. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ "NSW MPs Kevin Conolly & Tanya Davies speak after Abortion Bill passes | 7NEWS - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ Conolly, Kevin (16 September 2019). "Kevin Connolly: I stand for life, no matter the cost". The Catholic Weekly. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ Smith, Alexandra (3 September 2019). "Liberal MPs tell Premier they will defect to crossbench over abortion bill". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ "Kevin Conolly MP". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
External links[]
- www
.kevinconollymp Official Website of Kevin Conolly, MP for Riverstone.com .au
- Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales
- Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
- Living people
- 1958 births
- City of Hawkesbury
- Australian schoolteachers
- Australian Roman Catholics
- University of New South Wales alumni
- 21st-century Australian politicians