Ian Macdonald (New South Wales politician)
Encyclopedia
Ian Michael Macdonald BA
MLC (born 7 March 1949), a former Australia
n politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
from 1988 to 2010 representing the Australian Labor Party
. Between 2003 and 2010, Macdonald held a range of ministerial responsibilities in the Carr
, Iemma
, Rees
, and Keneally
ministries.
with a Bachelor of Arts
(honours) in history and worked for the Australian Council of Overseas Aid, and a range of Commonwealth and State government agencies before his election to parliament in 1988.
At the time of entering Parliament, he was a farmer near Carcoar
in the Central West of New South Wales.
because of his efforts to destabilise Rees in his position. Macdonald then played a large part in the sacking of Rees in favour of Kristina Keneally
. Macdonald was previously a member of the New South Wales Socialist Left faction, but was formally expelled in December 2009 for his role in Rees's downfall.
New Premier Kristina Keneally
restored Macdonald to the ministry following her election as Premier, making him the Minister for Major Events, Mineral and Forest Resources, State and Regional Development and Central Coast.
Macdonald was plagued by scandal surrounding a trip to Dubai made in 2008, which led him to resign from the ministry on 4 June 2010 on the same day as the resignation of Minister Graham West
. Macdonald's Dubai trip will be investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption after a government report found he misused public funds.
On 7 June 2010 Macdonald resigned from parliament with immediate effect. He was replaced by Luke Foley
, the Assistant Deputy Secretary of the New South Wales Labor Party.
In November 2011 the Independent Commission Against Corruption heard allegations that Macdonald, while Minister, accepted sexual favours in return for introducing businessman to executives of state-owned energy companies. It was also alleged that property developer Ron Medich acted as a broker for Macdonald and was seeking to do business with government agencies where Macdonald had influence as a Minister. The inquiry is ongoing.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
MLC (born 7 March 1949), a former 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...
n politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
from 1988 to 2010 representing 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 2003 and 2010, Macdonald held a range of ministerial responsibilities in the Carr
Bob Carr
Robert John "Bob" Carr , Australian statesman, was Premier of New South Wales from 4 April 1995 to 3 August 2005. He holds the record for the longest continuous service as premier of NSW...
, Iemma
Morris Iemma
Morris Iemma , is a former Australian politician and 40th Premier of New South Wales, succeeding Bob Carr after he resigned on 3 August 2005. Iemma led the Australian Labor Party to victory in the 2007 election before resigning as Premier on 5 September 2008, and as a Member of Parliament on 19...
, Rees
Rees ministry
The Rees ministry is the 91st ministry of the Government of New South Wales, and was led by the 41st Premier Nathan Rees.The Rees Labor ministry was formed following the resignation of Premier Morris Iemma on 5 September 2008 and the unanimous election of Rees as Leader of the Labor caucus and...
, and Keneally
Keneally ministry
The Keneally ministry is the 92nd ministry of the Government of New South Wales, and was led by the 42nd Premier Kristina Keneally....
ministries.
Early career and background
Raised as one of five children by his mother in a single parent household, Macdonald graduated from La Trobe UniversityLa Trobe University
La Trobe University is a multi-campus university in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament to become the third oldest university in the state of Victoria. The main campus of La Trobe is located in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora; two other major campuses are...
with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(honours) in history and worked for the Australian Council of Overseas Aid, and a range of Commonwealth and State government agencies before his election to parliament in 1988.
At the time of entering Parliament, he was a farmer near Carcoar
Carcoar, New South Wales
Carcoar is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia, in Blayney Shire. In 2006, the town had a population of 218 people. It is situated just off the Mid-Western Highway 258 km west of Sydney and 52 km south-west of Bathurst and is 720 m above sea-level...
in the Central West of New South Wales.
Political career
Macdonald was dumped from the Ministry by then Premier Nathan ReesNathan Rees
Nathan Rees MP, , an Australian politician, was the 41st Premier of New South Wales and parliamentary leader of the New South Wales division of the Australian Labor Party from September 2008 to December 2009...
because of his efforts to destabilise Rees in his position. Macdonald then played a large part in the sacking of Rees in favour of Kristina Keneally
Kristina Keneally
Kristina Kerscher Keneally MP, is an Australian politician and was the 42nd Premier of New South Wales. She was elected leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales and thus Premier in 2009, but went on to lose government to the Liberal/National Coalition at the March 2011 state election...
. Macdonald was previously a member of the New South Wales Socialist Left faction, but was formally expelled in December 2009 for his role in Rees's downfall.
New Premier Kristina Keneally
Kristina Keneally
Kristina Kerscher Keneally MP, is an Australian politician and was the 42nd Premier of New South Wales. She was elected leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales and thus Premier in 2009, but went on to lose government to the Liberal/National Coalition at the March 2011 state election...
restored Macdonald to the ministry following her election as Premier, making him the Minister for Major Events, Mineral and Forest Resources, State and Regional Development and Central Coast.
Macdonald was plagued by scandal surrounding a trip to Dubai made in 2008, which led him to resign from the ministry on 4 June 2010 on the same day as the resignation of Minister Graham West
Graham West
Graham James West , a former Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Campbelltown between 2001 and 2011 for the Australian Labor Party. He was Minister for Juvenile Justice, Minister for Volunteering and Minister for Youth in the New South Wales State...
. Macdonald's Dubai trip will be investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption after a government report found he misused public funds.
On 7 June 2010 Macdonald resigned from parliament with immediate effect. He was replaced by Luke Foley
Luke Foley
Luke Aquinas Foley , an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 10 June 2010 representing the Australian Labor Party...
, the Assistant Deputy Secretary of the New South Wales Labor Party.
In November 2011 the Independent Commission Against Corruption heard allegations that Macdonald, while Minister, accepted sexual favours in return for introducing businessman to executives of state-owned energy companies. It was also alleged that property developer Ron Medich acted as a broker for Macdonald and was seeking to do business with government agencies where Macdonald had influence as a Minister. The inquiry is ongoing.