Robert Leslie Woods (born 13 April 1947) is an Australian former politician. He was a

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

Senator for the state of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

in Australia between 1994 and 1997. Woods was previously a Member of the

Australian House of Representatives The House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the upper house being the Senate. Its composition and powers are established in Chapter I of the Constitution of Australia. The term of members o ...

as the

member for Lowe between 1987 and 1993. Woods served as a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Family Services between 1996 and 1997.

Early life

Born in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, he attended the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

and then (having moved to Australia) the

University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's ...

. He became a doctor and

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

specialist and then served as an Advisor to the Minister for Health, Dr Michael Wooldridge.

Politics

In 1987, he was elected to the

as the

member for Lowe, defeating

Labor Labour or labor may refer to: * Childbirth, the delivery of a baby * Labour (human activity), or work ** Manual labour, physical work ** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer ** Organized labour and the la ...

MP Michael Maher. He held the seat until his defeat in 1993 by Labor's Mary Easson. The following year, however, he was appointed to the Australian Senate as a Senator for

following the resignation of Bronwyn Bishop, who was transferring to the House of Representatives. In 1996, when the Liberal/

National National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

Coalition won government, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Family Services. On 3 February 1997, Woods announced he would be resigning from the Senate in March, citing the need to spend more time with his family; he resigned on 7 March 1997. It later emerged that allegations of misuse of parliamentary privileges and revelations concerning his personal life forced his resignation. Woods was charged with 41 counts of fraud and in 1999 pleaded guilty to six counts of "imposing on the Commonwealth", received a suspended sentence of eighteen months imprisonment and a fine of $5,000 and was ordered to pay reparation to the Commonwealth of $10,708.

Personal life

Woods first wife died from leukemia and was the inspiration for him to become a cancer specialist. After arriving in Australia in 1977 he had a long term relationship and had a son. On 13 June 1986 he married Dr Jane Carrick a daughter of another senator, Sir John Carrick an they would have two children.

References

Bibliography

Parliamentary Handbook
{{DEFAULTSORT:Woods, Bob Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Lowe Members of the Australian House of Representatives Members of the Australian Senate for New South Wales Members of the Australian Senate 1947 births Living people Alumni of the University of London 20th-century Australian politicians Australian politicians convicted of fraud