Michael Johnsen

Michael John Johnsen (born 15 March 1964)[1] is an Australian former politician who served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the member for Upper Hunter for the Nationals from 2015 to 2021.[2]

Not to be confused with Michael Johnson (Australian politician).

Michael Johnsen
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Upper Hunter
In office
28 March 2015 – 31 March 2021
Preceded byGeorge Souris
Succeeded byDave Layzell
Personal details
Born
Michael John Johnsen

(1964-03-15) 15 March 1964
NationalityAustralian
Political party
Spouse
Zenda Casey
​
​
(m. 1985; div. 2015)​
Residence(s)Scone, New South Wales
Websitewww.michaeljohnsen.com.au

Johnsen served as Mayor for the Upper Hunter Shire Council from 2009 to 2012 and previously contested the seat of Hunter for the Nationals at the 1996, 2010 and 2013 federal elections.[3]

Johnsen was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in March 2015 "after a traditional Nationals family values election campaign in which his wife featured prominently."[4]

Johnsen announced he was standing aside temporarily on 24 March 2021 due to an ongoing police investigation into a rape allegation against him. He stood aside from his role as parliamentary secretary, and moved to the crossbench and did not sit in the Nationals nor the joint party room.[5] Following further allegations of inappropriate conduct in Parliament House, Johnsen resigned from parliament on 31 March 2021.[6]

Personal life

Michael Johnsen married Zenda Casey in November 1985 and the couple had two children.[7] The marriage ended in late 2015, nine months after Johnsen's election as the member for Upper Hunter.[4]

References
  1. "National Party Candidates - NSW". Australian Parliament House. 1996.
  2. "Mr Michael John Johnsen, MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  3. "NSW Election 2015 - Upper Hunter". ABC News. Australia. March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  4. McCarthy, Joanne (20 February 2018). "'Devastated': another Nationals ex-wife after the end of a marriage". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  5. Smith, Alexandra; Rabe, Tom; Cormack, Lucy (24 March 2021). "Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen stands aside over rape allegations". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  6. Smith, Alexandra; Cormack, Lucy (31 March 2021). "Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen resigns from NSW Parliament". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  7. Johnsen, Michael (12 May 2015). "Inaugural Speeches: Michael Johnsen's inaugural speech on 12 May 2015" (PDF). Extract from NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard and Papers. Parliament of New South Wales. p. 413.
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