Paul was born in Bunbury, and raised in the small country town of Burekup before joining the Navy at 15 years of age in 1978. His military career lasted 26 years, during which time he became a Navy Clearance Diver, served in the counter terrorist squadron of the Special Air Service Regiment and deployed twice to Iraq on operations.
The military provided many opportunities to develop and exercise leadership and Paul was fortunate to have served as Commanding Officer of a Clearance Diving Team and a Patrol Boat. His final military posting was as manager of the Navy’s Submarine Escape and Rescue Service.
After leaving the military in 2004 he ran a small business before being elected to represent the seat of Peel at a by-election in February 2007. He currently holds the portfolios of Tourism; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; Defence Issues; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests.
Contact details and Speeches
Biography
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Warnbro Electorate Map
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Statistical Profile of the Warnbro Electorate
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About the Warnbro Electorate
Number of Electors: 25,218 (9 March 2015)
Source: Western Australian Electoral Commission. State Electorate Information.
Nomenclature
The suburb of Warnbro derives its name from Warnbro Sound, the bay on the shores of which the suburb is located. Warnbro Sound was surveyed by Surveyor General J S Roe in 1837, and in 1838 he recorded the name, but it is not known why the name was chosen.
Source: Western Australia. Department of Land Administration. Names and Places.
Suburbs/Towns
Baldivis*, Golden Bay, Karnup*, Port Kennedy, Secret Harbour, Singleton and Warnbro.
* = Suburb/Town split between more than one District.
Source: Western Australian Electoral Commission. State Electorate Information
Schools
Government: Baldivis Gardens Primary School; Comet Bay College; Comet Bay Primary School; Endeavour Primary School; Golden Bay Primary School; Koorana Primary School; Peel Language Development School; Port Kennedy Primary School; Rivergums Primary School; Rockingham Lakes Primary School; Secret Harbour Primary School; Singleton Primary School; Warnbro Community High School; Warnbro Primary School
Other: Living Waters Lutheran College; St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School
Local Newspapers
Sound Telegraph
Weekend Courier
Successive Members for the Warnbro District
Paul Papalia
Constituency created under Redistribution of Seats 2007
b = by-election