Paul Papalia

Australian politician

The Honourable

Paul Papalia

CSC MLA

Minister for Police, Corrective Services, Racing and Gaming, Defence Industry and Veteran Issues

Incumbent

Assumed office
18 March 2021
Preceded by| Michelle Roberts
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
for Secret Harbour

Incumbent

Assumed office
8 March 2025
Preceded by| Seat created
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
for Warnbro
In office
6 September 2008 – 8 March 2025
Preceded by| Seat created
Succeeded by| Seat abolished
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
for Peel
In office
3 February 2007 – 6 September 2008
Preceded by| Norm Marlborough
Succeeded by| Seat abolished
Personal details
Born|  (1962-07-12) 12 July 1962 (age 62)
Bunbury, Western Australia
Citizenship| Australian
Political party| Labor Party
Occupation| Navy clearance diver
Website| www.paulpapalia.com.au
Military service
Allegiance| Australia
Branch/service| Royal Australian Navy
Years of service| 1978–2004
Rank| Lieutenant Commander
Battles/wars| Iraq (UNSCOM)
Iraq War
Awards| Conspicuous Service Cross

Paul Papalia CSC (born 12 July 1962) is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor Party member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since February 2007. He is the current member for Secret Harbour. Papalia has previously been the member for Peel and Warnbro before their abolition as electorates. A decorated former navy diver who served two tours in Iraq, Papalia entered parliament after winning a by-election sparked by the resignation of scandal-tarred former minister Norm Marlborough.

## Early life and naval career

[edit]

Papalia was born in Bunbury, Western Australia and grew up in the nearby small town of Burekup. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for 26 years before entering politics, working as a navy diver and rising to the rank of lieutenant commander. He specialised in explosives retrieval and escape and rescue.[1][2][3] Papalia completed Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) selection and reinforcement training in 1988. He then served in 3 SASR Squadron in 1989 and 1 SASR Squadron in 1990 before returning to the Navy in 1991.[4] In 1992 he served with the United Nations Special Commission on Iraq to work as explosives disposal specialist, and was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 1994 for his work there.[5] Papalia later returned to Iraq during the Iraq War, serving as executive officer in an Australian mine-clearing team.[6] He left the navy in 2004, and operated a small business renovating houses up until the time of his election to parliament.[7]

## Political career

[edit]

In November 2006, state Minister for Small Business Norm Marlborough resigned from parliament after it was revealed that he had lied to the Corruption and Crime Commission about his dealings with disgraced former Premier of Western Australia Brian Burke, thus triggering a by-election in his electorate of Peel.[8] Peel had been held by the Labor Party since the seat's inception and was generally considered a safe Labor seat, but concerns about an electoral backlash over Marlborough's conduct led the party to look for a candidate without a political background.[9] Papalia thus nominated for Labor preselection in the by-election, and was easily successful – despite having only joined the party weeks before – after receiving strong support from Premier Alan Carpenter.[10] He went on to easily win the by-election, receiving a small swing in his favour in a seat that the government had feared they might lose.[11]

The district of Peel was abolished with effect at the 2008 state election. Papalia instead successfully contested the new seat of Warnbro, which covers much the same area. In March 2017, Paul was appointed as a Minister in the new McGowan Government, with the portfolios for Tourism, Racing and Gaming, Small Business, Defence Issues, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. Following the March 2021 election, he was appointed as Minister for Police, Road Safety, Defence Industry and Veterans Issues. After the resignation of Mark McGowan, new Premier announced on the 7th of June Papalia would gain the portfolio of Corrective Services and lose Road Safety.[12] After the resignation of Bill Johnston from the Cabinet, Papalia gained Racing and Gaming on the 7th of December. This continues the 4 years Papalia had the portfolio between 2017-2021.[13]

Papalia was awarded the Order of the Star of Italy on the 2nd of December 2021.

