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Jodi McKay
39th Leader of the Opposition in New South Wales
In office
29 June 2019 – 28 May 2021
PremierGladys Berejiklian
DeputyYasmin Catley
Preceded byMichael Daley
Succeeded byChris Minns
Leader of the New South Wales Labor Party
In office
29 June 2019 – 28 May 2021
DeputyYasmin Catley
Preceded byMichael Daley
Succeeded byChris Minns
Ministerial positions
Minister for Tourism
In office
8 September 2008 – 28 March 2011
PremierNathan Rees
Kristina Keneally
Preceded byMatt Brown
Succeeded byGeorge Souris
Minister for the Hunter
In office
8 September 2008 – 28 March 2011
PremierNathan Rees
Kristina Keneally
Preceded byMichael Costa
Succeeded byMike Gallacher
Minister for Science and Medical Research
In office
11 November 2008 – 28 March 2011
PremierNathan Rees
Kristina Keneally
Preceded byTony Stewart
Succeeded byJillian Skinner
Minister for Women
In office
8 December 2008 – 28 March 2011
PremierNathan Rees
Kristina Keneally
Preceded byVerity Firth
Succeeded byPru Goward
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Strathfield
In office
22 March 2015 – 31 December 2021
Preceded byCharles Casuscelli
Succeeded byJason Li
Majority4,274 (5.0%)
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Newcastle
In office
24 March 2007 – 26 March 2011
Preceded byBryce Gaudry
Succeeded byTim Owen
Personal details
Born (1969-08-16) 16 August 1969 (age 55)
Gloucester, New South Wales[1]
Political partyLabor
Spouse
Stephen Fenn
​
(m. 2009)​
ProfessionPolitician
Television journalist
Websitewww.jodimckay.com.au

Jodi Leyanne McKay (born 16 August 1969) is an Australian former politician who was the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of New South Wales from June 2019 until May 2021.[2] She previously served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Strathfield for the Labor Party from 2015 to 2021. McKay also previously represented Newcastle for one term from 2007 until her defeat at the 2011 election. Between 2008 and 2011, McKay held a number of junior ministerial responsibilities in the Rees and Keneally governments, including serving as the Minister for the Hunter, Tourism, Small Business, Science and Medical Research, Commerce, and Women, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer). On 17 October 2021, McKay announced she would resign from the parliament, which triggered a by-election in her seat of Strathfield. McKay subsequently became National Chair of the Australia India Business Council.[3]

Early years and background

[edit]

McKay began her career as a journalist, eventually becoming a news anchor for NBN Television. She was among the first Australian news presenters to cover the September 11 attacks in the United States.[4] She later entered the private sector in corporate communications and marketing. McKay also served on the Board of Hunter Medical Research Institute, the University of Newcastle Research Associates and Hunter Manufacturers' Association, prior to entering politics.[1]

Political career

[edit]

A member of Labor Right,[5] McKay was installed as Labor's candidate for Newcastle over the sitting member Bryce Gaudry, after Premier Morris Iemma intervened to ensure her selection.[6] The controversy around the selection led to around 130 members of the Newcastle ALP branches, then the largest in the state, leaving or being expelled.[7]

The subsequent election became a tight three-way contest between McKay, Gaudry, running as an independent, and the independent Newcastle lord mayor John Tate, with McKay winning on Gaudry's preferences.[8]

In April 2008, the NSW Greens were critical of McKay for failing to declare a political donation from a property developer group, Buildev, owned by Nathan Tinkler, to help pay for printing costs during her campaign. Buildev declared $50,000 in electoral donations to McKay, but McKay only declared a $1,000 donation from Buildev. At the time, Buildev was seeking support from the Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, for a development at Medowie, near Newcastle Airport.[9] McKay denied knowledge of the donation. The donation was made to Labor's New South Wales head office. In 2011, following a controversial proposal by another Tinkler company, Newcastle Ports, to build a coal loader at the port, McKay declined to meet company representatives, citing her need to remain uninvolved in the process.[10]

In September 2008, McKay was appointed to cabinet as the Minister for Tourism and Minister for the Hunter. She immediately distanced herself from the style of her predecessor Michael Costa, and committed to greater engagement with local government and community groups.[11] Her appointment was welcomed by local tourism and business groups, including the Hunter Chamber of Commerce.[12] McKay was also appointed as the Minister for Science and Medical Research, Minister assisting on Health, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Small Business, and Minister for Women.

