Grant McBride
Encyclopedia
Grant Anthony McBride a former Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
representing the electorate of The Entrance
on the New South Wales Central Coast for the Australian Labor Party
between 1992 and 2011
.
, Gough Whitlam
. He is married and lives in The Entrance
with his wife and eight children, and is known as an avowed teetotaller and non-gambler.
was ordered by the Court of Disputed Returns
in 1992.
In 2003, McBride was appointed Minister for Gaming and Racing and, in 2005, appointed Minister for the Central Coast. As Minister for Gaming and Racing, in 2005, he proposed a ban on Dutch
beer Shag, claiming its name was offensive to Australia
ns. McBride said the beer's name linked it, "directly with sexual intercourse". McBride held both Ministerial positions until a controversy arose during 2006, when he was accused of wasting $50,000 on an overseas trip in November 2005. It was alleged that McBride was accompanied by former Gosford City
Councillor, Daniel Cook and his former chief of staff (and son of former Police Minister Paul Whelan
) John Whelan. Media reports of the incident suggested McBride had taken the trip knowing he might be removed from the Cabinet. McBride lost his position as Minister for Gaming and Racing and Minister for the Central Coast in April 2007.
In May 2007, McBride was appointed Assistant Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
. On 8 November 2010, McBride announced that he would not contest the 2011 state election
.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
representing the electorate of The Entrance
Electoral district of The Entrance
The Entrance is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is represented by Chris Spence of the Liberal Party of Australia who defeated Labor candidate David Mehan at the State Election in 2011...
on the New South Wales Central Coast for the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
between 1992 and 2011
New South Wales state election, 2011
Elections to the 55th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 26 March 2011. The 16-year incumbent Australian Labor Party government led by Premier Kristina Keneally was defeated in a landslide by the Liberal-National coalition opposition led by Barry O'Farrell.New South Wales has...
.
Personal life
McBride is a qualified engineer who worked as an electorate officer to former Prime MinisterPrime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
. He is married and lives in The Entrance
The Entrance, New South Wales
The Entrance is a district centre and town of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Wyong Shire local government area. At the 2006 census, The Entrance had a population of 2,632 people....
with his wife and eight children, and is known as an avowed teetotaller and non-gambler.
Political career
McBride was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, representing The Entrance for Labor since a by-electionBy-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
was ordered by the Court of Disputed Returns
Court of Disputed Returns (NSW)
The Supreme Court of New South Wales sits as the Court of Disputed Returns when considering a petition concerning the validity of any election or return under the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912...
in 1992.
In 2003, McBride was appointed Minister for Gaming and Racing and, in 2005, appointed Minister for the Central Coast. As Minister for Gaming and Racing, in 2005, he proposed a ban on Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
beer Shag, claiming its name was offensive to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
ns. McBride said the beer's name linked it, "directly with sexual intercourse". McBride held both Ministerial positions until a controversy arose during 2006, when he was accused of wasting $50,000 on an overseas trip in November 2005. It was alleged that McBride was accompanied by former Gosford City
Gosford City Council
Gosford City is a local government area of the Australian state of New South Wales, governed by the Gosford City Council. It is located approximately midway between Sydney and Newcastle in an area known as the Central Coast...
Councillor, Daniel Cook and his former chief of staff (and son of former Police Minister Paul Whelan
Paul Whelan
The Hon. Paul Francis Patrick Whelan is the former New South Wales State Police minister.-Early years and background:...
) John Whelan. Media reports of the incident suggested McBride had taken the trip knowing he might be removed from the Cabinet. McBride lost his position as Minister for Gaming and Racing and Minister for the Central Coast in April 2007.
In May 2007, McBride was appointed Assistant Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly is the presiding officer of the Legislative Assembly, New South Wales's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is Shelley Hancock, who was elected on 3 May 2011...
. On 8 November 2010, McBride announced that he would not contest the 2011 state election
New South Wales state election, 2011
Elections to the 55th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 26 March 2011. The 16-year incumbent Australian Labor Party government led by Premier Kristina Keneally was defeated in a landslide by the Liberal-National coalition opposition led by Barry O'Farrell.New South Wales has...
.