{{short description|Australian politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Rory Amon | image = Rory_Amon.png | office = Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Pittwater | term_start = 25 March 2023 | term_end = 30 August 2024 | predecessor = Rob Stokes | successor = Jacqui Scruby | office1 = Councillor of Northern Beaches Council <br/> for Pittwater Ward | term_start1 = 4 December 2021 | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|35|2026|2|20}} | term_end1 = 16 May 2023 | successor1 = Karina Page | office2 = Councillor of Northern Beaches Council <br/> for Narrabeen Ward | term_start2 = 9 September 2017 | term_end2 = 4 December 2021 | birth_name = Roderick Gilmore Amon | party = Liberal (until 2024) | alma_mater = Macquarie University | occupation = Solicitor, politician | website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20240830031018/https://www.roryamon.com.au/ roryamon.com.au (archived)] }}
'''Roderick Gilmore Amon''' (born 1990 or 1991) is an Australian former politician who served as the member for Pittwater in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from March 2023 until he was charged with child sex offences and resigned from parliament on 30 August 2024. He had previously served as a councillor on Northern Beaches Council from 2017 to 2023.
== Early life and education == Roderick Gilmore Amon<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mr (Rory) Roderick Gilmore AMON, MP |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/Pages/member-details.aspx?pk=2272 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529160717/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/Pages/member-details.aspx?pk=2272 |archive-date=29 May 2024 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.parliament.nsw.gov.au}}</ref> was born to Alexe and Guy Amon, who operated a Mona Vale small business for nearly twenty years.<ref name="rory">{{cite web |title=About Rory |url=https://www.roryamon.com.au/meet-rory |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830030834/https://www.roryamon.com.au/about-rory |archive-date=30 August 2024 |access-date=29 March 2023 |website=Rory Amon}}</ref> He has five siblings, including a twin sister.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Dale |date=2023-05-31 |title=Amon delivers inaugural speech |url=https://www.northernbeachesadvocate.com.au/2023/05/31/amon-delivers-inaugural-speech/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=Northern Beaches Advocate |language=en-AU}}</ref> Amon attended Covenant Christian School in Belrose,<ref name="rory"></ref> and Knox Grammar School,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distinguished Achievers List 2007 Higher School Certificate |url=https://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/ebos/static/DSACH_2007_12_A6.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830051920/https://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/ebos/static/DSACH_2007_12_A6.htm |archive-date=30 August 2024 |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=NSW Education Standards Authority |language=en-AU}}</ref> before studying commerce and law at Macquarie University, graduating with first class honours in Law.
== Career == Amon worked as a paralegal while a university student, and was admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales.<ref name="rory"/> As a solicitor, he has specialised in family law.<ref name="abc">{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Antony |title=Pittwater (Key Seat) - NSW Election 2023 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nsw/2023/guide/pitt |archive-date=30 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830030026/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nsw/2023/guide/pitt |url-status=live |work=ABC News |access-date=28 March 2023 |language=en-AU}}</ref>
Amon has been a volunteer firefighter since 2013 and was the president of the Davidson Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade from 2015 to 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mr (Rory) Roderick Gilmore AMON |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/Pages/member-details.aspx?pk=2272 |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=www.parliament.nsw.gov.au |archive-date=29 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529160717/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/Pages/member-details.aspx?pk=2272 |url-status=live }}</ref>
A rugby union referee, Amon was due to officiate in the Shute Shield grand final on 31 August 2024 but was replaced on the day of his arrest for alleged child sex offences.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sibthorpe |first1=Clare |last2=McSweeney |first2=Jessica |last3=Smith |first3=Alexandra |last4=Gorrey |first4=Megan |date=2024-08-30 |title=NSW MP charged with child sex offences, quits parliament |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/liberal-mp-charged-with-child-sex-offences-20240830-p5k6nq.html |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=30 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830022719/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/liberal-mp-charged-with-child-sex-offences-20240830-p5k6nq.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Politics === Amon was preselected as the Liberal Party's lead candidate for Narrabeen Ward on the newly-formed Northern Beaches Council for the 2017 local government elections. He was successful at being elected, with the Liberal ticket in Narrabeen Ward receiving 31.8% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Northern Beaches |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nswlg/2017/northern-beaches |publisher=ABC News |access-date=30 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512110231/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nswlg/2017/northern-beaches |archive-date=12 May 2024 |date=9 September 2017}}</ref>
