Janet Woollard

Dr Janet Woollard
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia for Alfred Cove
In office
10 February 2001 – 9 March 2013
Preceded byDoug Shave
Succeeded byDean Nalder
Personal details
Born (1955-02-13) 13 February 1955 (age 69)
London, England
NationalityAustralian
Political partyIndependent Liberal
Other political
affiliations		Liberals for Forests (1999−2008)
SpouseDr Keith Woollard
ProfessionRegistered Nurse

Janet May Woollard (born 13 February 1955) is an Australian former politician who served as a member for the seat of Alfred Cove in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2013.

Woollard successfully contested the seat in the February 2001 state election as an Independent candidate (representing the Liberals for Forests party). She was re-elected at the 2005 election and again at the 2008 election.

In 2007 Woollard's son, Luke, crashed his family's boat whilst drink driving, seriously injuring a passenger. The injured passenger successfully sued Luke, who said he was unable to pay the A$230,000 compensation and indicated he faced bankruptcy.[1][2] Woollard and her husband initially refused to pay the compensation on behalf of their son. However, they settled the case following intense media scrutiny.[3]

After Liberals for Forests dissolved in 2008, Woollard sat in parliament as an Independent Liberal.[4][5]

Woollard voted with the Liberal Party most of the time while serving in parliament.[4]

Woollard was defeated in the 2013 state election, attracting only about 10% of the primary vote. The seat was won by the Liberal candidate, Dean Nalder.[6]

  1. ^ "West Australian MP's son Luke Woollard declares bankruptcy over claim". News Limited. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Luke Woollard: I can't pay $230,000 boat crash compensation". News Limited. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Woollard settles son's $250k boat crash civil action with victim Kate Campbell". The Australian. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Extract from Hansard" (PDF). Parliament of Western Australia. p. 1. I am an Independent Liberal, but as was pointed out today, I am not a member of the Liberal Party
  5. ^ "Alfred Cove". PerthNow.
  6. ^ "WA votes 2013". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2013.