John Aquilina

John Joseph Aquilina is an Australian politician and member of the Australian Labor Party, elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1981 as member for Blacktown. He has represented the seat of Riverstone since 1991. After the election of the Labor Party to government in 1995, he was a member of the front bench and held portfolios including Education and Training. After being shifted to the Ministries of Land and Water Conservation, and Fair Trading, he was appointed Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in 2003, until 2007 when he was made Leader of the House. He is also of Maltese heritage.

Controversy

On 10 April 2001 John Aquilina raised the issue in parliament of a foiled plot by a High School student to replicate the Columbine High School Massacre. He alleged that the student's diary contained plans to kill fellow students and teachers. His staff embellished the story, telling reporters the student had access to a gun. On this, the Police Commissioner contradicted Aquilina's version of events, and the boy's family subsequently threatened the sue the Government. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s280105.htm John Aquilina under the gun] AM Archive, 20 April 2001] Aquilina was later the subject of an ICAC investigation that explored possible false statements to the media and political interference in police procedures. [ [http://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/index.cfm?objectID=E29C541E-CC07-30BD-0263D19E4C532AAF&NavID=262BA41B-D0B7-4CD6-F955BD8CEE4CDF37 Investigation Issues: Investigation into matters arising from a Ministerial Statement to the Legislative Assembly on 10 April 2001] ] The investigation concluded in August 2001 and found no evidence of corrupt conduct. However, Aquilina relinquished the Education and Training portfolio in late 2001 and was shifted to the Ministries of Land and Water Conservation, and Fair Trading.

Railway Overpass

On the 28th February 2008, John Aquilina made a private members statement, reaffirming the ALP's commitment to build a railbridge overpass at the current level crossing at Garfield Road East, Riverstone. There has been much scepticism whether the bridge will be built, particularly from the conservative side of politics, as Aqulina concludes in his speech "... I conclude by stating emphatically once again that the Government will go ahead with the elimination of the level crossing and the construction of the overpass despite the claims by the member for Hawkesbury" [ [http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20080228036 Private Members Statements, Mr John Aquilina: Riverstone Railway Level Crossing, 28th February 2008] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/0/C884205D5AFBE0074A256752000A6D5A Personal Parliamentary Profile]