John Watkins (Australian politician)

John Watkins
The Honourable; John Watkins; AM
Deputy Premier of New South Wales
	In office; 10 August 2005 – 3 September 2008
Premier	Morris Iemma
Preceded by	Andrew Refshauge
Succeeded by	Carmel Tebbutt
Constituency	Ryde
Chancellor of the University of New England
	In office; 17 April 2013 – 30 June 2014
Preceded by	Richard Torbay
Succeeded by	James Harris
Personal details
Born	7 December 1955; Sydney, New South Wales
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Deborah Watkins
Profession	Teacher

John Arthur Watkins AM[1] (born 7 December 1955) is a former Deputy Premier of New South Wales, serving between 2005 until his resignation from Parliament in 2008. Watkins has been the Chief Executive Officer of Alzheimer's Australia (NSW) since 2008; the Chairman of Calvary healthcare since 2011; and the eighth Chancellor of the University of New England, serving between 2013 and 2014.[2]

Watkins was an elected member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the electorates of Gladesville (between 1995 and 1999) and then Ryde (between 1999 and 2008) for the Labor Party. During his parliamentary career, Watkins served in a range of ministerial portfolios including Fair Trading, Sport and Recreation, Police and Corrective Services, Transport, Finance, State Development, and Education and Training. Often touted as a possible Labor premier,[3] Watkins was from the minority Labor Left faction.[4]

Ministerial career

Watkins was the former Deputy Premier of New South Wales, Minister for Transport and Minister for Finance. Watkins was appointed Deputy Premier in August 2005, following the resignation of Andrew Refshauge and upon the appointment of Morris Iemma as Premier. Watkins held the cabinet position of Transport Minister from January 2005. He was appointed Minister for Finance on 30 March 2007 following the reelection of the Iemma Government. Watkins resigned from Cabinet and retired from Parliament in 2008, saying that he had been unable to balance work and family.[5] His retirement triggered the unintentional downfall of Premier Morris Iemma.[6] His resignation came at a bad time for the government; its polling numbers were in free fall only a year after winning reelection. In the ensuing by-election, Ryde was resoundingly lost to Liberal Victor Dominello on a swing of 23.7 percent; only a year earlier, Watkins had been reelected with 60 percent of the two-party vote.

Prior ministerial posts included Minister for Police (2003–2005 and 2006–2007), Minister for Education (2001–2003) and Minister for Fair Trading and Sports (1999–2001).[7]

Early years and background

Watkins is married to Deborah and together they have five children. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree, a Master of Arts degree and a Diploma of Education. Prior to becoming a politician, Watkins was a school teacher at St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill.

Watkins was a former Alderman on Hunters Hill Municipal Council from 1987 to 1991, and held the position of Deputy Mayor.

Post politics

In 2008 Watkins was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Alzheimer's Australia (NSW); after serving as a board member in 2011 he was appointed Chairman of Calvary (Little Company of Mary Healthcare); and in April 2013, he was appointed to succeed Richard Torbay as the eighth Chancellor of the University of New England,[8] until his resignation in June 2014.

In 2017 he was approached to run as the ALP candidate for the federal Bennelong by-election, as Bennelong encompasses his old state seat of Ryde, but declined after former premier Kristina Keneally informed him that she wanted to run in the by-election.[9]

Keneally duly became the candidate but was not successful at the by-election.

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References

"Queen's birthday honours". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 June 2015.
"New England grazier James Harris named as UNE's new Chancellor". University of New England. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
Clennell, Andrew (10 July 2007). "Watkins was sized up to fill Carr's shoes, and he may follow Iemma". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
"NSW Deputy Premier Watkins announces retirement". ABC News. Australia. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
Smith, Alexandra; AAP (3 September 2008). "Watkins quits politics to put family first". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
Smith, Alexandra; Robins, Brian (5 September 2008). "NSW Premier Morris Iemma quits as Premier, will leave politics". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
"The Hon. John Arthur Watkins AM (1955- )". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
"John Watkins new UNE chancellor". Armidale Express. Fairfax Regional Media. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/bennelong-labor-scouted-exdeputy-premier-john-watkins/news-story/b6982bd774f40a5ebea426b32d50938b

External links

Inaugural speech to the Legislative Assembly – Hansard. 17 October 1995

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Ivan Petch	Member for Gladesville 1995–1999	District abolished
New district	Member for Ryde 1999–2008	Succeeded by Victor Dominello
Political offices
Preceded by Jeff Shaw	Minister for Fair Trading 1999–2001	Succeeded by Reba Meagher
Preceded by Gabrielle Harrison	Minister for Sport and Recreation 1999–2001	Succeeded by Sandra Nori as Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
Preceded by Bob Debus	Minister for Corrective Services 2001	Succeeded by Bob Debus
Preceded by John Aquilina	Minister for Education and Training 2001–2003	Succeeded by Andrew Refshauge
Preceded by Paul Whelan	Minister for Police 2003–2005	Succeeded by Carl Scully
Preceded by Michael Costa as Minister for Transport Services	Minister for Transport 2005–2008	Succeeded by David Campbell
Preceded by Michael Egan	Minister for State Development 2005–2006	Succeeded by Morris Iemma
Preceded by Andrew Refshauge	Deputy Premier of New South Wales 2005–2008	Succeeded by Carmel Tebbutt
Preceded by Carl Scully	Minister for Police 2006–2007	Succeeded by David Campbell
Preceded by John Della Bosca	Minister for Finance 2007–2008	Succeeded by Joe Tripodi
Academic offices
Preceded by Richard Torbay	Chancellor of the University of New England 2013–2014	Succeeded by James Harris

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[1] "Queen's birthday honours". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 June 2015.

[2] "New England grazier James Harris named as UNE's new Chancellor". University of New England. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2015.

[3] Clennell, Andrew (10 July 2007). "Watkins was sized up to fill Carr's shoes, and he may follow Iemma". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 November 2011.

[4] "NSW Deputy Premier Watkins announces retirement". ABC News. Australia. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008.

[5] Smith, Alexandra; AAP (3 September 2008). "Watkins quits politics to put family first". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2008.

[6] Smith, Alexandra; Robins, Brian (5 September 2008). "NSW Premier Morris Iemma quits as Premier, will leave politics". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 November 2011.

[John_Watkins_NSW_Parl-7] "The Hon. John Arthur Watkins AM (1955- )". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 8 June 2019.

[8] "John Watkins new UNE chancellor". Armidale Express. Fairfax Regional Media. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.

[9] ttps://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/bennelong-labor-scouted-exdeputy-premier-john-watkins/news-story/b6982bd774f40a5ebea426b32d50938b