Ivan Petch

Ivan John Petch (born 1 March 1939) is a former Australian politician. Petch was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Gladesville for the Liberal Party between 1988 and 1995. He served as a Councillor for the Ryde City Council including a term as Mayor between 2012 and 2013 before a finding of corrupt conduct by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, forcing his resignation from Council in 2014.^[1]

Background and early career

Born in Concord, New South Wales, Petch attended Putney Primary School and Fort Street Boys High School before receiving his tertiary education in electrical engineering and music at Sydney Technical College. He held various positions, including professional musician, electrical engineering consultant, company managing director (Independent Promotions Pty Ltd), and a licensed electrical contractor. He joined the Liberal Party in 1975.^[2]

Political career

In 1977, Petch was elected to Ryde Municipal Council, and from 1980–87 he also sat on Sydney County Council, of which he was chairman in 1984 and 1985. From 1984–87 he was an executive member of the Local Government Association. He was active in the Ryde local area as Chairman of the Ryde "Red Cross Calling" Appeal 1978–84, President of the Ryde Lions Club 1985–86, and honorary member of the North Ryde Rotary Club, from which he received a Paul Harris Fellow award. He was also appointed a Knight of the Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem.^[2]

In 1988, Petch was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the Liberal member for Gladesville. He held the seat until 1995, when he was defeated by Labor candidate and future Deputy Premier John Watkins.^[2] He contested the 1999 and 2007 state elections as an independent candidate for Ryde, but was defeated.

Corruption allegations

On 30 June 2014, the Independent Commission Against Corruption issued findings that Petch had acted corruptly during his 2012/13 term as Mayor.^[3] Petch rejected the findings, confirming he was launching legal action in the NSW Supreme Court and said it "beggars belief" that ICAC could accuse him of acting corruptly "after 37 years of representing the residents honestly and sincerely".^[4] On 28 November 2014, the Supreme Court of New South Wales dismissed Petch's challenge to ICAC's findings of corruption, dismissing all his arguments. Justice Rothman said the argument that Petch had been denied procedural fairness by ICAC was "untenable and unarguable". Petch was ordered to pay ICAC's costs.^[5][6] Petch resigned from the Ryde City Council with effect from 1 December 2014.^[1]

References