Troy Grant

The Honourable Troy Grant MP
Troy Grant in 2014
17th Deputy Premier of New South Wales
In office 16 October 2014 – 15 November 2016
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	Andrew Stoner
Succeeded by	John Barilaro
Minister for Justice and Police
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 April 2015
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	Brad Hazzard (as Minister for Justice) Stuart Ayres (as Minister for Police and Emergency Services)
Minister for the Arts
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 April 2014
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	George Souris
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Dubbo
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 March 2011
Preceded by	Dawn Fardell
Personal details
Born	11 February 1970 Maitland, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	The Nationals
Spouse(s)	To Toni Grant
Occupation	Former police officer
Website	www.troygrant.com.au

Troy Wayne Grant (born 11 February 1970), an Australian politician, is the former Deputy Premier of New South Wales and New South Wales Leader of The Nationals from October 2014 to November 2016. Grant has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Dubbo for the Nationals since 2011. Grant is the Minister for Justice and Police, the Minister for Racing and the Minister for the Arts in the Baird government, since April 2015.^[1]

In April 2014, Grant was appointed as the Minister for Hospitality, Gaming and Racing and the Minister for the Arts in the First Baird government.^[2] Grant gained additional portfolio responsibilities in October 2014 and in addition to the above responsibilities, he also served as the Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services, and the Minister for Tourism and Major Events until 2 April 2015.^[3][4]

Grant stood down as Nationals leader and Deputy Premier on 15 November 2016.^[5]

Early years and background

A police officer for 22 years, Grant has twice has been decorated with Commendations for Courage by the Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force. He has implemented a number of community-based policing initiatives in Gilgandra and Brewarrina and he has received other awards, including the Premier’s Public Sector Award.^[6] Grant led the paedophilia investigation into Catholic priest Vincent Ryan, and has said "there is nothing I would not do in order to protect the children of NSW" from sexual abuse.^[4]

Grant can speak the Wiradjuri language, the native language of a large part of inland NSW.^[7]

Political career

Grant was endorsed by the National Party as its candidate in Dubbo in June 2010, after a pre-selection battle with one other candidate, also a police officer.^[8][9] At the March 2011 elections, Grant was elected and received a swing of 14.5% in the traditionally strong Nationals seat, winning 63.7% of the vote on a two-party preferred basis. Grant actually won 60 per cent of the primary vote, enough to take the seat without the need for preferences.^[10] Grant defeated the incumbent independent politician Dawn Fardell, ending a 12-year hold by independent candidates.^[11] In accordance with electoral procedures, he resigned his commission as a police officer.

Due to the resignation of Barry O'Farrell as Premier,^[12] and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle by Mike Baird, the new Liberal Leader,^[2] in April 2014 Grant was appointed as Minister for Hospitality, Gaming and Racing, Minister for the Arts, and appointed as a member of Cabinet.^[3][13][14]

On 15 October 2014, state Nationals leader and Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner stood down for family reasons. The next day, on 16 October, Grant was elected party leader and the following day he was sworn in as Deputy Premier of New South Wales, assuming the majority of Stoner's former ministerial responsibilities.^[4][15]

On 14 November 2016, Grant, facing a leadership spill, announced his resignation as Nationals leader and Deputy Premier, effective the following day. His resignation followed a period of leadership speculation which came to a head after the Nationals' poor performance at the Orange state by-election on 12 November.^[16][17]

References

1. 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.
2. Nicholls, Sean (22 April 2014). "Mike Baird's cabinet reshuffle a preparation for next election". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
3. "The Hon. Troy Wayne GRANT, MP". Current Members of Parliament. Parliament of New South Wales. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
4. Hasham, Nicole (16 October 2014). "New NSW Nationals leader and Deputy Premier Troy Grant is not easily categorised". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
5. Nicholls, Sean (14 November 2016). "Troy Grant to stand down as NSW Nationals leader". smh.com.au. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
6. "Troy Grant - Candidate for Dubbo". The Nationals team. National Party of Australia. 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
7. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-state-election-2015/nationals-leader-troy-grant-launches-nsw-campaign-in-local-aboriginal-dialect-20150315-144jbl.html
8. "Grant the voice for change in Dubbo". Media Release - Andrew Stoner MP. National Party of Australia. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
9. Billings, Patrick (7 June 2010). "Nationals choose their cop". Daily Liberal. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
10. Green, Antony (26 March 2011). "Dubbo". NSW Votes 2011. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
11. Huntsdale, Justin (31 March 2011). "Nationals win Dubbo in state wide Coalition landslide". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
12. "Barry O'Farrell quits as NSW Premier over memory fail". The Australian. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
13. "Mike Baird's NSW cabinet". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
14. "Troy Grant joins NSW cabinet". Daily Liberal. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
15. Gerathy, Sarah (16 October 2014). "Troy Grant replaces Andrew Stoner as NSW Deputy Premier". ABC News. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
16. Nicholls, Sean (14 November 2016). "Troy Grant to stand down as NSW Nationals leader". smh.com.au. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
17. Gerathy, Sarah (14 November 2016). "Who will lead the NSW Nationals after Troy Grant, and what does the vote mean for Mike Baird?". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 14 November 2016.

External links

• National Party – Troy Grant, Candidate for Dubbo
• The Hon. Troy Wayne GRANT, MP at NSW Parliament