In 2011, McKay was reaffirmed as the Labor candidate for Newcastle by the party's national executive. At the 2011 election, McKay recorded a 31.0% share of the primary vote, her Liberal opponent received 36.4%, Tate had 11.5% and the Greens 14.6%. On a two-party preferred basis that translated into 52.4% for the Liberals' Tim Owen and 47.6% for McKay.

In 2014, McKay gave evidence before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) that she was asked to accept an alleged bribe and reported the matter to the NSW Police, the ICAC and the Election Funding Authority.[13][14] McKay told the Independent Commission Against Corruption that Tinkler had offered to bankroll her 2011 election campaign, in exchange for her support of his $1 billion coal loader project. Ms McKay gave evidence that she reported Mr Tinkler's alleged bribe offer to police, ICAC, the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Funding Authority. McKay told him she could not accept his money because he was a banned donor.[15] The ICAC inquiry revealed that after McKay knocked back the alleged bribe, Tinkler's Buildev company, her colleague and senior Labor MP Joe Tripodi, and former Labor staffer Ann Wills, were involved in a pamphlet smear campaign that she believed contributed to her election loss. McKay was in tears in the ICAC witness box as confirmation of what she had long suspected came to light—"they could not control me and they did not want me in the seat."[16]

Career during political hiatus

[edit]

After her election defeat, McKay held an executive role with Family Planning NSW and was a non-executive director of both Australian Science Innovations and Epilepsy Action Australia.[17]

After the first ICAC hearing, McKay said she would never return to politics.[18] However, in October 2014, McKay was installed as the Labor candidate for the seat of Strathfield for the next state election[19] and, following her endorsement, was quoted as saying that she realised "if you want change, it has to come from within".[20]

In January 2015, although she was not a member of Parliament, leader of the opposition Luke Foley appointed McKay to the shadow ministry as opposition planning spokeswoman.[21][22][23]

Return to politics

[edit]

At the 2015 state election, McKay was elected as the member for Strathfield with an 8.2-point swing to Labor. In April 2015, she was appointed as Shadow Minister for Police and Roads, Maritime and Freight. In 2016, she was promoted to Shadow Minister for Transport and Shadow Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight. In 2017, she was preselected again as the Labor candidate for Strathfield for the 2019 state election, winning the seat with 55.1% on a two-party-preferred basis.[24]

Leader of the Opposition

[edit]

Following Labor's defeat in the 2019 election, the party leader, Michael Daley, resigned, and McKay expressed interest in running for the leadership. A leadership vote was held in June 2019, and McKay was elected as the leader of the NSW Labor Party, defeating Kogarah MP Chris Minns, winning 58.0% of the Labor caucus vote, and 63.0% of rank and file party membership vote. She thereby became the 39th NSW Leader of the Opposition,[25][26] marking the first time that the premier and opposition leader in New South Wales were both women.[27] McKay revealed her shadow ministry on 3 July 2019.[28][29]

Following Labor's defeat at the Upper Hunter by-election in May 2021, McKay faced a possible leadership challenge. On 25 May 2021, Shadow Treasurer Walt Secord resigned from her shadow cabinet, saying that it was "well-known that Jodi McKay and [he] have disagreed on key policy, parliamentary and strategic decisions and directions" and that he can no longer serve under her.[30] The following day, a file titled 'Why Chris Minns and Jamie Clements can never run the NSW Labor Party' was circulated from the office of the party deputy leader, Yasmin Catley. Minns, who was the Shadow Minister for Transport, was disappointed with the lack of explanation or communication from McKay and Catley over the file circulation and also resigned from the shadow cabinet.[31] Facing pressure to unite the party, McKay resigned as party leader on 28 May 2021.[2] Minns then became party leader a week later. McKay was offered a frontbench position by Minns in his shadow ministry but she declined.[32]

