Which Australian politicians have been convicted of a crime?

Many venal and vile characters have trod the halls of power in Australia. We've scoured the archives to try and identify every politician convicted of a crime since the 1800s.

Sean Johnson7 November 2025

Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash

Ever heard of the minister for justice who murdered a man he believed was his mistress’s lover? Prior to this, he was strongly suspected of having a hand in the untimely deaths of at least two political opponents.

Or what about the MP who killed his de facto wife at a baby’s birthday party, the deputy mayor who shot dead his elderly mother, and the prisons minister who took bribes to let prisoners out of jail early?

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