Memory Minder

George Paciullo, OAM (20 February 1934 – 9 October 2012) was an Australian politician. He was the Labor member for Liverpool in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1971 to 1989 and served as a minister from 1984 to 1988. Paciullo was born in Sydney to parents who had migrated from Italy.

In 1958, he joined the Labor Party, and the following year was elected to Liverpool City Council. In 1964, he married Janette Blinman, with whom he had a son. He continued as a draftsman and councillor until 1971. In 1971, he was elected to the local state seat of Liverpool.

In 1973 he became Shadow Minister for Sport, Recreation and Tourism.

When Labor, under Neville Wran, won government in 1976, Paciullo was appointed Minister for Roads, moving to Industry and Small Business from February to April 1984 and then to Consumer Affairs and Aboriginal Affairs. In 1986, when Wran resigned and Barrie Unsworth succeeded him, Paciullo became Police and Emergency Services Minister. In the early 1980s, Paciullo became the chairman of the inaugural joint parliamentary committee on road safety, Staysafe which recommended the introduction of random breath testing to NSW. Paciullo is remembered as one of Australia's greatest road safety campaigners.

After Labor suffered a landslide defeat by the Nick Greiner-led Coalition in 1988, Unsworth retired as party leader. Paciullo was a candidate for the leadership position, but lost out to Bob Carr. Shortly afterwards he resigned from parliament.

After 1988 Paciullo returned to local politics, serving again on Liverpool City Council as Mayor from 1994 to 2003. In June 1999, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. He was appointed to the Board of the NRMA in 2000. In May 2002 he was made a life member of the Labor Party.

Paciullo died at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney in October 2012, aged 78.

George Paciullo, OAM (20 February 1934 – 9 October 2012) was an Australian politician. He was the Labor member for Liverpool in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1971 to 1989 and served as a minister from 1984 to 1988. Paciullo was born in Sydney to parents who had migrated from Italy.

In 1958, he joined the Labor Party, and the following year was elected to Liverpool City Council. In 1964, he married Janette Blinman, with whom he had a son. He continued as a draftsman and councillor until 1971. In 1971, he was elected to the local state seat of Liverpool.

In 1973 he became Shadow Minister for Sport, Recreation and Tourism.

When Labor, under Neville Wran, won government in 1976, Paciullo was appointed Minister for Roads, moving to Industry and Small Business from February to April 1984 and then to Consumer Affairs and Aboriginal Affairs. In 1986, when Wran resigned and Barrie Unsworth succeeded him, Paciullo became Police and Emergency Services Minister. In the early 1980s, Paciullo became the chairman of the inaugural joint parliamentary committee on road safety, Staysafe which recommended the introduction of random breath testing to NSW. Paciullo is remembered as one of Australia's greatest road safety campaigners.

After Labor suffered a landslide defeat by the Nick Greiner-led Coalition in 1988, Unsworth retired as party leader. Paciullo was a candidate for the leadership position, but lost out to Bob Carr. ... More