He moved to Pittwater Ward for the 2021 local elections, where he was re-elected.<ref>{{cite web |title=Northern Beaches |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nswlg/2021/northern-beaches |publisher=ABC News |access-date=30 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418082522/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nswlg/2021/northern-beaches |archive-date=18 April 2023 |date=4 December 2021}}</ref>
In December 2022, Amon was preselected as the Liberal candidate for Pittwater at the 2023 state election, to replace retiring MP Rob Stokes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Rourke |first1=Jim |title=Rory Amon: Liberals finally choose their NSW election candidate for Pittwater |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/rory-amon-liberals-finally-choose-their-nsw-election-candidate-for-pittwater/news-story/1983b1b37baac995b032031c65f17684 |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=30 August 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221222234858/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/rory-amon-liberals-finally-choose-their-nsw-election-candidate-for-pittwater/news-story/1983b1b37baac995b032031c65f17684?amp&nk=fb5c824aedeaf30174c7776a7f1004af-1671752948 |archive-date=22 December 2022 |date=22 December 2022}}</ref> Stokes and then-premier Dominic Perrottet did not support Amon's preselection for the seat, preferring a female candidate and concerned about a possible large swing to teal independent candidate Jacqui Scruby.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Alexandra |date=2022-12-20 |title=Perrottet's pleas over controversial male candidate for Pittwater ignored |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/perrottet-s-pleas-over-controversial-male-candidate-for-pittwater-ignored-20221220-p5c7pt.html |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=30 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830111310/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/perrottet-s-pleas-over-controversial-male-candidate-for-pittwater-ignored-20221220-p5c7pt.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Despite a 20.2% two-candidate-preferred vote swing against the Liberals and towards Scruby, Amon was elected on 25 March 2023.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Green |first=Antony |date=June 2023 |title=2023 New South Wales election: Analysis of results |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/researchpapers/Documents/2023-NSW-election-Analysis-of-results.pdf |journal=Parliamentary Research Service |issue=Research Paper: 2023-11 |page=30 |access-date=31 August 2024 |archive-date=20 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420194057/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/researchpapers/Documents/2023-NSW-election-Analysis-of-results.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> He resigned as a councillor two months later on 16 May, and was replaced via countback by Karina Page.<ref>{{cite web |title=Karina Page - Pittwater Ward |url=https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/council/your-elected-council/karina-page |publisher=Northern Beaches Council |access-date=30 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327170356/https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/council/your-elected-council/karina-page |archive-date=27 March 2024}}</ref>
On 11 May 2023, he was appointed as the Shadow Assistant Minister for Youth, Housing, and Planning and Public Spaces.<ref>{{cite news |title=NSW Shadow Assistant Ministers |url=https://nswliberal.org.au/news/nsw-shadow-assistant-ministers |access-date=30 August 2024 |work=Liberal Party of New South Wales |language=en |archive-date=30 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830060218/https://nswliberal.org.au/news/nsw-shadow-assistant-ministers |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Child sex charges == On 30 August 2024, Amon was charged with ten child sex offences, relating to the alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old boy at Mona Vale in July 2017. The charges were "five counts of sexual intercourse with a person aged over 10 and under 14, two counts of attempted sexual intercourse with a child over 10 and under 14, two counts of indecent assault on a person under 16, and committing an act of indecency with a person under 16".<ref name="SexAbuse" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Man charged following alleged historical sexual assault - Northern Beaches |url=https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/news?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGZWJpenByZC5wb2xpY2UubnN3Lmdvdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGMTEzODQ0Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE%3D |publisher=New South Wales Police Force |access-date=30 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830090530/https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/news?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGZWJpenByZC5wb2xpY2UubnN3Lmdvdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGMTEzODQ0Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE%3D |archive-date=30 August 2024 |date=30 August 2024}}</ref>
