Graham Watt

Graham Watt
MP
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Burwood
Assumed office
27 November 2010
Preceded by Bob Stensholt
Personal details
Born (1976-08-18) 18 August 1976
Norseman, Western Australia
Political party Liberal Party
Spouse(s) separated
Alma mater Edith Cowan University
Website grahamwatt.com.au

Graham Travis Watt (born 18 August 1976) is an Australian politician, who is currently (since 2010) the member for the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the Electoral district of Burwood.[1] He is a member of the Liberal Party.

Early life

Graham grew up in public housing with his ten sisters and being part of a large family, this taught Graham to make the most of every opportunity.

His work ethic and belief in individual endeavour were forged as a fourteen year old boy sweeping floors in hardware store. Graham saw the reward for effort and drive to succeed, displayed by a man who started his business with nothing but the holes in his shoes and a want to achieve.

As an Australian junior Champion and State Champion, Graham had at the opportunity to travel both interstate and overseas for Athletics. In 2004,he walked a hundred miles in 24 hours, to become and Australian Centurion, something achieved by only 48 people on Australian soil, at that time.

In 2004, Watt 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]

Graham graduated from Edith Cowan University, obtaining a Bachelor of Business, and majoring in Finance and Economics. He has since been the owner of a mobile phone retail store and a carpet cleaning business.

Political career

Graham 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 candidate Bob Stensholt.[5]He was formally sworn in on 2 December 2010.

He was re-elected in the 2014 Victorian election with more that 50% of the primary vote.

In October 2016 Watt created a petition for members of the Australian-Chinese community, opposing aspects of the Safe Schools program.[6] It was reported that the petition raised concerns about the program's "inappropriate contents, the political agenda it promotes in schools, the lack of parental consent involved, and its failure to respect cultural and religious diversity".

During February 2017 Graham easily retained Liberal pre selection against Lawyer Gideon Rozner.

Graham has established himself as a vocal campaigner representing local concerns, including unprecedented cuts to local police and the repair of Warrigal Road following the landslip in December 2017.

Graham is currently the Chair of the Coalition's Jobs and Business Committee, a member of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, and has been the President of the State Parliament Victoria Lions Club since 2014.

Personal Life

He lives in Burwood and is engaged with multiple community organisations, such as the Eastern Lions Soccer Club, Surrey Park FC, Ashburton Bowls Club, Ashwood School, Waverley District Netball Association and the St Paul's Cricket Club in his electoral district and his children's school. Graham is patron of the Box Hill Tennis Club, Ceres Calisthenics and the Deakin University Liberal Club.

References

  1. ↑ "Watt, Graham". re-member. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  2. ↑ "Australian Centurions - Graham Watt" (PDF). http://www.centurions.org.au. External link in |website= (help)
  3. ↑ https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/state2002TCPbyVCNorthcoteDistrict.html
  4. ↑ https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/state2006resultNorthcoteDistrict.html
  5. ↑ "STATE ELECTION: Burwood back in Liberal hands". Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  6. ↑ "Safe Schools 'stealing our culture' says campaign aimed at Chinese Australians". Retrieved 14 October 2016.
Victorian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by
Bob Stensholt		 Member for Burwood
2010–present		 Incumbent
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