Pat Conaghan
MP
Conaghan in 2022
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Cowper
Assumed office
18 May 2019
Preceded byLuke Hartsuyker
Councillor of North Sydney Council
for Tunks Ward
In office
27 March 2004 – 13 September 2008
Personal details
Born
Patrick John Conaghan

(1971-01-31) 31 January 1971
Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyThe Nationals
Residence(s)Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationLawyer, police officer
Websitepatconaghan.com.au

Patrick John Conaghan (born 31 January 1971) is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives for Cowper in New South Wales, representing the Nationals since 2019.[1][2][3]

Early career

Conaghan was born in Kempsey, New South Wales and was educated at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill in Sydney.[4]

Prior to entering federal politics, he worked as a police officer in Kempsey before being transferred to Sydney as a detective and later on as a police prosecutor. He was also a councillor for Tunks Ward of North Sydney Council from 2004 to 2008, serving alongside future Member for North Sydney, Trent Zimmerman.[5] After departing law enforcement, Conaghan became a lawyer and established his own practice specialising in criminal defence, Conaghan Lawyers before being elected.[6]

Politics

Conaghan was elected to the House of Representatives for the electoral division of Cowper at the 2019 Australian federal election, succeeding retiring incumbent Luke Hartsuyker.[7]

In August 2022, Conaghan attracted media attention after remarks about Australian Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather for not wearing a tie in Parliament House and objecting to the "state of undress". Conaghan would continue to complain about the MP's attire despite Speaker Milton Dick's dismissal of the concern and would later say in a statement that "This is not a barbecue. This is question time in the Australian parliament. What next, board shorts and thongs? Maybe a onesie in winter". According to the House of Representatives Practice rulebook, attire is at discretion of the Speaker in the House of Representatives.[8]

In 2023, Conaghan conducted a survey, titled Pat's Biggest Survey 2023, where respondents from Cowper were polled about national issues. The poll showed high levels of support in Cowper for celebrating Australia Day on 26 January and nuclear power.[9]

Personal life

Conaghan lives in Port Macquarie, New South Wales with his wife, Ilona, and their two children.

References

  1. ↑ "Nats candidate Pat Conaghan stays humble on verge of victory in Cowper". www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  2. ↑ Knight, Christian (18 May 2019). "The boy from Kempsey looks to have it". Guardian News. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  3. ↑ "Oakeshott's Canberra dream over as voters back Nats". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  4. ↑ Cerise & Blue Magazine Vol 66. No 2 July 2023
  5. ↑ "North Sydney Council - Tunks Ward Councillors". North Sydney Council. Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "About Pat". National Party of Australia. 2017. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  7. ↑ "Federal Election 2019: Patrick Conaghan claims the seat of Cowper for The Nationals". Macquarie Port News. 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  8. ↑ Visentin, Lisa (3 August 2022). "'This is not a barbeque': Nationals MP outraged as Greens MP forgoes tie in question time". Sydney Morning Herald. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  9. ↑ https://patconaghan.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Pats_Big_Survey_2023_Results.pdf
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