Belinda Neal

Early life

Neal was born in Brisbane on 10 January 1963. She graduated Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney, Prior to entering parliament she worked as a legal officer for the Federated Ironworkers' Association of Australia from 1986 to 1987 and then as a solicitor in Gosford, New South Wales, from 1987 to 1994.

Political career

Neal joined the ALP in 1980. She was a delegate to state conference in New South Wales from 1983 and to national conference from 1984.

Neal served on the Gosford City Council from 1992 to 1994. Although she was ultimately endorsed unanimously, the preselection process was controversial amid claims that her husband had unfairly interfered in the ballot. One of her competitors Franca Arena said that the preselection had "developed into a farce".

After her appointment, Neal served as a senator until her resignation on 3 September 1998 to contest the House of Representatives seat of Robertson at the 1998 general election in which she was defeated by the incumbent, Jim Lloyd of the Liberal Party.

In the 2007 federal election she was again preselected as the Labor candidate for Robertson, and won the seat in a very tight contest, claiming victory on 5 December.{{cite web | access-date = 7 December 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071207212056/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/05/2110786.htm| archive-date= 7 December 2007 | url-status= dead}}

She lost preselection for the seat of Robertson on 6 March 2010, to challenger Deborah O'Neill,{{cite news | access-date = 6 March 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100308100327/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/06/2838498.htm| archive-date= 8 March 2010 | url-status= dead}}{{cite news | access-date = 7 March 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100307193640/http://www.news.com.au/national/belinda-neal-dumped-from-central-coast-seat-in-landslide-pre-selection-vote/story-e6frfkvr-1225837775887| archivedate= 7 March 2010 | url-status= live}} who lost the seat in the following election. On 29 July 2010 Neal announced that she would not recontest the seat at the 2010 federal election, but did not rule out a future in politics, saying that the Labor Party still had her full support.{{cite news | access-date =29 July 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100801214113/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/i-wont-stand-as-independent-in-robertson-belinda-neal-20100729-10wp5.html| archivedate= 1 August 2010 | url-status= live}} Her husband, John Della Bosca, announced on the same day that he was resigning from the New South Wales Legislative Council to become a campaign director for the National Disability and Carers Alliance, and assist in the establishment of a national disability insurance scheme.{{cite news | access-date =29 July 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100801223324/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/della-bosca-confirms-hes-quitting-20100729-10xlq.html| archivedate= 1 August 2010 | url-status= live}}

In 2015 Neal attempted a comeback to Robertson but was defeated in the ALP preselection by Ann Charlton who was chief of staff to O'Neill.

In 2024, Neal was nominated as the lead candidate for Labor's ticket for the Gosford West Ward in the 2024 New South Wales local elections.

Incident at Iguana Joe's

In June 2008, Neal and her husband John Della Bosca were dining in a bistro called Iguana Joe's when they were reportedly involved in an incident with staff of the premises.{{cite news | access-date = 8 June 2008}}{{cite news | access-date = 2 July 2008 | url-status = dead

Labor expulsion and reinstatement

On 24 July 2017, officers of the Labor's New South Wales branch adopted the decision of the party's Internal Appeals Tribunal to expel Neal from the party, after the tribunal was instructed by the then General Secretary.The expulsion was overturned in 2022, allowing her to rejoin the party as a full member. Neal was awarded a life honour by Labor in 2024, in recognition of her efforts to the party.

Central Coast Council

In August 2024, Neal announced that she would contest preselection for Central Coast Council at the September 2024 local government elections. She was successful in her preselection bid and was chosen as the party's leader for the council, as well as the lead candidate in Gosford West Ward. Neal was elected at the subsequent election.

References

References

1. (22 August 2024). "Labor team ready to stand". Coast Community News.
2. "Ms Belinda Neal MP". Parliament of Australia.
3. (13 March 1984). "Belinda takes the bull by the horns". Woroni.
4. (23 February 1994). "Solicitor set to gain Sibraa's seat amid claims of voting farce". The Canberra Times.
5. (5 February 1994). "Mud flies as candidates jostle for Senate job". The Canberra Times.
6. "Central Coast Candidates - NSW Electoral Commission".
7. Hall, Louise. (8 June 2008). "Della Bosca and MP wife in scrap with restaurant". [[Fairfax Media.
8. (15 October 2022). "Expelled federal MP Belinda Neal rejoins Labor".
9. (24 June 2024). "ALP’s life honour for MP it ousted".
10. (2 August 2024). "Former ALP MP Belinda Neal aims to revive political career". The Australian.
11. (28 August 2024). "Belinda Neal one of 15 Labor candidates running for Central Coast Council". NBN News.