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Nathan Rees

Nathan Rees (/rz/) (born 12 February 1968)[1] is a former Australian politician who served as the 41st Premier of New South Wales and parliamentary leader of the New South Wales division of the Labor Party from September 2008 to December 2009. Rees was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Toongabbie for Labor from 2007 to 2015.

Nathan Rees
41st Premier of New South Wales
In office
5 September 2008 – 4 December 2009
MonarchElizabeth II
GovernorMarie Bashir
DeputyCarmel Tebbutt
Preceded byMorris Iemma
Succeeded byKristina Keneally
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Toongabbie
In office
24 March 2007 – 6 March 2015
Preceded byNew district
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
Personal details
Born (1968-02-12) 12 February 1968 (age 55)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyLabor Party
SpouseStacey Haines
EducationNorthmead Creative and Performing Arts High School
University of Sydney

Rees replaced Morris Iemma as Premier and party leader on 5 September 2008. At 40 years and 206 days of age, Rees became the youngest person to assume the office, a record that has since been surpassed by Dominic Perrottet.[2] On 3 December 2009, Rees was deposed as leader of the Labor Party by Kristina Keneally after he resoundingly lost a secret ballot in the Labor Party caucus after fifteen months as Premier. He is the shortest-serving member of the New South Wales Parliament to become Premier since Federation, and the only Labor Premier of New South Wales not to lead the party into an election. To date, he is also the most recent premier of an Australian state not to contest a general election.

Early life

Rees was born in 1968 in Western Sydney to parents Daryl and Frances, his mother being a longtime member of the Labor Party, reportedly from Penrith, New South Wales.[3] He attended Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School where he served as school captain. On leaving school he initially took up a horticultural apprenticeship and worked as a greenskeeper for Parramatta Council. Subsequently he went on to study English literature at the University of Sydney, attaining an honours degree in 1994, supporting himself by working as a garbage collector at the same council.[4][5][6] During his time at the Council he became Secretary of the then Municipal and Shire Employees Union.[4]

Rees was a long-distance runner, and a member of the Parramatta Cycling Club, where he won many events. When training for races, Rees would cycle up to 1,000 km per week. He once attained third place in a state triathlon.[7]

Politics

Rees's first job in politics was in 1995, when he became an adviser to the then deputy premier Andrew Refshauge, for whom his mother, Frances, worked. During this period, Rees cycled between Bullaburra in the Blue Mountains, where he lived at the time, and central Sydney, a distance of more than 90 km (56 mi).[8]

He subsequently worked for Ministers Craig Knowles and Morris Iemma,[9] and as chief of staff for Minister Milton Orkopoulos. Rees transferred to the Premier's office in 2006, three months before Orkopoulos was charged with paedophilia.[8] Rees has stated that he had no knowledge of the crimes committed by Orkopoulos,[10] and would have reported him to the police had he been aware of them.[dubious ]

He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly on 24 March 2007 and became Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister for Water Utilities, on 2 April 2007.[11]

In July 2008, he was touted by the Sydney media as being a contender for Premier. Rees denied that he was a contender for the role, saying that "Premier Iemma has my rock-solid, unequivocal support and he knows that".[12] Two months after this interview, Morris Iemma was deposed as Premier in favour of Rees.[12]

Minister for Water Utilities and Minister for Emergency Services

As Minister for Water Utilities, Rees was responsible for implementing the $1.9 billion Sydney Desalination Plant at Kurnell, and the proposed Tillegra Dam in the Hunter Region.[13][14]

At the time Rees was appointed Minister for Water Utilities, Sydney was experiencing extreme drought conditions requiring transfer of water from the Shoalhaven River to Sydney and the imposition of water restrictions.[15]

The construction of the controversial Sydney Desalination Plant to prepare Sydney for future droughts was completed whilst Rees was Minister. The project came in $60 million under budget and doubled the initial capacity.[16][17] Contracts were also entered into to provide for the powering of the desalination plant through renewable sources.[18]

Premier

 
Rees in 2009

Iemma resigned on 5 September 2008 after his own Right faction rebuffed his plans to reshuffle the Cabinet. However, the Right had no credible replacement candidate. It thus agreed to support Rees, a member of the Socialist Left faction.[19] Thus, later in the day, Rees was unanimously elected Labor leader, and hence Premier.[2] He was sworn in by the Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales, Chief Justice of New South Wales James Spigelman after only nineteen months as a member of parliament. Carmel Tebbutt was elected unanimously as Deputy Leader, and thus Deputy Premier.[20] The following Monday, 8 September, Rees was also sworn in as Minister for the Arts.

A slump in revenues associated with the recent global financial crisis compelled Rees and the State Treasurer Eric Roozendaal to implement a mini-budget which was handed down on 11 November 2008.[21] The mini-budget increased taxes and charges such as land tax, mineral royalties, parking space levies and also announced the privatisation of state assets. A universal scheme providing free travel on public transport for all students going to and from school was curtailed—a decision since reversed[22]—and the previously announced North West Metro and South West rail projects were indefinitely postponed.[23] A series of by-elections to replace former Premier Morris Iemma, Deputy Premier John Watkins and Health Minister Reba Meagher resulted in massive swings against the government and saw John Watkins' former seat of Ryde resoundingly lost to the Liberals.

Soon after returning from his wedding in New York, Rees dismissed rumours of a leadership challenge within the Labor party.[24] After the resignation of John Della Bosca as Minister for Health and the Central Coast, and after a subsequent cabinet reshuffle, Rees appointed himself as Minister for the Central Coast.

On 14 November 2009, Rees was granted extraordinary powers by the New South Wales Labor State Conference to pick his own cabinet (usually the Labor caucus and Head Office chooses the ministry, and the leader only assigns portfolios).[25] The next day Rees sacked Finance Minister (and Labor powerbroker) Joe Tripodi, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald, and Parliamentary Secretaries Henry Tsang and Sonia Hornery for blocking key reforms aimed at distancing the government from corruption and improving the provision of services to constituents and for plotting to remove him from the premiership.[26][27] This was the fourth time since Rees had taken over the premiership that there had been a cabinet reshuffle.

