Definition
Laurie Connell (14 May 1939 – 1 August 2020) was an Australian businessman best known for his involvement in Western Australian corporate and political affairs during the 1970s and 1980s, and for his subsequent conviction on fraud charges related to the WA Inc controversies.
Overview
Connell began his career in the timber and construction sectors before expanding into property development, mining interests, and financial services. He became a prominent figure in the Western Australian business community, establishing a diversified portfolio of companies that included the West Australian Construction Company, the Western Australian Development Corporation, and various mining ventures.
During the 1980s, Connell developed close ties with the state Labor government led by Premier Brian Burke. These relationships facilitated a series of high‑profile deals, most notably the purchase and subsequent sale of the State‑owned Western Australian Development Bank (WADBank) and the financing of several large‑scale projects. The intertwining of private business and public policy in this period later became known as the “WA Inc” scandals.
In 1995, Connell was convicted of fraud for his role in a share‑price manipulation scheme involving the sale of shares in a mining company financed by the state‑owned development bank. He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, of which he served a portion before being released on parole. After his release, Connell withdrew from public business activities and lived a relatively private life until his death in 2020.
Etymology/Origin
The surname “Connell” is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic “Ó Coinniall,” meaning “descendant of Connall,” a personal name historically interpreted as “strong-willed” or “chief.” The given name “Laurie” is a diminutive of “Lawrence,” which originates from the Latin “Laurentius,” meaning “from Laurentum” (a city famed for its laurel trees).
Characteristics
- Business diversification: Connell’s enterprises spanned construction, timber, property development, mining, and financial services.
- Political connections: Maintained close, often controversial, relationships with Western Australian Labor politicians, influencing state economic policy and public‑sector financing.
- Legal repercussions: Convicted of fraud in 1995; sentenced to imprisonment and placed on a criminal record, which marked the decline of his public business profile.
- Public perception: Viewed by supporters as an entrepreneurial pioneer who contributed to Western Australia’s economic growth, while critics regarded him as emblematic of the excesses and lack of oversight that characterized the WA Inc era.
Related Topics
- WA Inc – A series of questionable business dealings between the Western Australian state government and private enterprise during the 1980s, culminating in investigations and commissions of inquiry.
- Brian Burke (Australian politician) – Premier of Western Australia (1983–1988) whose administration was closely linked with Connell’s business activities.
- Western Australian Development Bank (WADBank) – State‑owned financial institution involved in lending to Connell’s projects and central to the fraud investigation.
- Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government and the State’s Role in Business – The inquiry that examined the WA Inc scandals and led to numerous findings about Connell’s conduct.
- Australian corporate fraud legislation – Legal framework that governed the charges and penalties applied to Connell’s 1995 conviction.