On 17 October 2021, McKay announced that she had advised the Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly of her intention to resign as member for Strathfield, which would trigger a by-election to fill the vacancy.[33] She officially resigned on 31 December 2021.[34]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Ms Jodi Leyanne MCKAY, MPA(Syd), GAICD MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b Raper, Ashleigh; Bavas, Josh (28 May 2021). "Jodi McKay steps down as NSW Opposition Leader after Labor crisis meeting". ABC News. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Jodi McKay – Australia India Business Council". Australia India Business Council. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  4. ^ aussiebeachut0 (9 September 2011), 911 NBN News Late Edition Part 1, archived from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 16 July 2019{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Martin, Lisa (29 June 2019). "Jodi McKay elected New South Wales Labor leader after tense meeting". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  6. ^ Sikora, Kate; Hildebrand, Joe (6 March 2007). "Rat in the ranks for ALP". Daily Telegraph. Australia. Archived from the original on 7 March 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  7. ^ Daniel, Nicholas (13 November 2020). "Labor's Anthony Albanese Is Not a Friend of Australia's Left — And He Never Was". Jacobin. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  8. ^ Green, Antony. "2011 New South Wales Election: Analysis of Results" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Library. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  9. ^ Clennell, Andrew (14 April 2008). "Labor MP fails to mention $50,000". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 14 April 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  10. ^ "Tinkler pushes coal-loader plan". Newcastle Herald. 5 March 2011. Archived from the original on 7 March 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  11. ^ Strachan, Julieanne (8 September 2008). "Jodi McKay – Hunter's newest Minister". Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  12. ^ Strachan, Julieanne (8 September 2008). "Jodi McKay – Hunter's newest Minister". Newcastle Herald. Australia. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  13. ^ McClymont, Kate; Whitbourn, Michaela; Lindell, Jasper (1 May 2014). "ICAC inquiry: Jodi McKay, Eric Roozendaal and the Nathan Tinkler 'bribe'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  14. ^ Gerathy, Sarah (2 May 2014). "Former Newcastle MP Jodi McKay gives evidence to ICAC over alleged Nathan Tinkler bribe". ABC News. Australia. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  15. ^ HARRIS, MICHELLE (23 May 2014). "Jodi McKay able to face Newcastle again". Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  16. ^ Gerathy, Sarah (2 May 2014). "Former Newcastle MP Jodi McKay gives evidence to ICAC over alleged Tinkler bribe". ABC News. Archived from the original on 21 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  17. ^ "About Us: Executive Team". Family Planning NSW. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  18. ^ McGowen, Michael. "ICAC: Jodi McKay coy on running again". Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  19. ^ "Jodi McKay to be Labor candidate for Strathfield in 2015 NSW election". ABC News. Archived from the original on 28 November 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  20. ^ Lynch, Peter. "Jodi McKay signals start of tough campaign over the state seat of Strathfield". Our Strathfield. Archived from the original on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  21. ^ "Jodi McKay, Labor candidate for Strathfield, elevated to NSW shadow cabinet by new leader Luke Foley". ABC News. Australia. 6 January 2015. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  22. ^ Herbertson, Lisa (6 January 2015). "Jodi McKay named Labor's NSW planning spokeswoman in Luke Foley's new shadow cabinet". Inner West Courier. Archived from the original on 20 April 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  23. ^ Coultan, Mark (6 January 2015). "Luke Foley appoints Jodi McKay to NSW shadow cabinet". The Australian. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  24. ^ "Strathfield – ABC News". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 March 2019. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  25. ^ "Jodi McKay wins NSW Labor leadership from Chris Minns after three-month process". ABC News. 29 June 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  26. ^ "Penny Sharpe on Twitter". 29 June 2019. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  27. ^ "Jodi McKay: new NSW Labor leader says she's 'more than a match' for Gladys Berejiklian". Guardian Australia. Australian Associated Press. 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  28. ^ "McKay Unveils New Shadow Ministry" (Press release). Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch). 3 July 2019. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  29. ^ "Shadow Ministry in both Houses (by Seniority)". Members. Parliament of New South Wales. 27 November 2018. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  30. ^ "Shadow NSW Treasurer Walt Secord resigns as Jodi McKay refuses to step down as leader". ABC News. 25 May 2021. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  31. ^ Nguyen, Kevin; Collins, Antonette (26 May 2021). "Chris Minns quits NSW shadow ministry, Labor staffer sacked over 'dirt dossier'". ABC News. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  32. ^ "'Real generational change': Chris Minns reveals new Labor frontbench". Sydney Morning Herald. 11 June 2021. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  33. ^ Bashan, Yoni (17 October 2021). "Former NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay to resign from parliament". The Australian. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  34. ^ "Berejiklian formally resigns but Holsworthy byelection still uncertain". Sydney Morning Herald. 1 January 2022. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Newcastle
2007–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member for Strathfield
2015–2021 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Tourism
2008–2011 		Succeeded byas Minister for Tourism,
Major Events, Hospitality and Racing
Preceded by Minister for the Hunter
2008–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Science and Medical Research
2008–2011 		Succeeded byas Minister for Medical Research
Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer)
2008–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Small Business
2008–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Women
2008–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Commerce
2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)
2019–2021 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch)
2019–2021 		Succeeded by
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