Ivan Petch

Ivan John Petch (1 March 1939 – 6 July 2026) was an Australian politician who was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the electorate of Gladesville for the Liberal Party between 1988 and 1995. He served as a Councillor for the Ryde City Council including a term as Mayor between 2012 and 2013.

Background Born in Concord, New South Wales on 1 March 1939, Petch attended Putney Primary School and Fort Street Boys High School before receiving his tertiary education in electrical engineering and music at Sydney Technical College. He held various positions, including professional musician, electrical engineering consultant, company managing director (Independent Promotions Pty Ltd), and a licensed electrical contractor. He joined the Liberal Party in 1975.

Petch died in Concord on 6 July 2026, at the age of 87.

Political career In 1977, Petch was elected to Ryde Municipal Council, and from 1980–87 he also sat on Sydney County Council, of which he was chairman in 1984 and 1985. From 1984–87 he was an executive member of the Local Government Association. He was active in the Ryde local area as Chairman of the Ryde "Red Cross Calling" Appeal 1978–84, President of the Ryde Lions Club 1985–86, and honorary member of the North Ryde Rotary Club, from which he received a Paul Harris Fellow award. He was also appointed a Knight of the Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem. Petch rejected the findings, confirming he was launching legal action in the NSW Supreme Court and said it "beggars belief" that ICAC could accuse him of acting corruptly "after 37 years of representing the residents honestly and sincerely". On 28 November 2014, the Supreme Court of New South Wales dismissed Petch's challenge. Petch resigned from the Ryde City Council with effect from 1 December 2014.

In October 2018, a 12-person jury found Petch guilty of "making an unwarranted demand with menaces" while he was Ryde mayor in May 2013, by suggesting the council's then acting general manager might not get a permanent job unless she made a decision favouring his financial interests. He avoided jail time but would serve a supervised two-year corrections order in the community. NSW District Court Judge Nicole Noman said on Monday the former mayor's behaviour conveyed "a sense of entitlement" and a "preparedness to manipulate others for his advantage".

In December 2019, Petch was sentenced to a 18-month imprisonment for lying to the Independent Commission Against Corruption during both private and public hearings in 2013.