Disgraced ex-MP in coma after alleged attack
Controversial former West Australian MP Barry Urban is clinging to life after a vicious assault left the 55-year-old in an induced coma.
Mr Urban, who resigned from parliament in 2017 and was subsequently jailed after being exposed for wearing fake service medals and lying about his qualifications, was allegedly bashed by a man in Perth’s southeast on Tuesday.
Mr Urban was allegedly knocked to the ground by a customer after what witnesses described as a heated disagreement about “wheel alignment” at Kelmscott auto repair shop Tyre Brigade.
The former member for Darling Range was then transported to Royal Perth Hospital with head injuries described as “serious and life threatening” by WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch.
Mr Urban has since been placed into an induced coma.
A 25-year-old man is now facing charges of grievous bodily harm and reckless driving after allegedly almost running over a bystander while attempting to flee the scene.
Once a member of Mark McGowan’s Labor government, Mr Urban falsely claimed to have been awarded war medals for investigating war crimes and even lied to a parliamentary committee about his service record.
Mr Urban was also found to have forged university degrees while applying to join the state’s police force.
He was then charged with 12 offences by WA Police’s major fraud squad and received a three-year jail sentence.
It’s believed Mr Urban has been a Tyre Brigade employee since his release from prison in 2023.
WA Premier Roger Cook described the incident as “a very sad set of circumstances.”
“We just want Barry to be able to recover and we hope he recovers fully,” he said.