1.
New South Wales state election, 2015
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A general election for the 56th Parliament of New South Wales was held on Saturday 28 March 2015. Members were elected to all 93 seats in the Legislative Assembly using optional preferential voting, Members were also elected to 21 of the 42 seats in the Legislative Council using optional preferential proportional representation voting. The election was conducted by the New South Wales Electoral Commission, the main Opposition Labor Party under Luke Foley won an increased share of the vote in most districts, though the party lost ground in some key races, including Foleys seat of Auburn. It managed to take 14 seats off the Coalition, mostly in areas of Labor heartland lost to the Liberals during the landslide in 2011, most notably, Labor regained seats in west Sydney, the Central Coast and the lower Hunter. Baird had campaigned on a plan to lease 49 per cent of the state-owned electricity distribution network in order to deliver an ambitious transport. Although the poles-and-wires proposal was received in opinion polls, Baird himself was widely liked by the electorate. Candidate nominations closed on 12 March and early voting began on the 16th, eleven seats won by the Liberals and Nationals in 2011 went to other parties in 2015. Incumbent Liberal MPs were defeated by Labor challengers in Blue Mountains, Campbelltown, Granville, Rockdale, incumbents Don Page and Robyn Parker retired, with the Greens taking Pages seat of Ballina and Labor taking Parkers seat of Maitland. Londonderry, Port Stephens and Wyong, whose Liberal incumbents had been sitting as independents since 2013 and retired in 2015, former Liberal Edwards, in Swansea, re-contested the seat as an independent but lost to Labor challenger Yasmin Catley. Miranda Labor MP Collier had retired at the 2011 election, with the Liberals Annesley picking up the seat on a swing of nearly 22 points. When Annesley quit politics in 2013, Collier returned to contest the by-election, Collier decided not to re-contest the seat in 2015, and the Liberals Eleni Petinos took it with 63 per cent of the primary vote. Northern Tablelands, won by an independent in 2011 and lost to the Nationals in 2013, was retained by the Nationals, Charlestown and Newcastle, won by the Liberals in 2011 and lost to Labor at by-elections in 2014, were retained by Labor. Following the 2013 redistribution the ABC recalculated the 2011 election results based on the new boundaries and these calculations deemed Macquarie Fields, a Labor marginal, notionally Liberal. The new seat of Prospect, which replaced Liberal-held Smithfield, was also considered notionally Liberal, in Macquarie Fields, incumbent Labor MP Andrew McDonald did not re-contest and Labor candidate Anoulack Chanthivong defeated Liberal Pat Farmer. In Prospect, the sitting Smithfield MP, Andrew Rohan, was defeated by Labor candidate Hugh McDermott, Labor governed NSW from 1995 until 2011. Over the course of its last two terms, a succession of changes, criminal convictions, corruption scandals and cancelled infrastructure projects began to eat away at Labors support base. In a harbinger of things to come, the previously safe Labor seats of Ryde, in March 2011, the Liberals and Nationals, led by the Liberals Barry OFarrell, won one of the most comprehensive state-level victories since Federation, taking 69 seats in the Legislative Assembly. In 2013, the Nationals won a by-election in Northern Tablelands after independent MP Richard Torbay resigned over corruption allegations, the win in Northern Tablelands represented the high point for the Government party room
2.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
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The New South Wales Legislative Assembly is the lower of the two houses of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The upper house is the New South Wales Legislative Council, both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is presided over by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Assembly has 93 members, elected by single-member constituency, which are commonly known as seats. Voting is by the preferential system. Members of the Legislative Assembly have the initialism MP after their names, from the creation of the assembly up to about 1990, the initialism MLA was used. The Legislative Assembly was created in 1856 with the introduction of a parliament for the Crown Colony of New South Wales. In the beginning, only men were eligible to be members of the Assembly, following Australias federation in 1901, the New South Wales parliament became a State legislature. Women were granted the right to vote in 1902, and gained the right to be members of the Assembly in 1918, the Legislative Assembly sits in the oldest legislative chamber in Australia. Originally built for the Legislative Council in 1843, it has been in use since 1856. The colour of the Legislative Assembly chamber is green, which follows the British tradition for lower houses, most legislation is initiated in the Legislative Assembly. The party or coalition with a majority of seats in the house is invited by the Governor to form government. The leader of that party subsequently becomes Premier of New South Wales, as Australian political parties traditionally vote along party lines, most legislation introduced by the governing party will pass through the Legislative Assembly. As with the parliament and other Australian states and territories. Elections are held four years on the fourth Saturday in March, exceptional circumstances notwithstanding. 47 votes as a majority are required to pass legislation, the clerk of the house of the NSW Legislative Assembly is the senior administrative officer. The clerk advises the speaker of the Assembly and members of parliament on matters of parliamentary procedure, the office is modelled on the clerk of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. The serjeant has the authority to remove disorderly people, by force if necessary, once a meeting has started in an Assembly, the serjeant will usually stand at the door to keep authority and make sure no one else comes in or out
3.