Economy

Rees took over as Premier on 5 September 2008. Eleven days later Lehman Brothers, a financial giant based in the United States, collapsed and precipitated the global financial crisis.

The Rees government responded to the crisis with a three-point plan. Firstly, Rees reaffirmed his government's commitment to the retention of a Triple A credit rating. Rees emphasised that as finance and credit became harder to get around the world, retaining a Triple A credit rating was essential to being able to borrow money at the lowest rates available.[28] Secondly, as Chair of the government's Budget sub-committee, Rees announced there would be a mini-budget which was delivered in November 2008.[29] The mini-budget delayed a number of large-scale capital works projects with long lead times and instead emphasised capital expenditure on smaller projects which could generate employment more quickly.[30] Third, Rees drew industry and business leaders together to conduct a job summit.[31] This summit was co-chaired by Roger Corbett, Steve Harkins and David Gonski. In addition to the Work Plan developed by the summit, Rees also announced the establishment of 4,000 government apprenticeships across the state and 2,000 cadetships.[32]

After the delivery of the 2009/10 Budget, the AAA credit rating in NSW was reaffirmed by the major credit ratings agencies[33] and the agency's outlook for NSW was upgraded from negative to stable.[34] Rees has since claimed that NSW is the only jurisdiction in the world to have improved its credit rating during the Global Financial Crisis.

The 2009/10 Rees Budget had the largest capital works expenditure to date in the State's history, more than $18 billion.[35]

Education

In his short period as Premier, Rees and his Education Minister, Verity Firth, made substantial changes to the NSW Education system. From 1998 to 2008, there had only been a slight increase in the retention rate for students remaining to complete Year 12, with significant inequality as measured by socio-economic status. In response, in January 2009, Rees announced that he would be increasing the minimum leaving age from 15 to 17 years.[36]

Together with the Federal government, Rees also established 175,000 new training places in the vocational training sector, and provided a training guarantee for apprentices who had had their apprenticeships interrupted.[37]

Controversially, Rees also introduced non-religious Ethics classes into primary schools against fierce opposition from church groups.[38]

Law and order

Shortly after coming to office, the death of an outlaw motorcycle gang member at Sydney airport[39] required Rees to introduce controversial laws aimed at banning criminal gangs.[40] Fierce opposition from civil libertarians followed,[41] and in June 2011, the High Court ruled against the government.[42]

In the 09/10 Budget, the NSW police force was provided with $10 million to equip frontline police with Taser stun guns.[43]

Rees also introduced measures aimed at reducing alcohol-related violence. These included mandatory lockouts, plastic cups and the naming and shaming of the most violent venues.[44] In the comparison period, 'glassings' went from 17 incidents in the previous year to one incident after these measures were introduced.

Despite ongoing disputes between criminal gangs, the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reported that in the 24 months to December 2010, ten of the 17 major offence categories were stable and seven were falling.[45]

Environment

Building on the environmental legacy of Bob Carr, Rees announced the preservation of the last remaining large tract of River Red Gums in the state's south.[46] This completed the forest preservation program commenced by Carr, who had preserved the North Coast and Brigalow natural heritage areas.[47]

Rees also announced the establishment of Yengo National Park in the Upper Hunter region; 120,000 hectares of pristine bushland, in June 2009.[48] Furthermore, the Rees government announced an additional 65,000 hectares of land in Yanga National Park in the Riverina.[49]

Transport

Successive Labor administrations had been criticised for inadequate spending on public transport. Financially restrained from large-scale projects due to the global financial crisis, Rees and his Transport Minister David Campbell determined that massive expansion of the bus network would improve transport options more quickly than large heavy rail expansions.[50] Accordingly, 450 new buses were ordered.[51]

Rees also opened the Epping to Chatswood rail line, the first piece of significant rail infrastructure in a decade, and projected usage was quickly outstripped.[52]

In November 2009, Rees announced approval for Stage 2 of the South West Rail Link, a $1.3 billion project to improve public rail services to south western Sydney.[53]

Rees and Campbell enjoyed a close working relationship, and on their watch train service reliability rose to a ten-year high of 95% on-time running.[54] They also announced the restoration of ferry services from the city to Parramatta to ease rail and road congestion.[55] To ease congestion in city centres, free shuttle buses were also introduced into Sydney city and Wollongong.[56] To encourage public transport use on weekends, the Rees Government introduced $2.50 Family Fun Day fares for Sundays,[57] with discount entry to museums and other tourist locations. Rees and Campbell also delivered a simplified fare structure for the rail network and 300 new buses.[58]

Health

Rees established the Bureau of Health Information in July 2009 to produce regular and timely reports on the performance of the NSW health system, including waiting lists, and developing and distributing tools to allow users to interrogate data.[59]

While often criticised for the performance of hospitals, Rees was able to point to an Australian Government report titled The State of Our Public Hospitals[60] which in June 2009 reported that NSW had the best elective surgery and emergency department performances in Australia.[61]

Rees also introduced eyesight screening for preschoolers[62] to complement universal hearing tests previously introduced by Craig Knowles.[63]

Aboriginal affairs

In November 2009, Rees announced the single largest handback of Aboriginal land in the state's history. The Yuin people of the South Coast of NSW had lodged a claim under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act for 20,000 hectares bordering the Morton National Park, including Yarramumum and Boolijong Creeks and parts of the Yerriyong State Forest. Rees granted the claim in full.[64]

