D’Orazio Dumped

Link to Original: http://3degree.cci.ecu.edu.au/articles/view/398

D’Orazio Dumped
By Glenn Knight
09 May 2006

BREAKING NEWS: WA Police and Justice Minister John D’Orazio has resigned from State Cabinet after being sacked on Monday by Premier Alan Carpenter after it was revealed he had been driving illegally after losing his licence.

D’Orazio ended the speculation over his immediate political future by announcing his resignation from State Cabinet on Tuesday at the State Labor party caucus meeting. Carpenter announced on Monday that D’Orazio has been removed from the Police and Justice portfolios in State Cabinet.

“In my view, and after careful consideration of the matter, I do not believe D’Orazio can continue as Minister with responsibilities for fines enforcement and road traffic matters,” said Carpenter.

Carpenter learnt from D’Orazio last week that his licence had been lost after failing to pay a $100 speeding fine that he incurred in August last year.

According to D’Orazio he had sent a cheque to pay the fine but was unaware that the cheque had not been accepted because it was too late. He claims that he received no follow up advice because reminder notices were sent to his previous residential address in Noranda. Failure to pay the fine resulted in his licence being suspended from February 22.

D’Orazio only discovered that his licence had been suspended when his wife went to pay another outstanding $100 fine for another incident in October last year. Payment of the fines automatically restored his licence but it meant that he had been driving illegally for the last two months.

The events leave the Premier and the State Government looking red faced. In September last year D’Orazio launched a campaign that targeted 40,000 Western Australians who had lost their drivers licences through non-payment of fines.

The drama for the State Government also comes as only last week D’Orazio announced tougher penalties for speeding and restraints offences.

“The aim of the Traffic Code is to make our roads safer, by penalising motorists who put their own lives and those of others at risk,” D’Orazio said in statements released last week.

D’Orazio’s resignation will lead to further shuffling of the ministerial front bench. The moves yesterday saw his portfolio divided amongst other ministers.

Minister John Kobelke will add Police, Emergency Services and Community Safety to his existing portfolios.

Woman’s Interests Minister, Margaret Quirk will take on the Justice portfolio.

David Templeman will relinquish Seniors and Volunteering while retaining Community Development; Youth and assisting Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.

Disability Services; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests and the Seniors and Volunteers Portfolios have yet to be reallocated.