Gladys Berejiklian
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Gladys Berejiklian is the 45th Premier of New South Wales and the Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party, offices which she assumed on 23 January 2017 following the resignation of Mike Baird. She has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly since 2003 and she was also the Deputy Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party between 2014 and 2017. Berejiklian was born in Sydney, the eldest of three born to Armenian immigrant parents, Krikor and Arsha. Her grandparents were orphaned in the Armenian Genocide in 1915, Berejiklian spoke only Armenian until she was five years old, when she began learning English. She has remained involved in the Armenian-Australian community, serving a term on the Armenian National Committee of Australia, in 2015, she attended a commemoration ceremony in Yerevan for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Berejiklian attended North Ryde High School, which became Peter Board High School from 1986 and she was a member of Girl Guides and continues to support the organisation. She has a Bachelor of Arts and a diploma in international studies from the University of Sydney. She joined the Liberal Party in 1993 and was president of the New South Wales Young Liberals from 1997 to 1998, being the third female president in its history. She also served as a Delegate to State Council, Urban Representative of the NSW Liberal Party State Executive, Campaign Director for State seat of Willougby and Chair of Convention Committee. Berejiklian also worked for Peter Collins and Senator Helen Coonan and the Commonwealth Bank as general manager, Youth Retail Banking, Berejiklian supports the Australian republican movement. Following the 2007 State election, she was given the portfolio of Citizenship by Opposition Leader OFarrell. Following the election of the OFarrell government at the 2011 state election, on 3 April 2011 Berejiklian was appointed Transport Minister, Berejiklian has been outspoken against the former NSW Labor Governments handling of trains, buses and ferries. In a subsequent ministerial reshuffle, in addition to her existing responsibilities, as Treasurer, Berejiklian oversaw New South Wales return to surplus. This was the first time New South Wales had been declared debt-free in more than 20 years and she also oversaw the privatization of the states electricity network. Baird endorsed Berejiklian as his successor, declaring that she would be an outstanding Premier, Berejiklian ministry First Baird ministry Second Baird ministry OFarrell ministry List of female heads of government in Australia gladys. com. au Premier. nsw. gov. au
4.
Mike Baird
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Baird represented the electoral district of Manly in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the Liberal Party of Australia from 2007 to 2017. Before becoming Premier, he was the Treasurer of New South Wales in the OFarrell government between 2011 and 2014, on 19 January 2017, Baird announced his intention to step down and on 23 January he resigned as Premier and member for Manly. Born in Melbourne, Baird is the son of Judy and Bruce Baird, Baird attended The Kings School, Parramatta, and spent time living in the United States of America while his father served as head of the Australian trade commission in New York City. Baird graduated with a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney, Baird also studied at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada, initially intending to enter the Anglican ministry, but while there decided to pursue a career in investment banking and later politics. In 1999, he unsuccessfully sought preselection for the seat of Manly, Baird then returned to investment banking, working for the National Australia Bank for a time in London, before returning to Sydney to work for HSBC Australia. Baird again sought, this successfully, Liberal Party preselection for the seat of Manly. After initially serving in a range of junior shadow ministries, Baird was promoted to the position of Shadow Treasurer in 2008 and he is strongly in favour of Australia becoming a republic. Baird immediately reshuffled the ministry elevating Andrew Constance into the Treasury portfolio, in October, Stoner resigned as Leader of the NSW Nationals and Deputy Premier of New South Wales and was replaced by Troy Grant. The Sydney Morning Herald described Bairds government as the most devout in living memory, with a concentration of powerful religious figures in its upper echelons. Bairds chief of staff, Bay Warburton, once said that in his role as chief of staff he is serving Jesus and he believes that he has a great opportunity to help people by making responsible decisions about the money from this state. On the morning of 15 December 2014, a gunman, Man Haron Monis, held hostage ten customers and eight employees of a Lindt chocolate café located at Martin Place. Baird addressed the media during the stand-off, and stated we are being tested today, the police are being tested, the public is being tested, but whatever the test we will face it head on and we will remain a strong democratic, civil society. I have full confidence in the Police Commissioner and the work of the NSW police force. On 20 March 2015, Baird met with staff at the re-opened café, stating the staff and company. Are saying that they want to be strong for their friends, they want to be strong for this city and state. At the 2015 election, Baird led the Liberals and Nationals Coalition to a second term, coal Seam Gas was a likewise major regional issue in northern New South Wales. Since replacing Barry OFarrell as Premier in April 2014, Baird initially fared well in opinion polls. From December 2015 to September 2016, Bairds satisfaction rating fell by 46 points—the biggest fall in net satisfaction of any mainland state premier in the history of Newspoll. Baird has publicly advocated for the tough Sydney lockout laws and on 9 February 2016 posted a Facebook response to an article published by Matt Barrie condemning the Premiers actions
5.