Arts

As Arts Minister, one of Rees early tasks was to announce the establishment of an annual festival, Vivid Sydney.[65] Described as a 'festival of lights and ideas', the inaugural curator was Brian Eno, an influential music and album producer. Despite being an international superstar in his own field, the choice of Eno was the subject of derision by sections of the media. Many argued they would have preferred to have Tiger Woods (who was to play golf in Victoria). Rees famously said "I'd rather have Brian Eno for two weeks than Tiger Woods for 3 days".[66]

While Minister for the Arts, Rees also granted independence to the National Art School,[67] and commenced master planning for a new visual arts centre at the Old King's School site in Parramatta. This latter commitment was retained by Kristina Keneally when she took over as Premier, and it formed the central element of the Arts policy announcement in the 2011 election.[68]

Rees also established the sub-continental festival 'Parramasala' based in Parramatta,[69] and he was instrumental in bringing A.R. Rahman, of Slumdog Millionaire fame, to Sydney for a free open-air concert which attracted more than 50,000 people to Parramatta Park.[70]

Labor links with unions

Acknowledging Labor history, Rees and the Lord Mayor of Sydney officially renamed parts of Hickson Road, The Rocks, as 'The Hungry Mile'.[71] In years past, unemployed men would line up for work each day, thus giving the strip its name. A ceremony recognising the change was held on 29 July 2009.[72]

NSW Labor had also been instrumental in holding the asbestos firm James Hardie to account. Under Premier Bob Carr, the Jackson Inquiry precipitated an ongoing fund to be established and maintained by James Hardie to provide for future payouts to sufferers of asbestosis.[73] James Hardie made inadequate provision, and Rees intervened in 2009 to ensure that affected individuals would be able to claim into the future.[74] A number of directors of James Hardie were ruled ineligible to be directors arising from their role in James Hardie restructures.[75]

Government reform

After 15 years in government, there had been a number of scandals involving Labor ministers which were reported negatively in the press.[76] Rees distanced himself from these with a range of reforms. Rees overhauled the Freedom of Information Act[77] and replaced it with the Government Information (Public Access) Act which had an explicit bias towards public disclosure of documentation and Government information.[78] Rees also appointed an independent commissioner to oversee the operation of this Act.[79]

In November 2009, Rees announced that he wanted to move towards public funding of election campaigns instead of a reliance on large corporate donations.[80] To further this, he established a Parliamentary Joint Select Committee which recommended sweeping changes to donation laws. Rees also banned donations from property developers to the NSW Labor Party.[81]

Rees also introduced the requirement for lobbyists to be registered and to abide by a Lobbyist Code of Conduct.[82]

Resignation

On 3 December 2009, Rees was forced to face a spill motion at a caucus meeting. The motion passed 43 to 25.[83] In the subsequent leadership vote, the dominant right faction threw its support to Planning Minister Kristina Keneally, who defeated Rees by 47 votes to 21. Earlier that day, Rees said at a press conference, "I will not hand over New South Wales to Eddie Obeid or Joe Tripodi" and that if someone were to replace him by the end of the day "they will be a puppet of Joe Tripodi and Eddie Obeid".[84][85] Rees is the first New South Wales Labor Party Premier not to lead the party into an election. On 22 October 2010, Rees was granted by the Governor retention of the title "The Honourable".[86]

Following his removal as Premier, Rees declined to serve in the Keneally Cabinet, and went to the backbench until the March 2011 election.[87]

The Keneally government was heavily defeated at the 2011 state election. Rees nearly lost his own seat, suffering a massive 14.2 percent swing and surviving by only 205 votes. By comparison, he'd won election in 2007 with 64.5 percent of the two-party vote; he was one of several MPs from Labor's traditional stronghold of west Sydney who saw their majorities more than halved. Following the election, new Opposition leader John Robertson appointed Rees as Shadow Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Shadow Minister for the Arts in his new Shadow Cabinet.

Independent Commission Against Corruption

In 2013, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) commenced public hearings into the allegations of corrupt conduct by Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid. Both men had been instrumental in the removal of Rees as Premier.[88] The ICAC findings released after the hearings were scathing of both men. Both Macdonald and Obeid were found to have acted corruptly by the ICAC, who recommended the Director of Public Prosecutions give consideration to criminal charges being laid against both men. Rees repeatedly stressed he did not feel vindicated, but rather was distressed that the Party and its members had been subject to the smear of association with those who had been investigated.[89]

Retirement

On 28 March 2014, after resigning from the Shadow Cabinet, Rees announced that he would be retiring from politics and would not contest the next state election in 2015. This was likely prompted by a redistribution that seemingly made his seat impossible to hold. The bulk of his old seat of Toongabbie had been transferred into a recreated Seven Hills, notionally a safe Liberal seat.[90]

Post-political career

In October 2014, following his announcement to retire from politics, Rees took up a position as the chief executive of the Public Education Foundation (PEF), a non-profit organisation that provides scholarships to disadvantaged students to support them to stay at school: "The public education system in NSW is very strong but this foundation will allow those kids who may not have the resources to buy the extra book or the bit of software they need."[91]

After leaving the PEF, Rees was subsequently appointed as the National Assistant Secretary of the Finance Sector Union (FSU) in May 2017 where he worked until early 2021. Rees then joined MetLife Australia as Head of External Affairs & Public Policy.[citation needed]

In August 2022, the NSW Government appointed Rees as chair of Transport Heritage NSW until 31 May 2025.[92]

Personal life

Rees is a non-practising Roman Catholic and proudly describes himself as "a westie".[8] He met his wife, Stacey Haines, at Northmead High School when they were both aged 14.[93] Rees and Haines married in a ceremony at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau in New York City on 7 January 2009.[94]

