It seems local government is a good grounding for a career in NSW State politics with more than a third of the members of the NSW House of Assembly and Legislative Council getting their first break serving their local communities on local councils.
Local Government New South Wales President (LGNSW), Darriea Turley said for 50 of the 135 parliamentarians to have once been councillors was a tribute to the community spirit of the MPs concerned and recognition of the fine political training ground that local government provides.
“On behalf of the Board of LGNSW I want to congratulate all 50 former councillors who are now in the State Parliament,” Cr Turley said.
“Some have been re-elected for a second, third or fourth time, but a number are entering state politics for the very first time which is an exciting development in their political careers.”
She said winning a seat in the state parliament was an endorsement for each MP of the work they had done and the profile they had created in their own communities.
“It’s worth noting our new Minister for Local Government, Member for Heffron Ron Hoenig brings a wealth of experience to his ministerial role, having been the Mayor of the City of Botany Bay from 1981 to 2012, a record 31 years,” Cr Turley said.
“A number of other MPs have also been civic leaders, serving as mayors or deputy mayors in their local government areas.”
Councillor Turley said it was gratifying to know that such a large percentage of MPs knew the importance of the role local government plays in the community.
Those who have been councillors in the past include: Rory Amon MLA (Northern Beaches Council), Edmond Atalla MLA (Blacktown City Council), Tina Ayyad MLA (Liverpool City Council), Stephen Bali MLA (Blacktown City Council), Liza Butler MLA (Shoalhaven City Council), Mark Buttigieg MLC (Sutherland Shire Council), Prue Car MLA (Penrith City Council), Amanda Cohn MLC (Albury City Council), Mark Coure MLA (Kogarah City Council pre-amalgamation), Tim Crakanthorp MLA (Newcastle City Council), Michael Daley MLA (Randwick City Council), Tanya Davies MLA (Penrith City Council), Donna Davis MLA (Parramatta City Council), Stephanie Di Pasqua MLA (City of Canada Bay Council), Scott Farlow MLC (Strathfield Council), Julia Finn MLA (Parramatta City Council), James Griffin MLA (Manly City Council pre-amalgamation), Nathan Hagarty MLA (Liverpool City Council), Judy Hannan MLA (Wollondilly Shire Council), Jodie Harrison MLA (Lake Macquarie City Council), Jo Haylen MLA (Marrickville Council pre-amalgamation), Mark Hodges MLA (The Hills Shire Council), Ron Hoenig MLA (City of Botany Bay Council pre-amalgamation), Sonia Hornery MLA (Newcastle City Council), Rose Jackson MLC (Waverley Council), Charishma Kaliyanda MLA (Liverpool City Council), Jordan Lane MLA (City of Ryde), Mark Latham MLC (Liverpool City Council), Stephen Lawrence MLC (Dubbo Regional Council), Adam Marshall MLA (Gunnedah Shire Council), Karen McKeown MLA (Penrith City Council), Tanya Mihailuk MLC (Bankstown Council pre-amalgamation), (Chris Minns MLA (Hurstville City Council pre-amalgamation), Bob Nanva MLC (Burwood Council), Marjorie O’Neill MLA (Waverley Council), Greg Piper MLA (Lake Macquarie City Council), Robyn Preston MLA (The Hills Shire Council), Peter Primrose MLC (Campbelltown City Council), Michael Regan MLA (Northern Beaches Council), Anthony Roberts (Lane Cove Council), Penny Sharpe MLC (Marrickville Council pre-amalgamation), Kobi Shetty MLA (Inner West Council), Mark Taylor MLA (The Hills Shire Council), Bronnie Taylor MLC (Cooma-Monaro Shire Council pre-amalgamation), Paul Toole MLA (Evans Shire Council and Bathurst Regional Council), Wendy Tuckerman MLA (Boorowa Council and Hilltops Council), Gareth Ward MLA (Shoalhaven City Council), Greg Warren MLA (Camden Council), Ray Williams MLA (Hills Shire Council), Richie Williamson MLA (Clarence Valley Council).
