Jai Travers Rowell MP (born ca. 1977), an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly

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 Wollondilly

Electoral district of Wollondilly

Wollondilly is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Jai Rowell of the Liberal Party of Australia....

 for the Liberal Party

Liberal Party of Australia

The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...

 since 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...

.

Early career and background

Jai Rowell was born and raised in the Macarthur region. After completing a law degree at the University of Western Sydney

University of Western Sydney

The University of Western Sydney, also known as UWS, is a multi-campus university in the Greater Western region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...

 he became an electorate officer to Pat Farmer MP. In 2004, he was elected as councillor

Alderman

An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...

 to Campbelltown City Council and continues to serve on Council.

Political career

Jai Rowell was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate in Macquarie Fields

Electoral district of Macquarie Fields

Macquarie Fields is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, located in the outer south-western suburbs of Sydney. It is currently represented by Dr Andrew McDonald of the Australian Labor Party....

 at the 1999

New South Wales state election, 1999

Elections to the 52nd Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 27 March 1999. All seats in the Legislative Assembly and half the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election...

 and 2003

New South Wales state election, 2003

Elections to the 53rd Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday 22 March 2003. All seats in the Legislative Assembly and half the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election...

 state elections. At the 2007 state election, Rowell sought preselection as the Liberal candidate for Wollondilly but conceded to Sharyn Hilton who was subsequently defeated by 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...

 candidate Phil Costa

Phil Costa

Phillip John "Phil" Costa is an Australian politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2007 until 2011, representing the electorate of Wollondilly. He served as Minister for Water and Minister for Corrective Services.-Early life:Costa was...

.

On 29 October 2009, Rowell was preselected by the Liberal Party as their candidate in Wollondilly for the 2011 state election. During his campaign for election, Angry Anderson

Angry Anderson

Gary Stephen "Angry" Anderson AM is an Australian rock singer, television presenter/reporter, actor and conservative political activist. He is best known as the vocalist with the hard rock band Rose Tattoo since 1976 but he is also recognised for his acting roles and his charity work...

 actively supported Rowell; who was elected with a swing of 10.6 per cent and won the seat with 64.7 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis. His main opponent was the incumbent sitting member and Minister for Water, Phil Costa

Phil Costa

Phillip John "Phil" Costa is an Australian politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2007 until 2011, representing the electorate of Wollondilly. He served as Minister for Water and Minister for Corrective Services.-Early life:Costa was...

, representing Labor

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...

. Prior to the election, there was speculation that the Nationals

National Party of Australia

The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...

 would run a candidate against Costa and Rowell, although they did not field a candidate.

External links

• Mr Jai Travers ROWELL, MP - Parliament of New South Wales
  Parliament of New South Wales
  The Parliament of New South Wales, located in Parliament House on Macquarie Street, Sydney, is the main legislative body in the Australian state of New South Wales . It is a bicameral parliament elected by the people of the state in general elections. The parliament shares law making powers with...