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New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New district Member for Toongabbie
2007 – 2015
Seat abolished
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Emergency Services
2007 – 2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Water Utilities
2007 – 2008
Succeeded by
Himself
Preceded by
Himself
as Minister for Water Utilities
Minister for Water
2008
Succeeded by
Preceded byas Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water
Preceded by Premier of New South Wales
2008 – 2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for the Arts
2008 – 2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for the Central Coast
2009
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales
2008 – 2009
Succeeded by

nathan, rees, born, february, 1968, former, australian, politician, served, 41st, premier, south, wales, parliamentary, leader, south, wales, division, labor, party, from, september, 2008, december, 2009, rees, member, south, wales, legislative, assembly, repr. Nathan Rees r iː z born 12 February 1968 1 is a former Australian politician who served as the 41st Premier of New South Wales and parliamentary leader of the New South Wales division of the Labor Party from September 2008 to December 2009 Rees was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Toongabbie for Labor from 2007 to 2015 The HonourableNathan Rees41st Premier of New South WalesIn office 5 September 2008 4 December 2009MonarchElizabeth IIGovernorMarie BashirDeputyCarmel TebbuttPreceded byMorris IemmaSucceeded byKristina KeneallyMember of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for ToongabbieIn office 24 March 2007 6 March 2015Preceded byNew districtSucceeded byDistrict abolishedPersonal detailsBorn 1968 02 12 12 February 1968 age 55 Sydney New South Wales AustraliaPolitical partyLabor PartySpouseStacey HainesEducationNorthmead Creative and Performing Arts High SchoolUniversity of SydneyRees replaced Morris Iemma as Premier and party leader on 5 September 2008 At 40 years and 206 days of age Rees became the youngest person to assume the office a record that has since been surpassed by Dominic Perrottet 2 On 3 December 2009 Rees was deposed as leader of the Labor Party by Kristina Keneally after he resoundingly lost a secret ballot in the Labor Party caucus after fifteen months as Premier He is the shortest serving member of the New South Wales Parliament to become Premier since Federation and the only Labor Premier of New South Wales not to lead the party into an election To date he is also the most recent premier of an Australian state not to contest a general election Contents 1 Early life 2 Politics 2 1 Minister for Water Utilities and Minister for Emergency Services 2 2 Premier 2 2 1 Economy 2 2 2 Education 2 2 3 Law and order 2 2 4 Environment 2 2 5 Transport 2 2 6 Health 2 2 7 Aboriginal affairs 2 2 8 Arts 2 2 9 Labor links with unions 2 2 10 Government reform 2 3 Resignation 2 4 Independent Commission Against Corruption 2 5 Retirement 3 Post political career 4 Personal life 5 ReferencesEarly life EditRees was born in 1968 in Western Sydney to parents Daryl and Frances his mother being a longtime member of the Labor Party reportedly from Penrith New South Wales 3 He attended Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School where he served as school captain On leaving school he initially took up a horticultural apprenticeship and worked as a greenskeeper for Parramatta Council Subsequently he went on to study English literature at the University of Sydney attaining an honours degree in 1994 supporting himself by working as a garbage collector at the same council 4 5 6 During his time at the Council he became Secretary of the then Municipal and Shire Employees Union 4 Rees was a long distance runner and a member of the Parramatta Cycling Club where he won many events When training for races Rees would cycle up to 1 000 km per week He once attained third place in a state triathlon 7 Politics EditRees s first job in politics was in 1995 when he became an adviser to the then deputy premier Andrew Refshauge for whom his mother Frances worked During this period Rees cycled between Bullaburra in the Blue Mountains where he lived at the time and central Sydney a distance of more than 90 km 56 mi 8 He subsequently worked for Ministers Craig Knowles and Morris Iemma 9 and as chief of staff for Minister Milton Orkopoulos Rees transferred to the Premier s office in 2006 three months before Orkopoulos was charged with paedophilia 8 Rees has stated that he had no knowledge of the crimes committed by Orkopoulos 10 and would have reported him to the police had he been aware of them dubious discuss He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly on 24 March 2007 and became Minister for Emergency Services and Minister for Water Utilities on 2 April 2007 11 In July 2008 he was touted by the Sydney media as being a contender for Premier Rees denied that he was a contender for the role saying that Premier Iemma has my rock solid unequivocal support and he knows that 12 Two months after this interview Morris Iemma was deposed as Premier in favour of Rees 12 Minister for Water Utilities and Minister for Emergency Services Edit As Minister for Water Utilities Rees was responsible for implementing the 1 9 billion Sydney Desalination Plant at Kurnell and the proposed Tillegra Dam in the Hunter Region 13 14 At the time Rees was appointed Minister for Water Utilities Sydney was experiencing extreme drought conditions requiring transfer of water from the Shoalhaven River to Sydney and the imposition of water restrictions 15 The construction of the controversial Sydney Desalination Plant to prepare Sydney for future droughts was completed whilst Rees was Minister The project came in 60 million under budget and doubled the initial capacity 16 17 Contracts were also entered into to provide for the powering of the desalination plant through renewable sources 18 Premier Edit See also Rees ministry Rees in 2009 Iemma resigned on 5 September 2008 after his own Right faction rebuffed his plans to reshuffle the Cabinet However the Right had no credible replacement candidate It thus agreed to support Rees a member of the Socialist Left faction 19 Thus later in the day Rees was unanimously elected Labor leader and hence Premier 2 He was sworn in by the Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales Chief Justice of New South Wales James Spigelman after only nineteen months as a member of parliament Carmel Tebbutt was elected unanimously as Deputy Leader and thus Deputy Premier 20 The following Monday 8 September Rees was also sworn in as Minister for the Arts A slump in revenues associated with the recent global financial crisis compelled Rees and the State Treasurer Eric Roozendaal to implement a mini budget which was