Michael Egan (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Rueben Egan a former union official and former Australian politician, served as Treasurer of New South Wales
between 1995 and 2005. Egan is currently the Chancellor of Macquarie University
and sits on a number of government and non-government advisory boards.
as Federal Minister for Housing and Construction and Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (19731975). Egan served as an Officer of the NSW State Pollution Control Commission (19761978) and was a Senior Policy Advisor to Barrie Unsworth
initially as NSW Minister for Transport and NSW Minister for Health and then as Premier of NSW (19841986).
on 7 October 1978, standing in the seat of Cronulla
. Although re-elected on 19 August 1981, he was defeated in elections held on 5 March 1984
. He successfully ran for election to the New South Wales Legislative Council
on 24 September 1986. It was not until the Bob Carr
-led Labor Party
took power on 3 April 1995 that he became State Treasurer, Minister for Energy, and Minister for State Development. In a Ministetrial reshuffle in November 1997, Bob Debus
took over the Energy portfolio. Egan was also Minister for Gaming and Racing for one month during 2003 replacing Richard Face and succeeded by Grant McBride
. Egan was eventually to become the longest serving Treasurer in New South Wales.
In the few years before he became Treasurer when Labor was in Opposition, Egan had been the Shadow Finance Minister. Even though then Opposition Leader Bob Carr was still Shadow Treasurer, Egan became the informal Opposition counterpart to Liberal Treasurer Peter Collins when Collins was appointed Treasurer in 1993. It was Egan, not Carr, who debated Collins on economic matters in media appearances. It was because of Egan's solid performance against Treasurer Collins that Carr upon becoming Premier in 1995 with the ALP's victory at the State election, broke with convention in not appointing the Shadow Treasurer just prior to the election (which was Carr himself) as Treasurer and appointed Egan instead.
Another break in convention with Egan's appointment as Treasurer is that he was a member of the Upper House, the New South Wales Legislative Council
as previous Treasurers had been from the Lower House, the Legislative Assembly. However since all money bills had to be introduced first in the Lower House, the Legislative Assembly, Egan delivered the State Budgets of 1995 to 2004 in the Legislative Assembly despite not being a member of that house of Parliament.
Announcing his resignation on 18 January 2005, Egan stated that, 'after 35 years of political combat, I think it's time for me to move on'.
In May 2008 Egan was appointed Chairman of Terria, and in 2009, he was appointed as the Chair of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority
Commission.
Treasurer of New South Wales
The Treasurer of New South Wales, known from 1856–1959 as the Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales, is the minister in the Government of New South Wales responsible for government expenditure and revenue raising and is the head of the New South Wales Treasury. The Treasurer plays a key role in...
between 1995 and 2005. Egan is currently the Chancellor of Macquarie University
Macquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
and sits on a number of government and non-government advisory boards.
Early years and background
Egan was educated at St Patrick's College, Sutherland and obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Sydney University. He served the Australasian Meat Employees Union as a Federal Research Officer (19691973) and was an Advisor to the Hon Les JohnsonLes Johnson
The Honourable Leslie Royston "Les" Johnson AM is a former Australian politician, minister and High Commissioner.In his mid-twenties, Les Johnson was elected as a Councillor for Sutherland Shire, New South Wales, where he served for five years.Johnson was elected for the Australian Labor Party as...
as Federal Minister for Housing and Construction and Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (19731975). Egan served as an Officer of the NSW State Pollution Control Commission (19761978) and was a Senior Policy Advisor to Barrie Unsworth
Barrie Unsworth
Barrie John Unsworth was an Australian politician, representing the Australian Labor Party in the Parliament of New South Wales from 1978 to 1991. He served as the 36th Premier from July 1986 to March 1988.-Early years:...
initially as NSW Minister for Transport and NSW Minister for Health and then as Premier of NSW (19841986).
Political career
Egan was elected to the New South Wales Legislative AssemblyNew 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...
on 7 October 1978, standing in the seat of Cronulla
Electoral district of Cronulla
Cronulla is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Mark Speakman of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for Cronulla:-Election results:...
. Although re-elected on 19 August 1981, he was defeated in elections held on 5 March 1984
New South Wales state election, 1984
Elections were held in the state of New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday 24 March 1984. The Labor government led by Neville Wran won a fourth term in office, although with a reduced margin and a 7% swing against it....
. He successfully ran for election to 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...
on 24 September 1986. It was not until the Bob 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...
-led 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...
took power on 3 April 1995 that he became State Treasurer, Minister for Energy, and Minister for State Development. In a Ministetrial reshuffle in November 1997, Bob Debus
Bob Debus
Robert John "Bob" Debus AM , a former Australian politician, has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives and the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the Australian Labor Party. Debus has been a minister in both the Australian and New South Wales governments...
took over the Energy portfolio. Egan was also Minister for Gaming and Racing for one month during 2003 replacing Richard Face and succeeded by Grant McBride
Grant McBride
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.-Personal life:McBride is a qualified engineer who...
. Egan was eventually to become the longest serving Treasurer in New South Wales.
In the few years before he became Treasurer when Labor was in Opposition, Egan had been the Shadow Finance Minister. Even though then Opposition Leader Bob Carr was still Shadow Treasurer, Egan became the informal Opposition counterpart to Liberal Treasurer Peter Collins when Collins was appointed Treasurer in 1993. It was Egan, not Carr, who debated Collins on economic matters in media appearances. It was because of Egan's solid performance against Treasurer Collins that Carr upon becoming Premier in 1995 with the ALP's victory at the State election, broke with convention in not appointing the Shadow Treasurer just prior to the election (which was Carr himself) as Treasurer and appointed Egan instead.
Another break in convention with Egan's appointment as Treasurer is that he was a member of the Upper House, 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...
as previous Treasurers had been from the Lower House, the Legislative Assembly. However since all money bills had to be introduced first in the Lower House, the Legislative Assembly, Egan delivered the State Budgets of 1995 to 2004 in the Legislative Assembly despite not being a member of that house of Parliament.
Announcing his resignation on 18 January 2005, Egan stated that, 'after 35 years of political combat, I think it's time for me to move on'.
Career after politics
Appointed as a member of the Council of Macquarie University in 2006, Egan was appointed as Chancellor in 2008. Other community roles include: Chairman of the Australia Day Council of New South Wales since 2006, Chairman of the Centenary Institute Australia of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology since 2005, a Governor of the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research since 2005, and a Director of the Maritime Services Board of New South Wales between 1984 and 1986.In May 2008 Egan was appointed Chairman of Terria, and in 2009, he was appointed as the Chair of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority
Australian Fisheries Management Authority
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority is the Australian Government statutory agency responsible for the management and sustainable use of fisheries resources and for combating illegal fishing activities in Australian waters .-History:The Australian Fisheries Management Authority was...
Commission.