Philip Donato

Philip Donato MP
Donato in 2022
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Orange
Incumbent
Assumed office 12 November 2016
Preceded by	Andrew Gee
Personal details
Born	1972 (age 52–53) Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
Political party	Independent (2022–present)
Other political affiliations	Shooters, Fishers and Farmers (2016–2022)
Residence	Orange[1]
Occupation	Police officer and prosecutor

Philip Donato (Italian: [doˈnaːto]; born 1972)^[2] is an Australian politician, currently serving as the member for Orange in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.^[3] Donato was a police officer and prosecutor before entering politics, and was elected at a by-election for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party following the resignation of National Party MP Andrew Gee.^[4][5]

He is the first member of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party to represent a lower house seat, joining Legislative Council members Robert Borsak and Robert Brown in the Parliament of New South Wales.^[4]

On 12 December 2022, Donato resigned from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party following a dispute with the party's leadership over comments concerning fellow member Helen Dalton: he accordingly announced that he would contest the 2023 New South Wales state election as an independent.^[6][7]

References

1. "Candidates - The Legislative Assembly District of Orange". Elections NSW. New South Wales Electoral Commission. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
2. Rurenga, Declan (20 November 2016). "Orange's newest parliamentarian guided by justice and fairness". Central Western Daily. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
3. "Mr Philip Donato MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
4. "Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party claim first seat in NSW Lower House after Orange re-count". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
5. "Orange byelection shock as NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party 'trumps' Nationals". Sydney Morning Herald. 13 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
6. Holmes, Peter (11 December 2022). ""It's a sad day": Phil Donato quits after fallout with leader". Orange News Examiner. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
7. Donato, Phil (15 December 2022). "Phil Donato: Why I quit the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party". Sporting Shooter. Retrieved 14 October 2023.

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Andrew Gee	Member for Orange 2016–present	Incumbent