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Peter Tinley

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Peter Tinley
Member of the Western Australian Parliament
for Willagee
Assumed office
28 November 2009
Preceded byAlan Carpenter
Personal details
Born
Peter Charles Tinley

(1962-07-09) 9 July 1962 (age 62)
Karrinyup, Western Australia
Political partyLabor Party
Alma materUniversity of New England
Royal Military College, Duntroon
OccupationSoldier, businessman
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceAustralian Army
Years of service1981–2006
RankMajor
UnitSpecial Air Service Regiment
Battles/warsIraq War
AwardsMember of the Order of Australia

Peter Charles Tinley AM (born 9 July 1962) is an Australian politician and former soldier. Peter has been a Labor Party member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since November 2009, representing the electorate of Willagee.

Early life and military career

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Born in the northern Perth suburb of Karrinyup, Tinley joined the Australian Army in 1981 and graduated from Royal Military College, Duntroon, earning the Queen's Medal as the cadet graduating top of his class.[1] He spent 17 of his 25 years in the army in the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). In 2002, he was the lead tactical planner for Australia's special forces advising the United States, and in 2003 he served as Deputy Commander for the Special Forces Task Group in Iraq. In the same year, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the military division for "dynamic leadership and consistent professional excellence".[1][2][3]

In late 2006, after leaving the army with the rank of major, Tinley spoke out against the decision of the Howard government to support the US and British initiative to invade Iraq on the basis of purported evidence of the country's possession of weapons of mass destruction. He also called for the immediate withdrawal of Australian troops.[2][4]

In the meantime, Tinley conducted strategic planning and leadership workshops. Among other clients, he worked with the West Coast Eagles Football Club coaching staff.[5] He also ran a small business.

Political career

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In 2006, former federal opposition leader Kim Beazley approached Tinley to run for the federal Division of Stirling as the Labor Party's endorsed candidate at the 2007 election.[6] The sitting member, Liberal MP Michael Keenan, retained the seat with a slightly reduced majority.[7]

Upon the resignation of former Premier Alan Carpenter from the safe Labor state seat of Willagee, Tinley was preselected to run for Labor at the resulting by-election on 28 November 2009. He was ultimately elected as the member for Willagee with over 60% of the two-party-preferred vote against the Greens' Hsien Harper.[1][8]

Upon Labor's election to government at the 2017 state election, Tinley was appointed to the McGowan Ministry as Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Veterans Issues, and Youth on 17 March. Five days later on 22 March, Tinley resigned as Mines and Petroleum minister, to avoid any claim of conflict of interest due to a family member working in the industry, and exchanged the Housing portfolio with Bill Johnston.[9] Tinley later became Western Australia's Asian Engagement Minister.[10]

On 19 March 2021, after the 2021 state election, Tinley was unexpectedly removed from cabinet.[11][12] After spending almost three years as a backbencher, on 14 March 2024 Tinley announced that he would not seek re-election at the 2025 state election.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Green, Antony (2009). "2009 Willagee by-election". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  2. ^ a b Walters, Patrick (25 November 2006). "Iraq a moral blunder, says war hero". The Australian. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  3. ^ From the Australian Army Soldier's Newspaper – 'Absolute commitment'
  4. ^ "Tony Jones speaks with Major Peter Tinley". Lateline (ABC). 27 November 2006. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  5. ^ "Curtin Business School Review" (PDF). Curtin Business School. Spring 2006. Retrieved 29 April 2007.
  6. ^ "Former SAS soldier approached by Labor". ABC News. 28 November 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  7. ^ "WA Division – Stirling". Australian Electoral Commission. 25 November 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
  8. ^ "Former soldier wins Willagee by-election". WAtoday. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  9. ^ "New WA mining, housing ministers swap jobs". PerthNow. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  10. ^ Borrello, Eliza (10 November 2019). "'Use the countryside to surround the city': How Mao's tactics are winning over Australia's states". ABC News. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  11. ^ "Personalities and portfolios: Premier's cabinet pick by pick". WAtoday. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Mr Peter Charles Tinley". Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Willagee MP Peter Tinley to quit Parliament at 2025 election". 14 March 2024.
[edit]
Parliament of Western Australia
Preceded by Member for Willagee
2009–present
Incumbent