In the 2025 Western Australian state election, he was elected in the new seat of Secret Harbour.[14]

Papalia is one of four Labor MPs in state parliament that is not factionally aligned as of 2025.[15]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ O'Brien, Amanda. "Iraq war veteran to run for ALP". The Australian, 15 December 2006.
2. ^ Mason, Graham and Spencer, Ben. "No new blood in Ravlich reshuffle". The West Australian, 14 December 2006.
3. ^ Mason, Graham. "Premier gets navy diver for Peel". The West Australian, 15 December 2006.
4. ^ McPhedran, Ian (2008). Soldiers Without Borders, Beyond the SAS, A Global Network of Brothers in Arm. Sydney, NSW Australia: Harper Collins. pp. 117, 331–342\. ISBN 9780732285555.
5. ^ "Australia Day Honours". Sydney Morning Herald, 26 January 1994.
6. ^ Baker, Mark. "Secrets of Australian heroism revealed". The Age, 3 May 2003.
7. ^ O'Brien, Amanda. "Lib's hopes on scandal fallout". The Australian, 31 January 2007.
8. ^ O'Brien, Amanda. "Lib's hopes on scandal fallout". The Australian, 31 January 2007.
9. ^ Taylor, Robert. "Our new man for Peel is a cleanskin, says Carpenter". The West Australian, 18 January 2007.
10. ^ Mason, Graham. "Premier gets navy diver for Peel". The West Australian, 15 December 2006.
11. ^ Lampathakis, Paul (2 February 2007). "Labor claims Peel victory". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
12. ^ Bourke, Keane (7 June 2023). "Rita Saffioti becomes treasurer, Bill Johnston loses corrective services in WA cabinet reshuffle". Retrieved 5 March 2024.
13. ^ Cook, Roger (7 December 2023). "Refreshed Cabinet team to deliver for Western Australia". Retrieved 5 March 2024.
14. ^ "Secret Harbour - WA Electorate, Candidates, Results". www.abc.net.au. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
15. ^ Hastie, Hamish (12 March 2025). "WA Labor's factional makeup has changed dramatically since Saturday. Here's what we know". WAtoday. Retrieved 12 March 2025.

Western Australian Legislative Assembly

Preceded by

Norm Marlborough

|  Member for Peel
2007–2008  | District abolished
New district |  Member for Warnbro
2008–2025
Member for Secret Harbour
2025–present  | Incumbent

* v
* t
* e

Current members of the Cabinet of Western Australia

* Beazley
* Buti
* Carey
* Cook (Premier)
* Dawson
* Hammat
* Jarvis
* McGurk
* Michael
* Papalia
* Punch
* Saffioti (Deputy Premier)
* Sanderson
* Stojkovski
* Swinbourn
* Whitby
* Winton

* v
* t
* e

Current members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly

Labor (46)|

* Stuart Aubrey
* Geoff Baker
* Hannah Beazley
* Dan Bull
* Tony Buti
* John Carey
* Steve Catania
* Lorna Clarke
* Caitlin Collins
* Roger Cook
* Divina D'Anna
* Colleen Egan
* Mark Folkard
* Kim Giddens
* Emily Hamilton
* Meredith Hammat
* Jodie Hanns
* Terry Healy
* Hugh Jones
* Dave Kelly
* Ali Kent
* Jags Krishnan
* Sook Yee Lai
* Magenta Marshall
* Michelle Maynard
* Simone McGurk
* David Michael
* Kevin Michel
* Yaz Mubarakai
* Lisa Munday
* Lisa O'Malley
* Frank Paolino
* Paul Papalia
* Daniel Pastorelli
* Stephen Pratt
* Stephen Price
* Don Punch
* Cassie Rowe
* Rita Saffioti
* Amber-Jade Sanderson
* Ron Sao
* David Scaife
* Jessica Stojkovski
* Reece Whitby
* Rhys Williams
* Sabine Winton

Liberal (7)|

* David Bolt
* Sandra Brewer
* Adam Hort
* Jonathan Huston
* Libby Mettam
* Liam Staltari
* Basil Zempilas

National (6)|

* Bevan Eatts
* Lachlan Hunter
* Scott Leary
* Shane Love
* Peter Rundle
* Kirrilee Warr

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