Parliamentary Career
In 1999, Della Bosca made his much-anticipated move into parliamentary politics as a candidate for the Legislative Council. Within a month of his election, premier Bob Carr appointed him Special Minister of State.
Della Bosca's ministerial responsibilities were expanded following the 2003 election to include Commerce, Finance, Industrial Relations, Ageing and Disability Services. He was also appointed Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.
Following the 2007 election he was appointed Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for the Central Coast.
On 4 September 2007 Della Bosca stated "the NSW government strives to keep (TAFE) fees as low as possible". Despite this, he announced that course fees would be increasing by 6.5% to 9%.
In May, 2008, Della Bosca revealed his probationary driver's licence had been revoked for a period of six months following multiple speeding offences. At the time of the ban Della Bosca was in charge of the Motor Accidents Authority. Later that month, he caused further controversy by swearing at a media photographer who photographed him cycling to work.
On 13 June 2008, Della Bosca was stood down from his position as Minister for Education and Training while police investigated an alleged altercation between Della Bosca and his wife Belinda Neal (a Federal ALP MP) and staff at Iguana Joe's waterfront bar and nightclub at Gosford. The nightclub issued an apology to Della Bosca, at least parts of which were reported to have been written by Della Bosca himself. The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently found that "there is insufficient evidence to support any criminal charge against NSW law".
On his return to the ministry, Della Bosca was appointed Minister for Health and Minister for the Central Coast, with his former Education portfolio passing to Verity Firth.
Read more about this topic: John Della Bosca
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“A black boxer’s career is the perfect metaphor for the career of a black male. Every day is like being in the gym, sparring with impersonal opponents as one faces the rudeness and hostility that a black male must confront in the United States, where he is the object of both fear and fascination.”
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