Griffin is a senior member of the New South Wales Liberal Parliamentary Party and currently the Shadow Minister for Energy,Climate Change,and Environment and Shadow Minister for Digital Government.[2]
He had previously served as a Cabinet Minister and as the NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Veterans,[3] the NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health,and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment.[4]
Griffin was elected on 8 April 2017 at the Manly state by-election held to replace the previous member,former premier of New South Wales Mike Baird.
Griffin was also involved in local government,serving a single term as a councillor on Manly Council,and as deputy mayor under Mayor Jean Hay from 2015 to 2016 when the council was amalgamated into the Northern Beaches Council. His mother,Cathy Griffin,was a major in the Australian Army,and also served one term as a councillor in Manly,albeit as a member of the NSW Greens.[6]
He is the son of Australian Army Officer Brigadier Michael Griffin AM (Ret) who was the Australian Commissioner for Law Enforcement Integrity.[7]
Griffin was appointed as an Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Business at the University of Notre Dame,Sydney. He has also served as a board member of the University of Sydney Innovation Hub. Griffin co-founded SR7,a digital risk consulting company,in 2009.[8] In February 2014,SR7 was acquired by professional service group KPMG,with Griffin joining the firm as a Director in the Risk Consulting Practice.[9]
Griffin has connections across the political and business community including former Premiers Berejiklian,Baird and Perrottet.[10] Former Australian Foreign Minister,Julie Bishop[11] is also named as a mentor alongside Chief Executive Officer of GB News,Angelos Frangopolous.[12]
Political career
Griffin was reported as a potential NSW Opposition Leader following the Coalition election loss in March 2023.[13]
Identified as a rising star in the NSW Parliamentary Liberal Party,[14] Griffin was appointed a Member of the Legislation Review Committee in June 2017,and subsequently appointed Chair of the same committee in November 2017. The Legislation Review Committee reviews all Bills introduced into Parliament and reports on the impact of these Bills on personal rights and liberties.[15]
In September 2018 Griffin was elected Chairman of the NSW Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Planning.[16] The Committee tabled the Land Release and Housing Supply in NSW report in October 2018.[17]
Griffin has been a staunch supporter of reforms to curb problematic gambling in the state.[18]
As Parliamentary Secretary for Veterans,Griffin co-authored and launched the state's first ever comprehensive Veterans Strategy.[19]
As Minister for Environment and Heritage,Griffin oversaw the largest single land acquisition for national park expansion in New South Wales history with the purchase of Thurloo Downs,a 437,394-hectare outback property near the Queensland border.[20] This ecologically significant region is home to more than 50 threatened species and contains diverse desert landscapes. The acquisition reflected Griffin’s broader strategy to enhance biodiversity protection,build climate resilience,and support joint land management with Traditional Owners—cementing his leadership in forward-looking conservation policy.
Other reforms during his time as Minister for Environment and Heritage include:
Single-Use Plastics Ban:In June 2022,New South Wales implemented a ban on lightweight single-use plastic bags,with further restrictions on items like straws and cutlery introduced later that year.[21]
Return and Earn Scheme Expansion:The NSW Government expanded the Return and Earn container deposit scheme to include additional beverage containers,aiming to boost recycling rates and reduce litter.[22]
Sustainable Farming Program:A $206 million Sustainable Farming Program was launched to support farmers in adopting environmentally friendly practices,enhancing natural capital and biodiversity.[23]
Blue Carbon Strategy:The NSW Blue Carbon Strategy was introduced to protect and restore coastal ecosystems that capture and store carbon,contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.[24]
AI-Powered Environmental Monitoring:Innovative AI technologies were employed to monitor and reduce litter in Sydney Harbour,aiming to protect marine life and improve water quality.[25]
Marine Habitat Restoration:The "Seabirds to Seascapes" initiative,backed by a $9.1 million investment,was launched to restore marine habitats in Sydney Harbour for species like penguins and seahorses.[26]
Recycling Infrastructure Development:Funding was allocated to establish recycling facilities for solar panels and batteries,promoting a circular economy and addressing renewable energy waste.[27]
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