Ray O'Connor


Raymond James O'Connor was an Australian politician. He served as the 22nd premier of Western Australia, from 1982 to 1983. In 1991, he was convicted of fraud as part of the WA Inc scandal, and served a six-month jail term.

Pre-political life

O'Connor was born in Perth and attended schools in Narrogin, York, and St Patrick's Boys' School, Perth. He enlisted in the Australian Army and served in the 61st Battalion of the Second Australian Imperial Force between 1944 and 1947. His first attempt to enter parliament failed when he stood as an Independent Liberal candidate for the Metropolitan Province in the Legislative Council. O'Connor played several senior matches of Australian rules football: two matches for in 1944 in a wartime under-age competition and, later, 14 matches for from 1948 to 1950.

Political career

O'Connor joined the Liberal Party in 1957 and in the general election of 1959 he was elected MLA for North Perth, defeating Stan Lapham, a Labor member who had held the seat for 6 years.
He was appointed to ministerial positions in 1965 – 71 and from 1974 until his premiership in 1982. He was Minister for Police at the time of the murder of brothel madam Shirley Finn, with whom he was allegedly in a relationship.
O'Connor became state premier on the retirement of Sir Charles Court. He was defeated at the polls after just over a year in office in February 1983.
A Western Australian Royal Commission into business dealings by the Government was conducted during 1991 and 1992. He was tried in 1995 on charges of stealing a 25,000 cheque from the Bond Corporation and was given a six-month jail sentence. As a result, his 1989 appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia was rescinded in 1995.

Death

Ray O'Connor died 9 days before his 87th birthday on 25 February 2013.