Karyn Paluzzano

Karyn Paluzzano
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Penrith
In office 22 March 2003 – 7 May 2010
Preceded by	Faye Lo Po'
Succeeded by	Stuart Ayres
Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Minister for Education and Training
In office 23 September 2008 – 4 May 2010
Personal details
Born	6 May 1960 New South Wales
Nationality	Australia
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Robert Paluzzano
Children	1 son, 2 daughters
Alma mater	University of Western Sydney
Occupation	Radiographer
Website	NSW Legislative Assembly webpage

Karyn Lesley Paluzzano (born 6 May 1960) is a former Australian politician. She was an Australian Labor Party Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2003 to 2010, representing the electorate of Penrith. In September 2012 Paluzzano was sentenced to twelve months home detention following a guilty plea for falsely claiming parliamentary allowances, as well as giving false and misleading evidence to an anti-corruption inquiry.

Private life

Paluzzano has lived in Penrith and Lower Blue Mountains for all her life. She was educated at Glenbrook and Lapstone Primary Schools and Nepean High School. Paluzzano was awarded a Master of Education by Nepean College of Advanced Education (now the Western Sydney University), a Bachelor of Education and Diploma of Teaching (Distinction), and an Associate Diploma in Medical Radiography.^[1]

Paluzzano is married to Robert Paluzzano and with him has three children.

Early career

Paluzzano was initially a radiographer and then became a teacher and university lecturer. During 1995 to 2002, Paluzzano was a visiting Lecturer at the Australian Catholic University, the University of Technology Sydney, and the University of Western Sydney. Paluzzano has also worked as a Senior Education Officer Consultant for the NSW Department of School Education.^[1] In 1999, Paluzzano was elected to Penrith City Council as a Councillor in the South Ward and was re-elected as a Councillor in .

New South Wales state politics

Following the retirement of Faye Lo Po', Paluzzano won endorsement and then election for the seat of Penrith at the 2003 State election, after being forced to preferences.^[2] Paluzzano was re-elected at the 2007 State election, again on preferences, with a slightly increased majority.^[3]

In 2008, Paluzzano was appointed Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Minister for Education and Training by Premier Nathan Rees.

In December 2009, Timothy Horan, an Electorate Officer working for Paluzzano, alleged to the clerk of the Legislative Assembly that Paluzzano had illegally used public money to fund her re-election campaign. At first she denied the accusation at a preliminary Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hearing on 16 April 2010. At a subsequent ICAC hearing on 5 May, Paluzzano admitted to falsely signing employee pay forms and using her electoral mail allowance for political purposes.^[4][5] The Commission, after completing its inquiry in July 2010, recommended that criminal changes be laid against Paluzzano. ICAC asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider charging Paluzzano over a range of offences, including misconduct in public office, obtaining money for one of her staff members, obtaining a "valuable thing" for herself and misleading corruption investigators.^[6][7]

On 4 May 2010, Paluzzano stepped down as Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Training.^[8] She was subsequently suspended from the Labor Party and resigned from Parliament on 7 May 2010^[1][9][10] one day after serving seven years as a Member of Parliament, making her eligible for a parliamentary pension.^[11] Her resignation triggered a by-election for her seat, which saw it resoundingly lost to Liberal candidate Stuart Ayres. The swing of 25 percent against Labor was the largest two-party swing against a sitting government in New South Wales history.^[12]

On 7 June 2012 Paluzzano pleaded guilty to four charges relating to falsely claiming parliamentary payments between 2006 and 2007, as well as giving misleading evidence to the corruption watchdog in a 2010 inquiry.^[13] On 6 September 2012, Paluzzano was sentenced to a minimum of twelve months home detention.^[14][15]

References

1. "Mrs Karyn Lesley Paluzzano, MP". Members of Parliament. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
2. "Penrith - 2003". Electoral Commission of New South Wales. Parliament of New South Wales. 2003. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
3. "Penrith - 2007". Electoral Commission of New South Wales. Parliament of New South Wales. 2003. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
4. "MP admits falsifying pay forms". ABC News (Australia). 5 May 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
5. "Liar Paluzzano resigns from parliament". The Daily Telegraph (Australia). 7 May 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
6. "Charges recommended against ex-MP Paluzzano". ABC News (Australia). 13 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
7. Robins, Brian (13 July 2010). "NSW MP could face prosecution". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
8. "MP stands down amid corruption inquiry". ABC News (Australia). 4 May 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
9. "Paluzzano resigns as MP after corruption probe". ABC News (Australia). 7 May 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
10. "Embattled MP mulls future after corruption probe". ABC News (Australia). 7 May 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
11. "Lying MP Karyn Paluzzano to keep her $1.9 million pension". The Daily Telegraph (Australia). 8 May 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
12. "Penrith by-election". ABC News (Australia). 19 June 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
13. Olding, Rachel (8 June 2012). "Former MP pleads guilty in rort case". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
14. Trembath, Brendan (6 September 2012). "Former MP sentenced to 12 months imprisonment" (transcript). PM (Australia: ABC News). Retrieved 14 September 2012.
15. "Former NSW MP Karyn Paluzzano sentenced to home detention for rorting, lying". The Australian. AAP. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.