Leslie Williams (politician)

Last updated

lesliewilliams.com.au
The Honourable
Leslie Williams
MP
Leslie Williams in Moorland (cropped).jpg
5th Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
In office
7 May 2019 –9 May 2023

Leslie Gladys Williams is an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Port Macquarie since 2011 for the Nationals until switching to the Liberal Party in 2020. Williams has been the New South Wales Assistant Minister for Education, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Minister for Early Childhood Education from 2 April 2015 until 23 January 2017 when she was replaced in Gladys Berejiklian's cabinet by Sarah Mitchell. [2] [3] From 7 May 2019 until 9 May 2023, she was Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. [4]

Contents

Background

Leslie Gladys Williams was born on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. [5] Williams' early career was in teaching in regional South Australia and she completed a short-term assignment as chief executive officer of the Northern Territory division of the Sudden Infant Death Association. In 2000, Williams and her husband commenced ownership of the post office at Lake Cathie, New South Wales, and now operate a mail delivery service. At the same time, she completed a degree in nursing, and worked in the medical and palliative care ward at the Port Macquarie Base Hospital. [5]

Williams' community involvement includes membership of the Rotary Club of Laurieton, being a director of both the Hastings Men's Shed and the Suicide Prevention Network, and she is a volunteer for various organisations, including the Cancer Council of New South Wales and the Salvation Army. [5]

Political career

Williams' first tilt at public office was at the 2007 State Election where she was defeated by Nationals-turned-independent member, Rob Oakeshott. [6] Williams gained a 3.4-point swing toward the Nationals. When Oakshott resigned the seat to contest a by-election in the Federal parliament, Williams again contested the seat against Oakshott's staffer and independent candidate, Peter Besseling. Besseling won the by-election despite a large 23.7-point swing toward Williams and the Nationals. [6]

Williams again contested Port Macquarie at the next general election, the 2011 state election, and won against Besseling with a two-party-preferred swing of 10.9 points to the Nationals, giving Williams a 6.4-point margin against her independent opponent. [7] She actually won enough votes on the first count to reclaim the seat for the Nationals without the need for preferences.

Her victory was put down in part to anger at Besseling's association with Oakeshott, who kept federal Labor in office as a minority government after the 2010 federal election. [8] Port Macquarie has long been National heartland, and had been a comfortably safe National seat in "traditional" two-party matchups with Labor even when Oakeshott held it without serious difficulty as an independent.

Following the 2015 state election, Williams was sworn in as the Assistant Minister for Education, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and the Minister for Early Childhood Education in the second Baird government. [2] [9]

On 20 September 2020 Williams announced she had resigned from the National Party and intended to defect to the Liberal Party, citing the "reckless and unreasonable behaviour" of the Nationals leader John Barilaro in threatening to move the party to the crossbench. [10] [11] She became a Liberal Party member later that night. [12] Barilaro threatened to move to the crossbench over a dispute with the Liberal Party regarding a koala protection policy, though the matter was later resolved. Port Macquarie and its surrounds are known for having a large koala population, which is estimated to be around 2,000, [13] and the region is home to the Hello Koalas sculpture trail [14] and the Koala Hospital. [15] Barilaro also announced that the Nationals would field a candidate in the seat of Port Macquarie at the 2023 New South Wales state election. [16] The Nationals selected local mayor Peta Pinson as their candidate, [17] though Williams was easily re-elected. Following her re-election, Williams said the Nationals should have focused "more on seats like Monaro" than fielding a candidate in Port Macquarie. [18]

On 2 June 2023, Williams was granted retention of The Honourable title by the Governor for life, for having served as Deputy Speaker for more than three years. [19]

Personal life

Williams is the cousin of former South Australian Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman, and niece of Vickie's father Ted Chapman. [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Division of Lyne</span> Australian federal electoral division

The Division of Lyne is an Australian electoral division in the state of New South Wales.

Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly who served in the 52nd parliament held their seats from 1999 to 2003. They were elected at the 2003 state election, and at by-elections. The Speaker was John Murray.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melinda Pavey</span> Australian politician

Melinda Jane Pavey, is a former Australian politician. Pavey had been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2015 to 2023, representing the seat of Oxley for The Nationals. She was previously a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 2002 and 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral district of Port Macquarie</span> State electoral district of New South Wales, Australia

Port Macquarie is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Leslie Williams of the Liberal Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Oakeshott</span> Australian politician

Robert James Murray Oakeshott is a retired Australian politician. He was the independent Member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Lyne in New South Wales from 2008, when he won the 2008 Lyne by-election, until his retirement in 2013. Oakeshott described his views as economically conservative and socially progressive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Constance</span> New South Wales politician

Andrew James Constance is an Australian politician who represented Bega for the Liberal Party in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 2003 and December 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Hazzard</span> New South Wales politician

Bradley Ronald "Brad" Hazzard is a retired Australian politician who served as the member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly district of Wakehurst between May 1991 and March 2023.

Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly who served in the 54th parliament held their seats from 2007 to 2011. They were elected at the 2007 state election, and at by-elections. The Speaker was Richard Torbay.

