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Nathan Rees

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Nathan Rees
41st Premier of New South Wales
In office
5 September 2008 – incumbent
DeputyCarmel Tebbutt
Preceded byMorris Iemma
ConstituencyElectoral district of Toongabbie
Personal details
Born1968
Sydney, New South Wales
Political partyAustralian Labor Party

Nathan Rees is an Australian politician with the Labor Party, and is the Premier of New South Wales. He replaced outgoing Premier Morris Iemma on 5 September 2008.[1]

Biography

Early life

Rees was born in 1968 in Western Sydney to parents Daryl and Frances, his mother being a long time member of the Labor Party. He attended Northmead 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.[2][3][4] During his time at the Council he became Secretary of the then Municipal and Shire Employees Union.[2]

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 1000 km per week. He once attained third place in a state triathlon.[5]

Politics

Rees' 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 80km (50 miles).[6]

He subsequently worked for Ministers Craig Knowles and Morris Iemma,[7] and as chief of staff for Milton Orkopoulos.[8] Rees transferred to the Premier's office in 2006, a few months before Orkopoulos was charged with paedophilia.[6]

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.[9] As Minister for Water Utilities, he was responsible for implementing the Sydney Desalination Plant at Kurnell, and the proposed Tillegra Dam in the Hunter Valley.[10][11]

In July 2008, he was touted by the Sydney media as being a contender for Premier. Rees at that time denied that he was a candidate for the role.[12]

Premier

After the resignation of Morris Iemma on 5 September 2008, Rees was nominated for the position of Premier and won the unanimous support of the Labor Party caucus.[1] He was sworn in by the Lieutenant Governor of NSW, Supreme Court Chief Justice James Spigelman, later that day. Carmel Tebbutt was elected unanimously as Deputy Leader, and thus Deputy Premier.[13]

Personal Life

Rees is a Roman Catholic, and proudly describes himself as "a westie".[6] He met his partner, Stacey Haines, at Northmead High School when they were both aged 14. Haines works for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.[6] They live in Wentworthville.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b "Nathan Rees confirmed as new NSW Premier". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2008-09-05. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b "Inaugural Speech of the Member for Toongabbie". NSW Hansard. 2007-05-08.
  3. ^ Clennell, Andrew (2008-09-05). "All you need to know about Nathan Rees". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2008-09-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ Mills, Alison (2008-09-05). "Nathan Rees: From greenkeeper to Premier of NSW". Fairfax Media. Blacktown Sun. Retrieved 2008-09-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Clennell, Andrew (2008-07-19). "Stalking horse or tried stayer?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2008-09-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference SMH_Stalking was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Nathan Rees, former Chief of Staff for Milton Orkopoulos". NSW Nationals. 2008-07-09.
  8. ^ "0728—MR NATHAN REES". Parliament of NSW.
  9. ^ "The Hon. Nathan REES, MP". Parliament of NSW.
  10. ^ "Desalination plant construction 30 per cent complete, and wind power contract signed". Sydney Water. 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2008-09-06. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ "Central Coast Banking Excess Water For Future Drought Use" (PDF). Wyong Shire Council. 2007-05-17. Retrieved 2008-09-06. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ Brad Norington and Imre Salusinszky (2008-07-11). "Preferred leader Nathan Rees backs Morris Iemma". The Australian.
  13. ^ "Rees sworn in as NSW Premier". News Limited. 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2008-09-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ "Nathan Rees MP". New South Wales Labor Party. Retrieved 2008-09-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

External link

Political offices

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