Leslie Williams (politician)

Leslie Gladys Williams (born on Kangaroo Island, South Australia[1]), an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Port Macquarie since 2011 for the Nationals. Williams has served as 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] Since 7 May 2019, she has served as Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.[4]

The Honourable Leslie Williams MP
5th Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 May 2019
Speaker	Jonathan O'Dea
Preceded by	Thomas George
Assistant Minister for Education
In office 2 April 2015 – 23 January 2017
Preceded by	Victor Dominello
Succeeded by	Sarah Mitchell
Minister for Early Childhood Education
In office 2 April 2015 – 23 January 2017
Preceded by	New title
Succeeded by	Sarah Mitchell
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
In office 2 April 2015 – 23 January 2017
Preceded by	Victor Dominello
Succeeded by	Sarah Mitchell
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Port Macquarie
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 March 2011
Preceded by	Peter Besseling
Personal details
Born	Leslie Gladys Uren Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	The Nationals
Spouse(s)	Don Williams
Relations	Vickie Chapman (cousin) Ted Chapman (uncle)
Residence	Lake Cathie, New South Wales
Occupation	Small business owner and nurse
Website	lesliewilliams.com.au

Background

Williams' early career was in teaching in regional South Australia and 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 Lake Cathie post office and now operate a mail delivery service. At the same time, Williams completed a degree in nursing and worked in the medical and palliative care ward at the Port Macquarie Base Hospital.[1]

Williams' community involvement includes membership of the Rotary Club of Laurieton, a director of both the Hastings Men's Shed and the Suicide Prevention Network and is a volunteer for various organisations including the Cancer Council of New South Wales and the Salvation Army.[1]

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.[5] Williams gained a 3.4 percent swing towards 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 towards Williams and the Nationals.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7] 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][8]

Personal life

Williams is the cousin of South Australian Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman, and niece of Vickie's father Ted Chapman.[9]

References

1. "Leslie Williams – Candidate for Port Macquarie". The Nationals team. National Party. 2010. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
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. "No surprise as the Nats' back Leslie Williams". Port Macquarie News. Fairfax Media. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
6. "Williams whitewash". Port Macquarie News. Fairfax Media. 28 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
7. "Close battle expected in Port Macquarie electorate". ABC News. Australia. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
8. "Mrs Leslie Gladys WILLIAMS, BNurs, DipTeach MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
9. "Former KI schoolgirl now a NSW Minister". The Islander. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.

External links

• National Party – Leslie Williams, Candidate for Port Macquarie
• "Leslie Williams – Campaign website".

 

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Peter Besseling	Member for Port Macquarie 2011–date	Incumbent
Preceded by Thomas George	Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 2019–date	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Victor Dominello	Assistant Minister for Education 2015–2017	Succeeded by Sarah Mitchell
	Minister for Aboriginal Affairs 2015–2017
New title	Minister for Early Childhood Education 2015–2017