handed down on 11 November 2008 21 The mini budget increased taxes and charges such as land tax mineral royalties parking space levies and also announced the privatisation of state assets A universal scheme providing free travel on public transport for all students going to and from school was curtailed a decision since reversed 22 and the previously announced North West Metro and South West rail projects were indefinitely postponed 23 A series of by elections to replace former Premier Morris Iemma Deputy Premier John Watkins and Health Minister Reba Meagher resulted in massive swings against the government and saw John Watkins former seat of Ryde resoundingly lost to the Liberals Soon after returning from his wedding in New York Rees dismissed rumours of a leadership challenge within the Labor party 24 After the resignation of John Della Bosca as Minister for Health and the Central Coast and after a subsequent cabinet reshuffle Rees appointed himself as Minister for the Central Coast On 14 November 2009 Rees was granted extraordinary powers by the New South Wales Labor State Conference to pick his own cabinet usually the Labor caucus and Head Office chooses the ministry and the leader only assigns portfolios 25 The next day Rees sacked Finance Minister and Labor powerbroker Joe Tripodi Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald and Parliamentary Secretaries Henry Tsang and Sonia Hornery for blocking key reforms aimed at distancing the government from corruption and improving the provision of services to constituents and for plotting to remove him from the premiership 26 27 This was the fourth time since Rees had taken over the premiership that there had been a cabinet reshuffle Economy Edit Rees took over as Premier on 5 September 2008 Eleven days later Lehman Brothers a financial giant based in the United States collapsed and precipitated the global financial crisis The Rees government responded to the crisis with a three point plan Firstly Rees reaffirmed his government s commitment to the retention of a Triple A credit rating Rees emphasised that as finance and credit became harder to get around the world retaining a Triple A credit rating was essential to being able to borrow money at the lowest rates available 28 Secondly as Chair of the government s Budget sub committee Rees announced there would be a mini budget which was delivered in November 2008 29 The mini budget delayed a number of large scale capital works projects with long lead times and instead emphasised capital expenditure on smaller projects which could generate employment more quickly 30 Third Rees drew industry and business leaders together to conduct a job summit 31 This summit was co chaired by Roger Corbett Steve Harkins and David Gonski In addition to the Work Plan developed by the summit Rees also announced the establishment of 4 000 government apprenticeships across the state and 2 000 cadetships 32 After the delivery of the 2009 10 Budget the AAA credit rating in NSW was reaffirmed by the major credit ratings agencies 33 and the agency s outlook for NSW was upgraded from negative to stable 34 Rees has since claimed that NSW is the only jurisdiction in the world to have improved its credit rating during the Global Financial Crisis The 2009 10 Rees Budget had the largest capital works expenditure to date in the State s history more than 18 billion 35 Education Edit In his short period as Premier Rees and his Education Minister Verity Firth made substantial changes to the NSW Education system From 1998 to 2008 there had only been a slight increase in the retention rate for students remaining to complete Year 12 with significant inequality as measured by socio economic status In response in January 2009 Rees announced that he would be increasing the minimum leaving age from 15 to 17 years 36 Together with the Federal government Rees also established 175 000 new training places in the vocational training sector and provided a training guarantee for apprentices who had had their apprenticeships interrupted 37 Controversially Rees also introduced non religious Ethics classes into primary schools against fierce opposition from church groups 38 Law and order Edit Shortly after coming to office the death of an outlaw motorcycle gang member at Sydney airport 39 required Rees to introduce controversial laws aimed at banning criminal gangs 40 Fierce opposition from civil libertarians followed 41 and in June 2011 the High Court ruled against the government 42 In the 09 10 Budget the NSW police force was provided with 10 million to equip frontline police with Taser stun guns 43 Rees also introduced measures aimed at reducing alcohol related violence These included mandatory lockouts plastic cups and the naming and shaming of the most violent venues 44 In the comparison period glassings went from 17 incidents in the previous year to one incident after these measures were introduced Despite ongoing disputes between criminal gangs the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reported that in the 24 months to December 2010 ten of the 17 major offence categories were stable and seven were falling 45 Environment Edit Building on the environmental legacy of Bob Carr Rees announced the preservation of the last remaining large tract of River Red Gums in the state s south 46 This completed the forest preservation program commenced by Carr who had preserved the North Coast and Brigalow natural heritage areas 47 Rees also announced the establishment of Yengo National Park in the Upper Hunter region 120 000 hectares of pristine bushland in June 2009 48 Furthermore the Rees government announced an additional 65 000 hectares of land in Yanga National Park in the Riverina 49 Transport Edit Successive Labor administrations had been criticised for inadequate spending on public transport Financially restrained from large scale projects due to the global financial crisis Rees and his Transport Minister David Campbell determined that massive expansion of the bus network would improve transport options more quickly than large heavy rail expansions 50 Accordingly 450 new buses were ordered 51 Rees also opened the Epping to Chatswood rail line the first piece of significant rail infrastructure in a decade and projected usage was quickly outstripped 52 In November 2009 Rees announced approval for Stage 2 of the South West Rail Link a 1 3 billion project to improve public rail services to south western Sydney 53 Rees and Campbell enjoyed a close working relationship and on their watch train service reliability rose to a ten year high of 95 on time running 54 They also announced the restoration of ferry services from the city to Parramatta to ease rail and road congestion 55 To ease congestion in city centres free shuttle buses were also introduced into Sydney city and Wollongong 56 To encourage public transport use on