Josh Wilson (politician)

Josh Wilson
MP
Wilson c. 2024
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Fremantle
Incumbent
Assumed office
28 July 2018
In office
2 July 2016 – 10 May 2018
Preceded byMelissa Parke
Majority57.52%
Personal details
Born
Joshua Hamilton Wilson

(1972-06-05) 5 June 1972 (age 52)
Westminster, London, England
CitizenshipAustralian
British (1972–2016)[1]
Political partyLabor
Websitewww.joshwilson.org.au

Joshua Hamilton Wilson (born 5 June 1972) is an Australian politician. He is the Labor member for Fremantle in the House of Representatives, serving from 2 July 2016 until his resignation on 10 May 2018 as a part of the 2017–18 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis and then since the 2018 Fremantle by-election.[2][3]

Early life

Wilson was born on 5 June 1972 in Westminster, London.[4] As a child he lived in India and Long Island, New York before moving to Fremantle.[2][5][6][7]

Education

Wilson has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Western Australia, and a Master of Arts (Honours) from the University of Melbourne.[6]

Career

Before going into politics, Wilson served as an Associate Lecturer at Curtin University, a paralegal and litigation project manager, a freelance journalist as well as a travel writer.[5]

Wilson was a councillor of the City of Fremantle from 2009 to 2016,[8] was Deputy Mayor of Fremantle from 2011 and also worked as a staffer to his predecessor as the member for Fremantle, Melissa Parke. During his time as Deputy Mayor, Wilson initiated the "Fremantle Forever" campaign which opposed local government amalgamations, worked on economic development and revitalisation, and introduced an Indigenous employment target. He initially lost preselection to contest the seat in 2016 to Chris Brown, but he became the candidate when Brown was forced to stand aside after failing to declare spent convictions.[2]

Wilson was elected to the Australian House of Representatives for the seat of Fremantle in the 2016 federal election with 40.99% of the primary vote, and 57.52% of the two-party-preferred vote.[9] On 9 May 2018, Wilson announced his resignation from the House of Representatives following the High Court of Australia ruling that Senator Katy Gallagher was ineligible to contest the 2016 election. Like Gallagher, Wilson had failed to renounce his British citizenship before nomination in the 2016 federal election.[3] Wilson was re-elected in the subsequent 2018 Fremantle by-election.[citation needed]

On 29 July 2024, Wilson was sworn in as Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy.[10]

Personal life

Wilson lives with his wife and three children in Fremantle.[11]

References

  1. ^ Kimmorley, Sarah (19 July 2017). "Australian politicians are using Twitter to prove they aren't dual citizens". Business Insider Australia. Archived from the original on 19 August 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Fremantle – Australia Votes". Election 2016. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b Brown, Greg; Owens, Jared; Varga, Remy (9 May 2018). "PoliticsNow: Rebekha Sharkie, Justine Keay quit over citizenship". The Australian. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2018.(subscription required)
  4. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  5. ^ a b "About Josh Wilson". Josh Wilson. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Mr Josh Wilson MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  7. ^ "First Speech: Mr Josh Wilson MP". Parliament of Australia. 12 September 2016. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Josh Wilson". Australian Labor Party. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Fremantle WA – Tally Room". Australian Electoral Commission. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy". Australian Government. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Member for Fremantle". Australian Labor Party. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Fremantle
2016–2018, 2018–present 		Incumbent