After being charged, Amon resigned as a member of the Liberal Party.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Alexander |title=Liberal MP for Pittwater Rory Amon charged with child sex offences |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-30/nsw-mp-rory-amon-charged-sexual-offences-pittwater/104290978 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=30 August 2024 |date=30 August 2024 |quote=The ABC understands Mr Amon has quit the Liberal Party following the charges. |archive-date=30 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830054404/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-30/nsw-mp-rory-amon-charged-sexual-offences-pittwater/104290978 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> Several hours later, he was asked by then opposition leader Mark Speakman to resign from parliament, which he did on the same day.<ref name="SexAbuse" /> His seat was won by Independent Jacqui Scruby in the 2024 Pittwater state by-election.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-10-19 |title=Jacqui Scruby set to become first teal MP in NSW parliament after snatching Pittwater by-election |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-20/jacqui-scruby-to-become-the-first-teal-mp-in-nsw-parliament/104493630 |access-date=2024-10-20 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
Amon was listed to appear at Manly Local Court on 24 October 2024.<ref name="SexAbuse">{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/liberal-mp-charged-with-child-sex-offences-20240830-p5k6nq.html |access-date=30 August 2024 |archive-date=30 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830060207/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/liberal-mp-charged-with-child-sex-offences-20240830-p5k6nq.html |url-status=live |date=30 August 2024 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |first1=Jessica |last1=McSweeney |first2=Alexandra |last2=Smith |first3=Megan |last3=Gorrey |first4=Clare |last4=Sibthorpe |title=NSW MP charged with child sex offences, quits parliament |quote=A statement from Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said that, while Amon was "entitled to the presumption of innocence", the citizens of Pittwater were entitled to have an MP who can "discharge their duties in the community fully". "I therefore asked Mr Amon to resign from the NSW Parliament effective immediately. He has tendered his resignation to the Speaker," Speakman said.}}</ref>
On 15 May 2025, Amon was charged with breaching his bail conditions after failing to report to police as required.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-05-15 |title=Former NSW MP released after being charged over bail breach |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-15/nsw-former-nsw-mp-rory-amon-charged-with-breaching-bail/105294798 |access-date=2025-05-27 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> Amon's trial commenced on 20 February 2026 and he has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of sexual assault. He is being prosecuted at the Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite news |access-date=20 February 2026 |date=20 February 2026 |title=Former MP Rory Amon's alleged child sexual assault victim breaks down in court |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260220012027/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/former-mp-rory-amon-allegedly-sexually-abused-13-year-old-in-carpark-bathroom-20260218-p5o3d3.html |archive-date=20 February 2026 |url-status=live |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/former-mp-rory-amon-allegedly-sexually-abused-13-year-old-in-carpark-bathroom-20260218-p5o3d3.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |first=Clare |last=Sibthorpe}}</ref> On 9 March 2026, the jury in the trial acquitted Amon of eight of the ten charges, but remained deadlocked on two charges, one of indecent assault of a person aged under 16 years and another of sexual intercourse with a person aged 10–14.<ref>{{Cite web |last2=Sibthorpe |first2=Clare |last1=Schultz |first1=Amber |name-list-style=and|date=2026-03-09 |title=Former MP not guilty of most child rape charges, deadlock on others |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/former-mp-not-guilty-of-most-child-rape-charges-deadlock-on-others-20260309-p5o8rc.html |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-03-09 |title=Breaking: Ex-Liberal MP cleared of majority of charges in sexual assault trial |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-09/rory-amon-cleared-of-majority-of-charges-in-sexual-assault-trial/106413362 |access-date=2026-03-09 |publisher=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
In April 2026, Amon was retried on the two counts that the jury could not decide on.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=1 May 2026 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/former-mp-rory-amon-to-face-retrial-over-child-rape-and-assault-charge-20260501-p5zsuj.html |date=1 May 2026 |title=Former MP Rory Amon to face retrial over child rape and assault charge |first=Clare |last=Sibthorpe}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20240830031018/https://www.roryamon.com.au/ Rory Amon's official website] (archived 30 August 2024) *[https://web.archive.org/web/20240826022102/https://nswliberal.org.au/rory-amon Rory Amon] on the Liberal Party website (archived 26 August 2024)
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Amon, Rory}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century Australian politicians Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Category:Northern Beaches Council Category:Macquarie University alumni Category:Australian solicitors Category:People educated at Knox Grammar School Category:New South Wales local councillors Category:People from the Northern Beaches Category:Macquarie Law School alumni Category:Lawyers from Sydney Category:Politicians from Sydney