Keith Wright

Who is Keith Wright?

Keith Webb Wright is a former Australian politician and convicted sex offender. Born in Toowoomba, Queensland, he was educated at the University of Queensland and Kelvin Grove Teachers College in Brisbane before becoming a teacher and author.

On 17 May 1969, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland as the Labor member for Rockhampton South and after a seat redistribution, represented Rockhampton. In 1982, he became Leader of the Opposition, with Labor in 1983 coming within one seat of toppling the National Party government led by Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen. Wright remained opposition leader until he left the Assembly in 1984, transferring to federal politics as the Labor MP for Capricornia in the Australian House of Representatives.

In 1993, he was charged with under-age sex offences and rape, and as a result lost his Labor endorsement. He contested the 1993 election as an independent, gaining 5.9% of the vote but losing to endorsed ALP candidate Marjorie Henzell. In December 1993 he was convicted and jailed for more than five years.

In 2006, the Australian Electoral Commission formed a new electoral division, taking territory from Capricornia and the neighbouring divisions of Hinkler, Maranoa and Wide Bay. The Commission suggested naming it the "Division of Wright" in honour of the poet Judith Wright, but inevitable association with Keith Wright led them to name it instead the Division of Flynn after John Flynn, founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A Division of Wright, named after Judith Wright and based in the Gold Coast Hinterland, was first contested at the 2010 election.