Franca Arena

Franca Arena (born 23 August 1937) is an Australian politician and activist. She was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1981, first for the Australian Labor Party then as an Independent from 1997 until she left the Council in 1999. Long recognised as a colourful and influential figure in New South Wales politics, Arena shot to national prominence in 1996 when, under Parliamentary privilege, she named retired judge David Yeldham and former New South Wales MP Frank Arkell as potential paedophiles.

Arena was born in Genoa, Italy, the daughter of Francesco Dellepiane and Onorato Rosita. She received her education in Italy, at Syskon College in London, and after migrating to Australia in 1959, took several courses at WEA Sydney. In 1961, Arena married Joseph Nicholas Arena. The couple had twin sons in 1966. Soon after arriving in Australia, Arena worked as a journalist for the Italian language newspaper La Fiamma, until 1966. She also worked as a broadcaster in ethnic radio. In 1975 Arena helped found ethnic radio 2EA Sydney, where she worked until 1979.

Arena's strong interest in ethnic affairs inevitably led her to become involved in community organisations and politics. She sat on numerous committees from 1972 through the 1970s and '80s, all of them involved in some way in promoting or managing ethnic affairs, women's issues, or adult education. She joined the Labor Party in 1972, and in 1981 was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council, becoming the first woman not from an English-speaking background in the New South Wales Parliament. As a Member of the Council, Arena sat on several parliamentary committees, most prominently the Standing Committee on Social Issues.

In 1996 Arena attracted public condemnation after suggesting that the Wood Royal Commission should investigate Supreme Court judge David Yeldham and former MP Frank Arkell as alleged paedophiles. Her relationship with her party became increasingly strained as the fallout from her 1996 comments mounted, and she resigned in November 1997, continuing to serve on the Legislative Council as an Independent. In 1999 she failed a bid for re-election under the "Franca Arena Child Safety Alliance" banner, and retired from politics.

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