Victor Dominello
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Victor Michael Dominello MP, an Australian politician, is the New South Wales Minister for Finance, Services and Property in the since January 2017 in the Berejiklian government. Dominello is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, the by-election saw Dominello receive a two-party swing of 23.1 points. Dominello increased his margin at the 2011 election, however the margin was reduced to 11.5 points at the 2015 state election, Dominello was born at Ryde Hospital and was educated at Holy Spirit School, North Ryde, and Marist College Eastwood. He then went on to law at Macquarie University. In 1991, Dominello was admitted as a practitioner of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Dominello successfully obtained an order that the limitation period be significantly extended to enable the applicants claims to be maintained. In 1994, Dominello commenced employment with Etheringtons Solicitors of North Sydney, following his election to the Parliament of New South Wales in October 2008, Dominello stepped down as partner at Etheringtons. He joined the Liberal Party in the early 1990s, and in 1995 Dominello was elected as a councillor for the City of Ryde. Dominello served two terms, but did not nominate for the 2004 local government elections, citing his desire to concentrate on his legal career, and subsequently let his Liberal membership lapse. On 3 September 2008, Labor Deputy Premier John Watkins, who was also the local Member for Ryde, resigned from parliament, Dominello nominated for preselection and won, defeating Ryde Mayor Vic Tagg and several other local party members. Although Ryde was on paper a safe Labor seat with a majority of 10 points, additionally, the by-election came at a very bad time for the government, whose polling numbers had rapidly tailed off only a year after being re-elected. Dominello went into the contest as the favourite to win. He duly defeated Labor candidate Nicole Campbell in a landslide, receiving a swing of more than 25 points on the day of the by-election. The swing, at the time the largest a sitting NSW government had suffered, turned Ryde into a safe Liberal seat in one stroke. He was subsequently sworn as a member of the Legislative Assembly in on 25 October 2008, Dominello was sworn in as a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly on 28 October 2008. Since then, he has spoken in Parliament about a number of issues including the future of Ryde Hospital, the Homebush V8 Supercar race. As a result, the Opposition was able to have the bill amended in the Legislative Council to reflect the discovery. Dominello won the seat in his own right at the 2011 state election, picking up a swing of 12.7 points and increasing his vote to 75 percent. Following the electoral victory of the OFarrell government at that election, Dominello was appointed as the Minister for Citizenship, Communities, following the 2015 state election, Dominello was sworn in as the inaugural Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation in the second Baird government
6.
Greg Aplin
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Gregory John Greg Aplin MP, an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Albury for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2003. Aplin was born in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, on 9 October 1952 and he studied at the University of Cape Town, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours. He returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was given a three years posting to Sydney, in 1980 he then returned to the newly independent Zimbabwe to work for the government in regional development, and arranging state visits. Greg Aplin has been married to his wife Jill since 1975, Aplin is a Rotarian and has been awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship, given to members who donate US$1,000 to Rotary International. Aplin moved to Australia in 1981 and began working in television and he worked in Wollongong, Orange, and Albury, where he became station manager of Prime Television AMV-4, a post he held for 13 years. He won a Logie Award as the Executive Producer of a television programme, in 2001, when Australias regional television stations were centralising, he became the administration manager for the University of New South Wales School of Rural Health in Albury and Wagga Wagga. A year later he became a researcher and media adviser for Member for Farrer, when Ian Glachan announced his retirement, Aplin was preselected as the Liberal Partys candidate for the seat in the 2003 state election. He received more than 16,826 first preference votes, out polling the nearest candidate, Albury City Councillor and Independent candidate, Clare Douglas, who received 8,595 first preference votes. Another two Albury City councillors polled third and fourth, with Olympian Rob Ballard receiving 5,267 votes and he was appointed to the Public Accounts Committee in October 2005. In March 2006, Peter Debnam promoted Aplin to the Opposition front bench as the Shadow Minister for Housing, Aplin was re-elected at the 2007 and 2011 general elections. Prior to the 2011 general election, Aplin held the portfolio of Mental Health. However, Aplin was not selected to join the OFarrell ministry, New South Wales Parliament – Mr Gregory John APLIN, BA MP Liberal Party of Australia NSW Division – Legislative Assembly – Profile, Greg Aplin NSW Young Liberals Profile
7.