weekends the Rees Government introduced 2 50 Family Fun Day fares for Sundays 57 with discount entry to museums and other tourist locations Rees and Campbell also delivered a simplified fare structure for the rail network and 300 new buses 58 Health Edit Rees established the Bureau of Health Information in July 2009 to produce regular and timely reports on the performance of the NSW health system including waiting lists and developing and distributing tools to allow users to interrogate data 59 While often criticised for the performance of hospitals Rees was able to point to an Australian Government report titled The State of Our Public Hospitals 60 which in June 2009 reported that NSW had the best elective surgery and emergency department performances in Australia 61 Rees also introduced eyesight screening for preschoolers 62 to complement universal hearing tests previously introduced by Craig Knowles 63 Aboriginal affairs Edit In November 2009 Rees announced the single largest handback of Aboriginal land in the state s history The Yuin people of the South Coast of NSW had lodged a claim under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act for 20 000 hectares bordering the Morton National Park including Yarramumum and Boolijong Creeks and parts of the Yerriyong State Forest Rees granted the claim in full 64 Arts Edit As Arts Minister one of Rees early tasks was to announce the establishment of an annual festival Vivid Sydney 65 Described as a festival of lights and ideas the inaugural curator was Brian Eno an influential music and album producer Despite being an international superstar in his own field the choice of Eno was the subject of derision by sections of the media Many argued they would have preferred to have Tiger Woods who was to play golf in Victoria Rees famously said I d rather have Brian Eno for two weeks than Tiger Woods for 3 days 66 While Minister for the Arts Rees also granted independence to the National Art School 67 and commenced master planning for a new visual arts centre at the Old King s School site in Parramatta This latter commitment was retained by Kristina Keneally when she took over as Premier and it formed the central element of the Arts policy announcement in the 2011 election 68 Rees also established the sub continental festival Parramasala based in Parramatta 69 and he was instrumental in bringing A R Rahman of Slumdog Millionaire fame to Sydney for a free open air concert which attracted more than 50 000 people to Parramatta Park 70 Labor links with unions Edit Acknowledging Labor history Rees and the Lord Mayor of Sydney officially renamed parts of Hickson Road The Rocks as The Hungry Mile 71 In years past unemployed men would line up for work each day thus giving the strip its name A ceremony recognising the change was held on 29 July 2009 72 NSW Labor had also been instrumental in holding the asbestos firm James Hardie to account Under Premier Bob Carr the Jackson Inquiry precipitated an ongoing fund to be established and maintained by James Hardie to provide for future payouts to sufferers of asbestosis 73 James Hardie made inadequate provision and Rees intervened in 2009 to ensure that affected individuals would be able to claim into the future 74 A number of directors of James Hardie were ruled ineligible to be directors arising from their role in James Hardie restructures 75 Government reform Edit After 15 years in government there had been a number of scandals involving Labor ministers which were reported negatively in the press 76 Rees distanced himself from these with a range of reforms Rees overhauled the Freedom of Information Act 77 and replaced it with the Government Information Public Access Act which had an explicit bias towards public disclosure of documentation and Government information 78 Rees also appointed an independent commissioner to oversee the operation of this Act 79 In November 2009 Rees announced that he wanted to move towards public funding of election campaigns instead of a reliance on large corporate donations 80 To further this he established a Parliamentary Joint Select Committee which recommended sweeping changes to donation laws Rees also banned donations from property developers to the NSW Labor Party 81 Rees also introduced the requirement for lobbyists to be registered and to abide by a Lobbyist Code of Conduct 82 Resignation Edit On 3 December 2009 Rees was forced to face a spill motion at a caucus meeting The motion passed 43 to 25 83 In the subsequent leadership vote the dominant right faction threw its support to Planning Minister Kristina Keneally who defeated Rees by 47 votes to 21 Earlier that day Rees said at a press conference I will not hand over New South Wales to Eddie Obeid or Joe Tripodi and that if someone were to replace him by the end of the day they will be a puppet of Joe Tripodi and Eddie Obeid 84 85 Rees is the first New South Wales Labor Party Premier not to lead the party into an election On 22 October 2010 Rees was granted by the Governor retention of the title The Honourable 86 Following his removal as Premier Rees declined to serve in the Keneally Cabinet and went to the backbench until the March 2011 election 87 The Keneally government was heavily defeated at the 2011 state election Rees nearly lost his own seat suffering a massive 14 2 percent swing and surviving by only 205 votes By comparison he d won election in 2007 with 64 5 percent of the two party vote he was one of several MPs from Labor s traditional stronghold of west Sydney who saw their majorities more than halved Following the election new Opposition leader John Robertson appointed Rees as Shadow Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Shadow Minister for the Arts in his new Shadow Cabinet Independent Commission Against Corruption Edit In 2013 the Independent Commission Against Corruption ICAC commenced public hearings into the allegations of corrupt conduct by Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid Both men had been instrumental in the removal of Rees as Premier 88 The ICAC findings released after the hearings were scathing of both men Both Macdonald and Obeid were found to have acted corruptly by the ICAC who recommended the Director of Public Prosecutions give consideration to criminal charges being laid against both men Rees repeatedly stressed he did not feel vindicated but rather was distressed that the Party and its members had been subject to the smear of association with those who had been investigated 89 Retirement Edit On 28 March 2014 after resigning from the Shadow Cabinet Rees announced that he would be retiring from politics and would not contest the next state election in 2015 This was likely prompted by a redistribution that seemingly made his seat impossible to hold The bulk of his old seat of Toongabbie had been transferred into a recreated Seven Hills notionally