Diane Beamer

Diane (Di) Beamer (born 15 July 1960) is a former Australian politician. She was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1995–2011 representing the electorates of Badgerys Creek (1995–1999) and Mulgoa (1999–2011) for the Australian Labor Party.

Early life and background

Beamer joined Labor in 1975. She graduated from Sydney University with a Bachelor of Arts (BA).^[1] She is married to Sydney journalist David Humphries and has 6 children (Lauren Calliope, Alex, Julia, Michael, Georgia and Madeleine) from a previous marriage to Senator Steve Hutchins.

Beamer is a member of the Board of Ripples Aquatic Centre and a Parliamentary Patron of the Spokeswomen Program.^[2]

Beamer was elected a Councillor of Penrith City Council 1989-95, was Deputy Mayor from 1992 to 1993 and Mayor from 1993 to 1994.^[2]

New South Wales parliamentary career

Beamer ran unsuccessfully for the seat of Badgerys Creek in 1991,^[1] but was elected to it in 1995. Following Badgerys Creek's abolition, she was elected as Member for Mulgoa in 1999, which she has held to date. In April 2003, she became Minister Assisting the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning (Planning Administration), Minister for Juvenile Justice and Minister for Western Sydney.^[2]

She was an electoral officer for the Hon. John Brown, whilst he was Minister for Sport and Tourism from 1985 to 1989.

Orange Grove Affair

Main article: Orange Grove affair

In 2003, an officer of Liverpool City Council approved a development application for a shopping centre at Orange Grove, in Warwick Farm, just north of central Liverpool, consisting primarily of factory outlets in an area zoned under its Local Environment Plan (LEP) for industrial uses, in which retailing was generally forbidden, except for a limited range of "bulky goods" or goods produced on the premises. The Westfield Group successfully overturned the approval in court, as being contrary to the Council's LEP, and the court ordered the closure of the centre's retail activities in January 2004, with a deadline ultimately extended to 30 June 2004.^[3]

On 16 June 2004, the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, advised Beamer, as Minister Assisting the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning (Planning Administration), to approve a variation of the LEP which would have retrospectively validated the planning approval for the shopping centre. This recommendation was contradicted by the Department's head, Jennifer Westacott, on 25 June 2004. Ms Beamer's Chief of Staff, Michael Meagher, later told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC),"…what we had was something I'd never seen before. It was highly unusual, and it was, I suppose confusing in a way too." After further discussions with Ms Westacott, Beamer declined to approve the proposed variation^[3] on the grounds that the shopping centre tended to undermine the viability of the Liverpool shopping centre,^[4] on 8 July 2004. The owners of the Orange Grove centre subsequently claimed that this decision was corrupt, leading to an investigation by ICAC, which made no findings of corruption against any person.^[3]

2005 reshuffle

When Morris Iemma became Premier in August 2005, Beamer became Minister for Fair Trading and Minister assisting the Minister for Commerce, while continuing to be Minister for Western Sydney.^[2] She left the ministry following the 2007 election and chose not to recontest the 2011 election.

Family and personal life

Beamer is married to David Humphries. Together they have six children; Alex, Georgia, Julia, Lauren, Michael and Madeleine. She enjoys hobbies such as classical music, reading and netball.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Beamer, Diane (1960 - )". Australian Women. http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE1357b.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-04. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} "The Hon. Diane Beamer, MP". Members of Parliament. Parliament of New South Wales. http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/Parlment/Members.nsf/d890a06557517cedca256e700008765e/22722943ea8166b84a256745000165aa?OpenDocument. Retrieved 12 February 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Report on investigation into planning decisions relating to the Orange Grove Centre" (pdf). Independent Commission Against Corruption. August 2005. http://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/files/pdf/pub2_99i.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-04. 
4. ^ "Beamer Denies Fault". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 July 2004. http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/nsw/content/2004/s1161549.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-04. 

Parliament of New South Wales
Preceded by Anne Cohen	Member for Badgerys Creek 1995 – 1999	Succeeded by Abolished
Preceded by Tony Aquilina	Member for Mulgoa 1999 – 2011	Succeeded by Incumbent

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Name	Beamer, Diane
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Date of birth	15 July 1960
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