Stuart Ayres
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Ayres is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly since 19 June 2010, representing the electorate of Penrith as a member of the Liberal Party of Australia. Ayres was born to a serving in the Australian Defence Force which resulted in his moving all over the country until settling in Penrith in 1993. He was educated at St Dominics College in Kingswood and he is the partner of federal Liberal Senator Marise Payne. Ayres was elected at the Penrith State by-election on 19 June 2010, Ayres took the previously safe Labor seat on a 25. 7-point swing—the largest swing against a sitting government in New South Wales history. This turned Penrith into a safe Liberal seat at one stroke, indeed, Ayres primary-vote margin was enough to win the seat without the need for preferences. Like his partner Marise Payne, Ayres is a republican, in his maiden speech to parliament he voiced his support for Australia to have an Australian head of state and become a republic. Following his re-election in March 2011, Ayres was elected to the position of deputy government whip in the NSW Legislative Assembly, since then, he was promoted to Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Transport and appointed as the Premiers Parliamentary Secretary for Western Sydney. In December 2013, Ayres was appointed as the Minister for Fair Trading, following the resignation of Mike Gallacher in May 2014, Ayres gained the portfolio of Police and Emergency Services and lost the portfolio of Fair Trading. Following the 2015 state election, Ayres was sworn in as the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and the Minister for Sport on 2 April 2015 as a member of the second Baird government. In the Berejiklian ministry, Ayres was appointed as the Minister for Western Sydney, the Minister for WestConnex, first Baird ministry Second Baird ministry Berejiklian ministry OFarrell ministry Mr Stuart AYRES, MP – Parliamentary profile
8.
Linda Burney
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Upon her election, she became the first Aboriginal person to serve in the New South Wales Parliament. Linda Burney is also the first Aboriginal woman to be elected to the Australian House of Representatives, Burney was the New South Wales Deputy Leader of the Opposition and was also Shadow Minister for Education and Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. In the Keneally ministry, she was the Minister for the State Plan, during 2008 and 2009, Burney was National President of the Australian Labor Party. Burney is of Wiradjuri descent and grew up in Whitton, a town in south west NSW near Leeton. In her inaugural speech to Parliament she said, I did not grow up knowing my Aboriginal family, I met my father, Nonny Ingram, in 1984. His first words to me were, I hope I dont disappoint you, I have now met 10 brothers and sisters. We grew up 40 minutes apart and that was the power of racism and denial in the fifties that was so overbearing. I now have two sets of brothers and sisters, I was raised by my old aunt and uncle, Nina and Billy Laing. These old people gave me the ground on which I stand today—the values of honesty, loyalty, Burney attended the local primary school in Whitton. She did her first four years of school at Leeton High School. She was the first Aboriginal graduate from the Mitchell College of Advanced Education where she obtained a Diploma of Teaching and she began her career teaching at Lethbridge Park public school in western Sydney in 1979. She has held positions in the non-government sector, serving on a number of boards including SBS, the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board. When Burney was elected as the Member for Canterbury in 2003 and your reflection in the mirror was at best ugly and distorted, and at worst nonexistent. She was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Training in 2005, following the 2007 election Burney became Minister for Fair Trading, Minister for Youth, and Minister for Volunteering. In September 2008 she was promoted to Minister for Community Services and she lost her portfolios following the change of government at the 2011 state election. She was the lead Minister in a whole of government reform plan, Keep Them Safe, following the ALPs landslide defeat at the 2011 state election, Burney was elected as Deputy Leader of the Labor Party after former Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt chose not stand for the position. She also became the Shadow Minister for Planning, Infrastructure and Heritage, Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, as Minister, Burney was the inaugural patron of the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award, a major NSW Government supported initiative. In 2006 she gave the seventh Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lecture, as part of the 2012 Sydney Festival Burney performed as herself delivering her inaugural speech to the NSW Parliament in a theatrical production called I am Eora
