Bob Kucera
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bob Kucera | |
 |
|
| Born | November 16, 1944 Cardiff, Wales Wales |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | MLA |
Robert "Bob" Charles Kucera was born November 16, 1944 in Cardiff in Wales. He has been a Labor and now Independent member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Yokine after winning the seat in the 2001 election defeating Kim Hames.[1]
Joining the police force of Western Australia in 1966, Kucera served for 34 years, achieving the rank of assistant commissioner before resigning to enter politics in 2001[2] after being recruited by then Premier Geoff Gallop.[3]
Appointed as Health minister in 2001, Kucera held the position until 2003 before losing the portfolio to Jim McGinty in a cabinet reshuffle.[4]
Kucera resigned as the minister of Sports and Seniors in October 2005 after claims of a conflict in interest. Kucera and his wife both held shares in Alinta Gas, an energy supply company, when cabinet made a $90 million decision that would benefit the company.[5] [6]
The seat of Yokine is to be abolished in an electoral redistribution in 2008 for the 2009 election, Kucera lost preselection for the seat of Mount Lawley to Premier Alan Carpenter's recruit, former journalist and lobbyist Karen Brown. As a result Kucera quit the Labor party in 2008 to stay as an independent and intends to contest the new seat as an indepedent in the 2009 election. [7]
[edit] References
- ^ Extract from the Western Australian Parliamentary Handbook (2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
- ^ The Welsh Society of WA - Patron Hon Bob Kucera (2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
- ^ Perthnow - Bob Kucera quits ALP, goes independent (2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
- ^ McGinty bites health bullet (2003). Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
- ^ ABC Local Transcript - WA minister resigns over conflict of interest (2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
- ^ ABC News Online - Conflict of interest forces Kucera to resign (2005). Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
- ^ Stateline - Kucera Considers Standing As Independent (2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