a safe Liberal seat 90 Post political career EditIn October 2014 following his announcement to retire from politics Rees took up a position as the chief executive of the Public Education Foundation PEF a non profit organisation that provides scholarships to disadvantaged students to support them to stay at school The public education system in NSW is very strong but this foundation will allow those kids who may not have the resources to buy the extra book or the bit of software they need 91 After leaving the PEF Rees was subsequently appointed as the National Assistant Secretary of the Finance Sector Union FSU in May 2017 where he worked until early 2021 Rees then joined MetLife Australia as Head of External Affairs amp Public Policy citation needed In August 2022 the NSW Government appointed Rees as chair of Transport Heritage NSW until 31 May 2025 92 Personal life EditRees is a non practising Roman Catholic and proudly describes himself as a westie 8 He met his wife Stacey Haines at Northmead High School when they were both aged 14 93 Rees and Haines married in a ceremony at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau in New York City on 7 January 2009 94 References Edit McNicoll D D 23 December 2008 Secrecy the safest policy The Australian News Limited permanent dead link a b Smith Alexandra Robbin Brian 5 September 2008 Nathan Rees confirmed as new NSW Premier The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Retrieved 5 September 2008 A puppet Ask her says Rees The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media 4 December 2009 a b Inaugural Speech of the Member for Toongabbie NSW Hansard 8 May 2007 Clennell Andrew 5 September 2008 All you need to know about Nathan Rees The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Retrieved 5 September 2008 Mills Alison 5 September 2008 Nathan Rees From greenkeeper to Premier of NSW Blacktown Sun Fairfax Media Retrieved 5 September 2008 Clennell Andrew Smith Alexandra 19 July 2008 Stalking horse or tried stayer The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Retrieved 5 September 2008 a b c Alexandra Smith Andrew Clennell 19 July 2008 Stalking horse or tried stayer The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 5 September 2008 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint uses authors parameter link Nathan Rees former Chief of Staff for Milton Orkopoulos Piccoli NSW Nationals 9 July 2008 Archived from the original on 20 July 2008 Retrieved 21 October 2009 Markson Sharri 21 September 2008 Premier Nathan Rees haunted by Milton Orkopoulos past Daily Telegraph Retrieved 8 May 2019 The Hon Nathan Rees Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales Retrieved 8 May 2019 a b Norrington Brad Salusinszky Imre 11 July 2008 Preferred leader Nathan Rees backs Morris Iemma The Australian News Limited Desalination plant construction 30 per cent complete and wind power contract signed Media Release Sydney Water 30 July 2008 Retrieved 6 September 2008 Central Coast Banking Excess Water For Future Drought Use PDF Minister s statement Wyong Shire Council 17 May 2007 Archived from the original PDF on 23 July 2008 Retrieved 6 September 2008 Frew Wendy 19 August 2006 Pumping patches up Sydney s water woes The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 6 August 2013 Sydney s desal plant switched on The Sydney Morning Herald 28 January 2010 Retrieved 6 August 2013 Double or quits Sydney s desal approach Global Water Intelligence July 2007 pp Vol 8 Issue 7 Retrieved 6 August 2013 Hildebrand Joe 15 October 2007 Wind fires desal water plant The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 6 August 2013 Green Antony 2011 NSW election preview ABC News Rees sworn in as NSW Premier News Limited 5 September 2008 Archived from the original on 5 September 2008 Retrieved 5 September 2008 Budget blow out NSW to reveal 915m deficit ABC News Australia Australian Broadcasting Corporation 11 November 2008 Retrieved 17 January 2009 New South Wales Ministry of Transport 21 December 2008 School Student Transport Scheme Update Archived from the original on 16 January 2009 Retrieved 17 January 2009 Dempster Quentin 11 November 2008 Analysis Public confidence in deficit ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 17 January 2009 Australian Broadcasting Corporation 16 January 2009 Rees dismisses leadership rumours ABC News Retrieved 16 January 2009 Carty Lisa 15 November 2009 Do or die Premier moves to axe MPs The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media AAP Retrieved 15 November 2009 Rees crackdown ministers axed from NSW cabinet The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media 15 November 2009 Retrieved 15 November 2009 Dinneen Martin 17 November 2009 Hornery to Keep Fighting Newcastle Herald Fairfax Media Retrieved 20 November 2009 NSW committed to maintaining AAA credit rating PDF Media Release 26 September 2008 Retrieved 13 August 2013 Payroll tax cuts to go ahead PDF Media Release 23 September 2013 Retrieved 13 August 2013 Billion dollar deficit in NSW mini budget Weekly Times Now 11 November 2008 Retrieved 13 August 2013 Rees to chair jobs summit in February The Sydney Morning Herald 3 February 2009 Retrieved 13 August 2013 New apprenticeships cadetships in NSW The Sydney Morning Herald 17 February 2009 Retrieved 13 August 2013 Rees Nathan 17 June 2009 Budget Response NSW Hansard Retrieved 13 August 2013 Tsang Henry 3 September 2009 Budget Response NSW Hansard Retrieved 13 August 2013 Budget Overview PDF NSW Treasury June 2009 Retrieved 13 August 2013 School leaving age rises to 17 The Sydney Morning Herald 28 January 2009 Retrieved 15 August 2013 175 000 new training places to boost NSW skilled workforce Media Release 26 February 2009 Archived from the original on 19 March 2012 Retrieved 14 August 2013 Clennell Andrew 25 November 2009 Rees plans to introduce ethics classes in schools The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 15 August 2013 Lawrence Kara 23 March 2009 Man bashed to death at airport as bikie war escalates The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 16 August 2013 New assault in the war on outlaw bikie gangs PDF Media Release 31 March 2009 Retrieved 16 August 2013 Cornwall Deborah 2 April 2009 New bikie laws an attack on civil liberties Lateline Australian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 16 August 2013 Kennedy Les 23 June 2011 Bikie law declared invalid as Hells Angel wins challenge The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 16 August 2013 Budget Overview PDF NSW Treasury June 2009 p 5 Retrieved 16 August 2013 New measures to get tough with alcohol related violence PDF Media Release 30 October 2008 Retrieved 16 August 2013 NSW Recorded Crime Statistics 2010 Media Release Bureau of Crime Statistics amp Research 19 April 2011 Retrieved 16 August 2013 Premier Rees acts to