Don Randall the Liberal MP for the federal seat of Canning has been found dead.
Police have confirmed that the outspoken MP has passed away, initial reports suggest he may have suffered a heart attack. Mr Randall was 62.
Mr Randall came to national attention earlier this year when he, alongside fellow WA MP Luke Simpkins, put forward a spill motion against the Prime Minister.
The conservative MP was a staunch opponent of marriage equality having voted against several bills in the parliament. He did however support the removal of legislation that discriminated against LGBTI people earlier in his career.
Back in 2007 Mr Randall said there should not be any discrimination against LGBT people; “We’ve got to be looking at all Australians equally and I think there’s room for reform in that area because they pay taxes and we shouldn’t discriminate against our fellow countrymen.”
The MP drew national attention in 2010 when he referred to the ABC as the “Gay B C”. At the time Prime Minister Tony Abbott described the comments as “tacky”. Also in 2010 Mr Randall was one of five coalition MPs who did not attend the apology to the stolen generation.
Mr Randall also came under fire for claiming dubious expenses. Mr Randall claimed a trip to Melbourne in September 2012 for attending sittings of parliament, despite parliament being in Canberra, and a few months later he was criticised over a trip to Queensland – where he bought a investment property.
Mr Randall was a teacher and marketing consultant prior to commencing his political career. In 1993 he ran for the state seat of Belmont but was defeated by Labor’s Eric Ripper. He then served on Belmont’s City Council for three years. At the 1996 election Mr Randall won the federal seat of Swan but lost the seat after one term. At the 2001 election he won the seat of Canning.
The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott praised Mr Randall’s service to the community and offered condolences to his wife Julie and their two children.
“Don was an outstanding local member. He was a passionate and persuasive advocate in Canberra and a hardworking community leader in Western Australia,” Mr Abbott said.
“He was a mentor to many and integral to the success of our party in the state of Western Australia.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also offered condolences.
“He was a thoroughly good and decent bloke. West Australian through and through, Don was rightly proud of his fierce advocacy for his state and the people of Canning,” Mr Shorten said in a statement.
