Noel Crichton-Browne
Noel Crichton-Browne | |
|---|---|
| Senator for Western Australia | |
| In office 1 July 1981 – 30 June 1996 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 February 1944 Wiluna, Western Australia |
| Political party | Liberal (1981–95) Independent (1995–96) |
| Occupation | Company manager |
Noel Ashley Crichton-Browne (born 2 February 1944 at Wiluna, Western Australia) is a former member of the Australian Senate and political lobbyist.
Early life[edit]
Crichton-Browne was educated at Scotch College, Perth. Before his career in politics, he was a company manager and served as president of the Marble Bar Shire Council.
Career[edit]
After serving as the state president of the WA division of the Liberal Party from 1975 to 1979, Crichton-Browne was elected to the Senate for Western Australia in 1980 (term beginning 1 July 1981), 1983, 1984, 1987 and 1990.[1]
He served as a Liberal Party senator from 1 July 1981 to 9 September 1995, and thereafter as an Independent after being expelled from the Liberal Party following media publicity of his inappropriate language and behaviour towards journalist Colleen Egan.[2] His expulsion motion was initiated by WA Liberal state president David Honey, who was Crichton-Browne's protege. Crichton-Browne had helped Honey in attaining the party presidency. Honey, as party president, turned against his former mentor in response to Crichton-Browne's behaviour to Egan. Honey later became parliamentary leader of the party in 2021, and upon his election as leader, Honey brought up his role in the expulsion of Crichton-Browne as a reason why he should be party leader, who would oversee a "root and branch" analysis and restructuring of the party.[3] Honey explained, that as the party president, he had to deal with the issue of Crichton-Browne being a power broker and his "undue influence" over the party and preselections.
Crichton-Browne retired from Parliament upon the expiry of his final term on 30 June 1996.[1]
Fraud[edit]
In 1998, he pleaded guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court to fraudulently claiming $4,500 in taxpayer-funded expenses for two weekends spent at holiday spots with a female companion.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Phillips, Harry. "CRICHTON-BROWNE, Noel Ashley (1944– )". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ ABC Radio National's Media Report programme of Thursday, 10 August 1995 and from Crikey (crikey.com.au) on Thursday, 12 June 2008 - A Crikey list: MPs Behaving Badly Archived 14 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "WA Liberals seek formal coalition with Nationals as party confronts 'huge job' after election disaster". ABC News. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ Holiday