Graham Watt Explained

Graham Watt
Constituency Am:Burwood
Assembly:Victorian Legislative
Term Start:27 November 2010
Term End:24 November 2018
Predecessor:Bob Stensholt
Successor:Will Fowles
Birth Date:1976 8, df=yes
Birth Place:Norseman, Western Australia
Party:Liberal Party
Parents:Graham Jack Watt Yvonne Karen Watt
Spouse:Rachel Carling-Jenkins
Alma Mater:Edith Cowan University
Website:grahamwatt.com.au

Graham Travis Watt (born 18 August 1976) is an Australian politician. He was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 2010 to 2018, representing the seat of Burwood.[1] He is a member of the Liberal Party.

Early life

As a child, Watt was a represented his state in athletics. In 2004, he walked a hundred miles in 24 hours, to become an Australian centurion, something achieved by only 48 people on Australian soil, at that time.[2]

Watt graduated from Edith Cowan University, obtaining a Bachelor of Business, and majoring in Finance and Economics.

Before election to parliament he worked variously as the owner of a mobile phone retail store and a carpet cleaning business.

Political career

Watt ran for the Liberal Party in 2002 and 2006 in the electoral district of Northcote, losing to Mary Delahunty in 2002[3] and Fiona Richardson in 2006.[4]

In 2009 he was preselected as the Liberal candidate for the electorate of Burwood, which he won at the 2010 Victorian election, defeating the sitting Labor member Bob Stensholt.[5]

He was re-elected in the 2014 Victorian election with 50.1% of the primary vote and 53.17% of the 2 candidate preferred vote.

In 2015, Watt was criticised for being the only member of the Victorian Parliament to not stand to applaud domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty when she addressed the parliament in an historic joint sitting.[6] [7]

Watt was subsequently defeated in the 2018 Victorian state election.[8]

In 2022, Watt ran as a Liberal candidate again, this time in Melton, but was unsuccessful.[9]

Personal life

In 2021, Watt married former DLP Member of Parliament Rachel Carling.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Watt, Graham. re-member . Parliament of Victoria. 2011-12-19.
  2. Web site: Australian Centurions - Graham Watt. centurions.org.au.
  3. Web site: State Election 2002: Northcote District Two Candidate Preferred Results by Voting Centre - Victorian Electoral Commission . 31 July 2018 . 31 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180731123555/https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/state2002TCPbyVCNorthcoteDistrict.html . dead .
  4. Web site: State Election 2006: Northcote District results summary - Victorian Electoral Commission . 31 July 2018 . 31 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180731123925/https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/state2006resultNorthcoteDistrict.html . dead .
  5. Web site: STATE ELECTION: Burwood back in Liberal hands . 19 December 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111008013201/http://whitehorse-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/state-election-burwood-back-in-liberal-hands/ . 8 October 2011 . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: He refused to stand for Rosie Batty - now this MP might lose his seat . 2024-06-20 . amp.theage.com.au.
  7. Web site: Labor minister lashes Graham Watt over refusal to stand after Rosie Batty address . 2024-06-20 . amp.theage.com.au.
  8. Web site: Burwood - VIC Electorate, Candidates, Results . 2024-06-20 . abc.net.au . en-AU.
  9. Web site: Melton (Key Seat) - VIC Electorate, Candidates, Results . 2024-06-20 . abc.net.au . en-AU.
  10. Web site: House and home: Ex-MPs tie the knot . 2024-06-20 . amp.theage.com.au.