Dio Wang

Zhenya Wang (Chinese: 王振亚; pinyin: Wáng Zhènyà;[1] born 20 January 1981), also known as Dio Wang, is a former Chinese-born Australian senator and civil engineer. He was the CEO of Australasian Resources from July 2010 until 20 June 2014, when he resigned in preparation for his role as Senator for Western Australia (WA).[2] He did not retain his seat at the 2016 double dissolution election recording 0.38% of the WA primary senate vote.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wang.
Dio Wang
Whip of the Palmer United Party
in the Senate
In office
19 November 2014 – 12 March 2015
LeaderGlenn Lazarus
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Leader of the Palmer United Party
in Western Australia
In office
1 April 2013 – 12 March 2015
DeputyChamonix Terblanche
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Senator for Western Australia
In office
1 July 2014 – 2 July 2016
Succeeded byRod Culleton
Personal details
Born
Wáng Zhènyà (王振亚)

(1981-01-20) 20 January 1981
Nanjing, China
Political partyLiberal (before 2013, 2016–present)
Other political
affiliations		Palmer United (2013–2016)
Spouse
Josephine Deng
​
(m. 2004)​
ResidenceKarrinyup, Western Australia
Alma materSoutheast University
University of Melbourne
OccupationChief executive officer
civil engineer
ProfessionBusinessman
politician

Early life

Wang was born in Nanjing, China, where he studied civil engineering at Southeast University.[3]

Wang migrated to Australia in 2003, and has been an Australian citizen since 2009. He studied at the University of Melbourne, where he earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Planning and Design (Urban Planning) and Master of Engineering Structures.

Australasian Resources (2006–2013)

Wang was employed from 2006 by Australasian Resources, in which Clive Palmer owned a 70% share.[4][5] He was initially employed as a civil engineer for the company and went on to become a chief executive officer and the managing director, nationally.

Palmer provided cash injections to save Australasian Resources from insolvency, during Wang's directorship.[6] Wang resigned as managing director of Australasian Resources before he assumed his Senate seat.[5]

Political career (2013–2016)

Wang was the lead Senate candidate for the Palmer United Party (PUP), in Western Australia at the 2013 federal election.[7] Wang was announced as having been elected to the Senate, but lost on a recount. The PUP disputed the result of the recount, citing the loss of over 1,300 ballot papers between the original count and the recount.[8]

Senator for Western Australia (2014—2016)

The High Court ordered a fresh 2014 half-Senate election for WA, declaring open the six seats in question.[9][10] At the new election, Wang won the fifth vacancy with a 12.3 percent vote, an increase of 7.3 percent.[11][12] He joined the Senate on 1 July 2014.[13]

The PUP won three Senate seats at the 2013 election, including Wang's success at the WA special Senate election. However, within eighteen months, Wang's two Senate colleagues, deputy Senate leader Jacqui Lambie and Senate leader Glenn Lazarus, had resigned from the party to sit as independents, leaving Wang as the only PUP Senator, and one of only two PUP members of the Federal Parliament, the other being party leader Clive Palmer in the House of Representatives. Wang served as the whip of the PUP and then leader before his Senate term was cut short at the 2016 double dissolution election.[13]

Wang courted controversy in 2015 when, shortly after the 26th anniversary of the massacre, he defended the violent suppression of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests by the government of the People's Republic of China.[14][15] A few days later Wang spoke again to defend China over territorial claims in the South China Sea.[16]

The PUP ceased to have any political representation in Australia after the 2016 federal election, and Clive Palmer resigned his leadership of the party. Following his electoral defeat, Wang joined the Liberal Party, and there was some speculation that he would seek pre-selection for that party.[17][18]

References
  1. The way Wang's name is written or pronounced in Chinese has never been confirmed by official sources, but "王振亚" is the transliteration widely used in Chinese language media.
  2. "Resignation of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer" (PDF) (Press release). ASX. Australasian Resources. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  3. "WA senate result postponed again". The West Australian. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  4. Recount call as Palmer's party secures crucial seat
  5. Wang to leave mining company job: NEWS.com.au 11 April 2014
  6. Palmer propping up firm led by Wang
  7. "Palmer United's Zhenya Wang to represent WA in the Senate; Greens' Scott Ludlam loses seat". ABC News. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  8. Hall, Bianca (2 November 2013). "Clive Palmer to launch challenge to Western Australia Senate recount". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  9. "Fresh WA poll throws Canberra into spin". SBS Online. Australian Associated Press. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  10. Australian Electoral Commission v Johnston [2014] HCA 5, 251 CLR 463. Judgment summary (PDF), High Court, 18 February 2014
  11. "2014 WA Senate results: Antony Green ABC". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  12. "Detailed 2014 WA Senate result: Antony Green ABC". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  13. "Former Senator Zhenya Wang". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  14. Barrett, Jonathan (6 June 2015). "PUP's lone senator Dio Wang goes out on a limb". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  15. Burke, Liz (9 June 2015). "PUP senator Dio Wang under fire for endorsing Tiananmen Square massacre". news.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  16. "Australia senator defends 'most powerful country' China's claim to South China Sea". The Telegraph (UK). Reuters. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  17. Burrell, Andrew (16 December 2016). "Julie Bishop backs Dio Wang to join Liberals". The Australian. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  18. "Chinese-born former Australian senator joins Liberal Party". China Internet Information Center. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
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