James Hayward (politician)

James Dorrin Hayward
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for South West
In office
22 May 2021 – 28 August 2023
Succeeded byLouise Kingston
Personal details
Born1969 or 1970 (age 54–55)[1]
Derby, Western Australia
Political partyIndependent (2021–2023)
National (2012–2021)
SpouseLee Hayward[2]
Children6[2]
OccupationTelevision producer

James Dorrin Hayward is an Australian former politician. Elected as a Nationals member of the Western Australian Legislative Council at the 2021 Western Australian state election, he resigned from the party on 3 December 2021 after being charged with child sex offences, and was ultimately disqualified on 28 August 2023 after being convicted.[3] Hayward was the first person since John Marquis Hopkins in 1910 to be removed in this way.[4]

From 19 April until 3 December 2021, he served as Shadow Minister for Local Government, Water and Regional Cities. In 2022, he served on a committee inquiring into cannabis and hemp.[5]

On 28 August 2023, Hayward was found guilty of sexually abusing a young girl. His conviction for a crime with a maximum sentence of at least five years in jail meant he was automatically disqualified from parliament.[1] On 16 October 2023, Hayward was sentenced to two years and nine months jail, and must serve half of that before becoming eligible for parole.[6]

  1. ^ a b Australian Associated Press (21 February 2022). "Western Australian MP James Hayward to fight charges relating to alleged sexual abuse of girl, 8, court told". Guardian Australia. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference hay21 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Legislative Council vacancy - South West Region - Results declared". Western Australian Electoral Commission, Government of Western Australia. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  4. ^ Bourke, Keane (28 August 2023). "Not since 1910 has WA's parliament seen anything like the James Hayward scandal". ABC News. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Member Details: Mr James Hayward MLC". Parliament of Western Australia. 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  6. ^ Menagh, Joanna (16 October 2023). "Former WA Upper House MP James Hayward jailed for child sex offences". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 April 2024.