Terry Griffiths (politician)

The Honourable Terry Griffiths
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Georges River
In office 22 February 1988 – 3 March 1995
Preceded by	Frank Walker
Succeeded by	Marie Ficarra
Personal details
Born	(1944-06-22)22 June 1944  Sydney
Died	18 June 2009(2009-06-18) (aged 64)
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party (1988–1994) Independent (1994–1995)
Spouse(s)	Jann Mariette Hart m. 1965, diss. Diane von Westernhagen m. 1974, diss. 2000
Children	1 (f), 1 (s) with Hart; 1 (f), 2 (s) with von Westernhagen
Occupation	Politician
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army
Years of service	1962–1982
Rank	Major

Terence Allan Griffiths (22 June 1944 – 18 June 2009) was a New South Wales (NSW) state politician from 1988 to 1995, and NSW government minister from 1991 to 1994, whose political career ended in disgrace over sexual harassment, molestation and bullying claims.

Political career

Griffiths joined the Liberal Party of Australia in 1987. In 1988, he was elected as the member for the southern Sydney seat of Georges River in the NSW Legislative Assembly, defeating sitting Labor MP Frank Walker. Following an electorate boundary redistribution, he was re-elected easily in 1991 and became Minister for Justice then, in 1992, Minister for Police and Minister for Emergency Services. In 1994, Griffiths was forced to resign from both the government ministry and the Liberal Party over claims of sexual harassment. He continued as an independent member of the NSW Legislative Assembly but did not stand for re-election at the 1995 election.

Background and personal life

Griffiths was born in Marrickville, NSW; his father was Richard Patrick Griffiths, an army officer of the Cadet School Portsea. He was educated at Liverpool Boys High School. In 1962 he was trained at the Officer Cadet School, Portsea and the School of Military Engineering and was commissioned as an army officer. In 1965 he married Jann Mariette Hart, with whom he had two children. He served in South Vietnam 1969–70. He and Jann divorced and, on 19 January 1974, he married Diane Maree von Westernhagen with whom he had three children. Griffiths was an army attache in Washington 1978–81. After reaching the rank of Major, he left the army in 1982. From 1983 to 1988 he was employed as the chief executive officer of The Scout Association of Australia's NSW branch. During his time as chief executive officer of The Scout Association of Australia NSW branch, serial sexual abuse by Scout Association of Australia NSW branch officers took place, including by commissioner and NSW branch council officer, Darryl Rubiolo. He repeatedly backed and protected Rubiolo who lived in and was the Scout Association of Australia commissioner for his electorate. Following the failure of his political career on claims of sexual harassment, molestation and bullying of staff, he was removed from The Scout Association of Australia NSW branch council and his second wife divorced him in 2000.

Military honours and awards

	Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975
	Vietnam Medal
	Defence Force Service Medal with 1 Rosette	for 20–24 years of service
	National Medal	for 15–24 years of service
	Australian Defence Medal	2006