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DeutschRhys Williams (Australian politician)
Rhys Williams | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Mandurah | |
| Assumed office 8 March 2025 | |
| Preceded by | David Templeman |
| Mayor of Mandurah | |
| In office October 2017 – January 2025 | |
| Deputy | Caroline Knight |
| Preceded by | Marina Vergone |
| Succeeded by | Caroline Knight (acting) |
| City of Mandurah Councillor | |
| In office October 2009 – October 2013 | |
| Constituency | Coastal Ward |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Labor |
| Website | rhyswilliams |
Rhys Williams is an Australian politician who has been the member for Mandurah in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since the March 2025 state election. A member of the Labor Party, he was the mayor of the City of Mandurah from October 2017 to January 2025 and a City of Mandurah councillor from October 2009 to October 2013.
Career
[edit]Williams was elected to the Coastal Ward of the City of Mandurah council for a four-year term in October 2009[1] at the age of 21, making him the youngest councillor in Mandurah's history.[2] In October 2013, Williams lost the Mandurah mayoral election to Marina Vergone by two votes.[3][4] Four years later, he was elected mayor of Mandurah, receiving 50.12 percent of the vote and beating three other candidates, including incumbent mayor Vergone.[5][6][7] Williams was re-elected in October 2021 with 85.54 percent of the vote against one other candidate.[8][9]
In 2015, Williams was awarded the Western Australian of the Year Youth Award.[10][11][12]
In September 2024, the Labor MP for the electoral district of Mandurah, David Templeman, announced he would not contest the 2025 state election.[13][14] The following day, Williams announced he would seek Labor Party preselection,[15][16] and in October 2024, he was preselected as the party's candidate for Mandurah.[17][18] He stepped down as mayor in January 2025, with deputy mayor Caroline Knight acting as mayor until the October 2025 local government election.[19][20] The Labor Party has used Williams' resignation as mayor to criticise the Liberal Party's Churchlands candidate, Basil Zempilas, for not resigning as lord mayor of Perth.[17][21] The election on 8 March 2025 resulted in Williams retaining the seat of Mandurah for Labor.[22]
Williams is part of the Labor Party's Left faction and is aligned with the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.[23]
References
[edit]- ^ "2009 Ordinary Election – Mandurah". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ Zaw, Yolanda (29 September 2013). "Gen-Y rises to dismiss apathy slur". The West Australian. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ Newton, Charli (19 October 2013). "VIDEO: Vergone crowned Mayor in nail-biting finale". Mandurah Mail. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ "2013 Ordinary Election – Mandurah". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ Koutzas, Kathy (21 October 2017). "Rhys Williams wins 50% of votes to become Mandurah's new Mayor". 97.3 Coast FM. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ Pascual Juanola, Marta (21 October 2017). "Rhys Williams becomes Mandurah's new mayor, council elections 2017". Mandurah Mail. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ "2017 Ordinary Election – Mandurah". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ Law, Peter (17 October 2021). "Council elections: Former Eagles coach Ron Alexander elected to City of Vincent council". The West Australian. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ "2021 Ordinary Election – Mandurah". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ "State's finest recognised in awards night". WAtoday. Australian Associated Press. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ Johnson, Brianna (3 June 2015). "Mandurah's Rhys Williams wins Western Australian of the Year Youth award". Mandurah Mail. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ "Western Australian of the Year Hall of Fame: 2015". Celebrate WA. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ Caporn, Dylan (17 September 2024). "Mandurah MP David Templeman to retire from State Parliament after 24 years in WA State politics". The West Australian. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ Welhan, Monique (18 September 2024). "Mandurah MP David Templeman to quit politics after two decades". 97.3 Coast FM. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ Welhan, Monique (18 September 2024). "Mayor Rhys Williams to nominate for Labor preselection in Mandurah seat vacated by David Templeman". 97.3 Coast FM. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ Caporn, Dylan; Rintoul, Caitlyn (18 September 2024). "Mayor Rhys Williams to run for Labor preselection in Mandurah". The West Australian. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ a b Page, Jessica (22 October 2024). "Labor accused of 'double standard' as mayor and councillor join election team". The West Australian. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ Welhan, Monique (23 October 2024). "Mayor Rhys Williams announced as Labor candidate for seat of Mandurah". 97.3 Coast FM. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ Welhan, Monique (27 December 2024). "Mandurah's Deputy Mayor Caroline Knight to take on mayoral role as Rhys Williams steps down". 97.3 Coast FM. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ "City welcomes new Mayor Caroline Knight". City of Mandurah. 7 February 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ Jones, Sam (22 October 2024). "Cook takes aim at Zempilas in Williams move". Business News. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ "Mandurah – WA Election 2025". ABC News. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ 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.