Geoffrey Daniel Prosser (born 6 November 1948) is an Australian businessman and former politician. He served in the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...

from 1987 to 2007, representing the Liberal Party, and was Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs in the Howard Government from 1996 to 1997.

Early life

Prosser was born in

Bunbury, Western Australia Bunbury is a coastal city in the Australian state of Western Australia, approximately south of the state capital, Perth. It is the state's third most populous city after Perth and Mandurah, with a population of approximately 75,000. Located ...

, and was a self-employed businessman and company director before entering politics. He was a member of the Bunbury City Council 1979–85.

Federal Parliament

Prosser was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry from 1990 to 1996. After the Liberal Party's election at the March 1996 election, he was appointed Small Business and Consumer Affairs in the Howard ministry. On the basis of Liberal prime minister

John Howard John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007, holding office as leader of the Liberal Party. His eleven-year tenure as prime minister is the ...

's 1996 Guide on Key Elements of Ministerial Behaviour, Prosser was forced to return to the backbench July 1997 because of improper business dealings. He continued to be a major retail landlord, and this was seen to conflict with his responsibilities as Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs. Prosser was believed to have been one of the wealthiest members of the House, if not ''the'' wealthiest, during his time as the member for Forrest. In 2010 his estimated net worth was $186 million. On Saturday, 3 March 2007

The Australian ''The Australian'', with its Saturday edition, ''The Weekend Australian'', is a broadsheet newspaper published by News Corp Australia since 14 July 1964.Bruns, Axel. "3.1. The active audience: Transforming journalism from gatekeeping to gatewat ...

newspaper published allegations made by former Western Australia Premier Brian Burke that Prosser was a client of his and that Prosser had paid for lobbying services. The paper also alleged that Prosser was recently seen dining with Julian Grill, Burke's business partner. Prosser retired from parliament at the 2007 federal election.

Later activities

In August 2011 he was elected president of the Western Australian division of the Liberal Party, succeeding Barry Court.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prosser, Geoff 1948 births Living people Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Forrest Members of the Australian House of Representatives People from Bunbury, Western Australia 21st-century Australian politicians 20th-century Australian politicians