save River Red Gums PDF Media Release 3 December 2009 Retrieved 13 August 2013 Duffy Michael 30 July 2005 Carr s green legacy a black mark The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 13 August 2013 Sydney s green chain of wilderness secured with Yengo declaration PDF Media Release 1 June 2009 Retrieved 13 August 2013 Yanga National Park to provide tourism boost ABC News 29 May 2009 Retrieved 13 August 2013 Ralston Nick 31 October 2008 NSW axes NW metro trims SW rail project The Age Retrieved 19 August 2013 Vote of confidence in public transport passenger numbers up PDF Media Release 6 August 2009 Retrieved 19 August 2013 Bibby Paul 23 February 2009 Epping to Chatswood rail link opens The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 19 August 2013 Rees delivers Stage 2 of South West Rail Link PDF Media Release 14 November 2009 Retrieved 19 August 2013 More trains arrive on time than ever before PDF Media Release 19 July 2009 Retrieved 19 August 2013 Rees seeks private ferry for Parramatta ABC News 2 December 2008 Retrieved 19 August 2013 Besser Linton 4 December 2008 Free buses get green light The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 19 August 2013 Family Fun on Sundays with cheaper public transport PDF Media Release 14 December 2008 Retrieved 19 August 2013 Jones Zoie 18 June 2009 New buses to fill north west transport void ABC News Retrieved 19 August 2013 Caring Together New Health Data Bureau PDF Media Release Minister for Health 30 March 2009 Retrieved 20 August 2013 The state of our public hospitals PDF Report Australian Department of Health and Ageing June 2009 Retrieved 20 August 2013 Rees Nathan 2 September 2009 Government Performance Hansard Parliament of NSW Retrieved 20 August 2013 100 days 234 decisions Premier puts government back to work PDF Media Release 14 December 2008 Retrieved 20 August 2013 Cox Kate 1 December 2002 Free hearing tests for newborn babies The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 20 August 2013 Historic Aboriginal land claim settled ABC News 18 November 2009 Retrieved 3 September 2013 Vivid Sydney a major new event for NSW PDF Media Release 19 March 2009 Retrieved 3 September 2013 Watson Rhett 19 March 2009 Nathan Rees cops it for wanting Brian Eno over Tiger Woods The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 3 September 2013 NSW grants National Art School reprieve ABC News 28 January 2009 Retrieved 29 September 2020 Smith Alexandra 4 March 2011 Arts the winner but church happy after cash splash The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 4 September 2013 Parramatta to host new Indian Festival Media Release 6 January 2010 Retrieved 4 September 2013 Premier boosts funds for Sydney Festival PDF Media Release 4 November 2009 Retrieved 4 September 2013 Moore Matthew 31 July 2009 It will always be The Hungry Mile and now that s official The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 4 September 2013 The Hungry Mile Media Release City of Sydney 29 July 2009 Retrieved 4 September 2013 Carr claims credit for Hardie decision The Sydney Morning Herald 14 August 2004 Retrieved 5 September 2013 Drape Julian 8 November 2009 No excuses not to pay victims Rudd tells James Hardie The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 5 September 2013 James Hardie appeals court decision The Sydney Morning Herald 23 September 2009 Retrieved 5 September 2013 West Andrew 30 April 2012 How Labor lost New South Wales Inside Retrieved 5 September 2013 Rees acts to end Government secrecy PDF Media Release 23 October 2008 Retrieved 5 September 2013 Government Information Public Access Bill 2009 Parliament of NSW 17 June 2009 Retrieved 5 September 2013 3 million to establish new Information Commissioner PDF Media Release 17 June 2009 Retrieved 5 September 2013 Marriner Cosima 11 November 2009 Rees leaves it to Bligh on political donations The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 5 September 2013 Donation Reform starts today PDF Media Release 14 November 2009 Retrieved 5 September 2013 NSW Government Lobbyist Code of Conduct PDF Media Release 29 October 2008 Retrieved 5 September 2013 Josh Jerga 3 December 2009 Katrina recte Kristina Keneally is Catholic feminist with American twang The Daily Telegraph News Limited Retrieved 3 December 2009 Salusinszky Imre 3 December 2009 Kristina Keneally set to take Premier s job The Australian News Limited Retrieved 3 December 2009 Kristina Keneally becomes first female premier of NSW The Daily Telegraph 3 December 2009 Retrieved 3 December 2009 New South Wales Government Gazette dated 22 October 2010 Clennell Andrew 5 December 2009 Plotters take back power in reshuffle The Age Retrieved 11 August 2013 McClymont Kate 4 December 2009 Discredited despised but still pulling all the strings The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 11 August 2013 Rachel Olding and Georgina Waters 31 July 2013 Eddie Obeid Ian Macdonald acted corruptly ICAC finds The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 12 August 2013 Andrew Clennell State Political Editor 28 March 2014 Former NSW Premier Nathan Rees has announced that he will retire from parliament at the next election The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 2 May 2014 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a author has generic name help Browne Rachel 6 September 2014 Nathan Rees to take up new role as CEO of the Public Education Foundation The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 14 March 2016 Appointment of new THNSW Chair Transport Heritage NSW 11 August 2022 Retrieved 23 August 2022 Nathan Rees MP Labor People New South Wales Labor Party Archived from the original on 7 September 2008 Retrieved 5 September 2008 NSW Premier Nathan Rees weds in secret New York ceremony The Daily Telegraph 7 January 2009 New South Wales Legislative AssemblyNew district Member for Toongabbie2007 2015 Seat abolishedPolitical officesPreceded byTony Kelly Minister for Emergency Services2007 2008 Succeeded byTony KellyPreceded byDavid Campbell Minister for Water Utilities2007 2008 Succeeded byHimselfPreceded byHimselfas Minister for Water Utilities Minister for Water2008 Succeeded byPhil CostaPreceded byPhil Koperbergas Minister for Climate Change Environment and WaterPreceded byMorris Iemma Premier of New South Wales2008 2009 Succeeded byKristina KeneallyPreceded byFrank Sartor Minister for the Arts2008 2009 Succeeded byVirginia JudgePreceded byJohn Hatzistergos Minister for the Central Coast2009 Succeeded byIan MacdonaldParty political officesPreceded byMorris Iemma Leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales2008 2009 Succeeded byKristina Keneally Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nathan Rees amp oldid 1127911135, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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