Raymond Craig Williams is an Australian politician who has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the seat of Kellyville for the Liberal Party since 2023. He previously represented the electorates of Hawkesbury from 2007 to 2015 and Castle Hill from 2015 to 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Port Macquarie-Hastings Council dismissal</span> Mall construction stoppage

The dismissal of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council on 27 February 2008 marked the end of a series of events involving a project which was initiated in 2001 in the New South Wales coastal town of Port Macquarie to build a cultural and entertainment centre, known to locals as the Glasshouse. The project, initially a joint venture with the management of the neighbouring shopping centre, Port Central, was originally expected to cost the Council A$7.3 million. However, by late 2007, despite the centre not yet having opened, the costs had blown out to over A$41.7 million, with interest repayments likely to extend the council's liability to A$66 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Port Macquarie state by-election</span>

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Port Macquarie on 18 October 2008. This was triggered by the resignation of independent MP Rob Oakeshott who was elected to the federal seat of Lyne at a by-election the previous month.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Stokes</span> Australian politician

Robert Gordon Stokes is an Australian retired politician. Stokes served as the New South Wales Minister for Infrastructure, the Minister for Cities, and the Minister for Active Transport in the Perrottet ministry between 21 December 2021 and 25 March 2023. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Pittwater for the Liberal Party between 2007 and 2023.

Peter Edward Besseling is an Australian politician. Besseling was the Mayor of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, from 8 September 2012 to 8 May 2017, as an independent. Besseling served as Member for Port Macquarie between 2008 and 2011. Besseling is now General Manager at Birdon Pty Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 New South Wales state election</span> Elections to the 55th parliament of New South Wales

The 2011 New South Wales state election held on Saturday, 26 March 2011. The 16-year-incumbent Labor Party government led by Premier Kristina Keneally was defeated in a landslide by the Liberal–National Coalition opposition led by Barry O'Farrell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabrielle Upton</span> Australian politician

Gabrielle Cecelia Upton, an Australian politician, is the member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of Vaucluse for the Liberal Party from 2011 until her retirement at the 2023 New South Wales state election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuart Ayres</span> Former Australian politician (born 1980)

Stuart Laurence Ayres is an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 19 June 2010 to 25 March 2023, representing the electorate of Penrith as a member of the Liberal Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Barilaro</span> Australian politician

Giovanni DomenicBarilaro is an Australian former politician who served as the 18th deputy premier of New South Wales and the leader of the NSW National Party from 2016 to 2021. He was the Minister for Regional New South Wales, Industry and Trade in the second Berejiklian ministry from April 2019, and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the electoral district of Monaro since 2011 until his resignation in October 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Toole</span> Australian politician

Paul Lawrence Toole is an Australian politician. Toole was the Deputy Premier of New South Wales from 2021 to 2023, and the leader of the New South Wales Nationals from October 2021 to May 2023.

Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly who served in the 57th Parliament hold their seats from 2019 to 2023. They were elected at the 2019 state election on 23 March 2019. The Speaker was Shelley Hancock until May 2019 and then Jonathan O'Dea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 New South Wales state election</span>

The 2023 New South Wales state election was held on 25 March 2023 to elect the 58th Parliament of New South Wales, including all 93 seats in the Legislative Assembly and 21 of the 42 seats in the Legislative Council. The election was conducted by the New South Wales Electoral Commission (NSWEC).

References

  1. ↑ "No surprise as the Nats back Leslie Williams". Port Macquarie News . 9 February 2010.
  2. 1 2 Hasham, Nicole (3 April 2015). "Premier Mike Baird's new NSW cabinet sworn in: Gladys Berejiklian and Gabrielle Upton first female Treasurer and Attorney-General". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Coultan, Mark (1 April 2015). "Mike Baird reveals NSW cabinet". The Australian . Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "The Hon. Leslie Gladys Willimas MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 "Leslie Williams – Candidate for Port Macquarie". The Nationals team. National Party. 2010. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  6. 1 2 "No surprise as the Nats' back Leslie Williams". Port Macquarie News. Fairfax Media. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  7. ↑ "Williams whitewash". Port Macquarie News. Fairfax Media. 28 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  8. ↑ "Close battle expected in Port Macquarie electorate". ABC News. Australia. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  9. ↑ "Mrs Leslie Gladys WILLIAMS, BNurs, DipTeach MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  10. ↑ "NSW Nationals MP Leslie Williams resigns to join Liberals". ABC News. Australia. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  11. ↑ Smith, Alexandra (20 September 2020). "'Unhelpful and politically reckless': NSW Nationals MP quits to join Liberals". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "NSW Nationals MP Leslie Williams defects to Liberals over koala policy saga". SBS News. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  13. ↑ "Koalas".
  14. ↑ "Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail and Gift Shop | Port Macquarie".
  15. ↑ "The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital | Koala Conservation Australia Ltd". Koala Hospital.
  16. ↑ "Nationals will field a candidate in Port Macquarie against sitting Liberal MP". 15 December 2020.
  17. ↑ "Port Macquarie mayor Peta Pinson to run for Nationals at state election - ABC News".
  18. ↑ "NSW National Party chair 'disappointed' with election result in state's west, says Liberals need to 'navel gaze' - ABC News".
  19. ↑ "Parliament, Ministerial, Courts and Police" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (237): 0883. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  20. ↑ "Former KI schoolgirl now a NSW Minister". The Islander. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.

 

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Port Macquarie
2011–present		Incumbent
Preceded by Deputy Speaker
2019–2023		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Assistant Minister for Education
2015–2017		Succeeded by
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
2015–2017
New office Minister for Early Childhood Education
2015–2017
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.