William Paul O'Connor (29 September 1910 – 18 September 1987) was an Australian politician. He was educated at Catholic schools before becoming a clerk, as well as an organiser of the Australian Workers' Union.
William O'Connor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for West Sydney | |
| In office 28 September 1946 – 10 December 1949 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Beasley |
| Succeeded by | Dan Minogue |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Martin | |
| In office 10 December 1949 – 10 December 1955 | |
| Preceded by | Fred Daly |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Dalley | |
| In office 10 December 1955 – 29 September 1969 | |
| Preceded by | Arthur Greenup |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 September 1910 |
| Died | 18 September 1987 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Occupation | Clerk |
In 1946, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for West Sydney. Following that election, one of the defeated candidates for the seat, Ronald Sarina, petitioned the High Court to declare O'Connor's election void, claiming that O'Connor's adherence to the Roman Catholic faith represented allegiance to a foreign power, which would make him ineligible to be a member of parliament under Section 44 of the Constitution of Australia. Sarina's solicitor sought leave to withdraw the petition, which was granted.[1]
Following the redistribution of 1949, O'Connor transferred to Martin, which he held until 1955. In that year, Martin was abolished, and O'Connor defeated sitting Labor MP Arthur Greenup for preselection for the seat of Dalley. O'Connor held Dalley until its abolition in 1969, at which time he retired.
He died in 1987, at age 76.[2]
References
edit- ^ "PETITION AGAINST MR. O'CONNOR; M.P. WITHDRAWN". The Canberra Times. Vol. 21, no. 6, 138. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 December 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 1 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
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