Gary Nairn
Encyclopedia
Gary Roy Nairn is a former Australia
n politician.
Nairn was born in Sydney
, New South Wales
, and was educated at the University of New South Wales
. He was a surveyor in private practice and managing director of a surveying and mapping consultancy before entering politics. He moved to the Northern Territory
where he lived for many years. He was President of the Country Liberal Party
between 1990 and 1994, during which time the CLP won two elections with an increased vote.
Nairn returned to New South Wales and in March 1996 was elected a Liberal Party of Australia
member of the Australian House of Representatives
, representing the seat of Eden-Monaro
.
In 2003, he headed a federal inquiry into the 2003 Canberra bushfires
. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister in October 2004. In January 2006 he was promoted to the front bench as Special Minister of State
which includes responsibilities with Ministerial and Parliamentary Services, the Australian Government Information Management Office, Australian Electoral Commission
, Defence Housing Authority and Film Australia.
In September 2007, Nairn's Chief of Staff, Dr Peter Phelps, engaged in a heated verbal exchange with the Labor Party
candidate for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly
at a forum on the Iraq War in Queanbeyan, New South Wales
. At the meeting Dr Phelps claimed that Mike Kelly was a hypocrite as a former soldier running for the ALP when they are opposed to the war in Iraq. Dr Phelps stated at the meeting that he thought Dr Kelly was using the Nuremberg Defence, and compared it to the kind of defence used by guards at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
. Mr Nairn did not agree with his staffer's sentiments.
In the 2007 federal election, Nairn lost his seat to Labor candidate Mike Kelly
. Nairn was one of five Coalition frontbenchers to lose their seats at the election. The loss of the Division of Eden-Monaro by the Liberal Party to the Labor Party continues the trend of the seat being won by every party to form Government since 1972.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician.
Nairn was born in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, and was educated at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. He was a surveyor in private practice and managing director of a surveying and mapping consultancy before entering politics. He moved to the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
where he lived for many years. He was President of the Country Liberal Party
Country Liberal Party
The Northern Territory Country Liberal Party is a Northern Territory political party affiliated with both the National and Liberal parties...
between 1990 and 1994, during which time the CLP won two elections with an increased vote.
Nairn returned to New South Wales and in March 1996 was elected a Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
, representing the seat of Eden-Monaro
Division of Eden-Monaro
The Division of Eden-Monaro is anAustralian Electoral Division in New South Wales.The division was created in 1900, and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the town of Eden and the Monaro district of southern New South Wales...
.
In 2003, he headed a federal inquiry into the 2003 Canberra bushfires
2003 Canberra bushfires
The Canberra bushfires of 2003 caused severe damage to the outskirts of Canberra, the Australian capital city. Almost 70% of the Australian Capital Territory’s pasture, forests and nature parks were severely damaged, and most of the renowned Mount Stromlo Observatory was destroyed...
. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister in October 2004. In January 2006 he was promoted to the front bench as Special Minister of State
Special Minister of State
The Special Minister of State , currently the Special Minister of State for the Public Service and Integrity is a ministerial portfolio in the Australian Government Department of Finance and Deregulation responsible for various parliamentary, electoral, financial and oversight affairs.Other areas...
which includes responsibilities with Ministerial and Parliamentary Services, the Australian Government Information Management Office, Australian Electoral Commission
Australian Electoral Commission
The Australian Electoral Commission, or the AEC, is the federal government agency in charge of organising and supervising federal elections and referendums. State and local government elections are overseen by the Electoral Commission in each state and territory.The Australian Electoral Commission...
, Defence Housing Authority and Film Australia.
In September 2007, Nairn's Chief of Staff, Dr Peter Phelps, engaged in a heated verbal exchange with the Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
candidate for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly
Mike Kelly (politician)
Michael Joseph "Mike" Kelly AM, MP , is an Australian politician, elected to the Australian House of Representatives as member for the Division of Eden-Monaro, New South Wales for the Australian Labor Party at the 2007 federal election...
at a forum on the Iraq War in Queanbeyan, New South Wales
Queanbeyan, New South Wales
Queanbeyan is a regional centre in the Southern Tablelands in south-eastern New South Wales adjacent to the Australian Capital Territory. The city's mixed economy is based on light construction, high technology, manufacturing, service, retail and agriculture. It is the council seat of the...
. At the meeting Dr Phelps claimed that Mike Kelly was a hypocrite as a former soldier running for the ALP when they are opposed to the war in Iraq. Dr Phelps stated at the meeting that he thought Dr Kelly was using the Nuremberg Defence, and compared it to the kind of defence used by guards at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Bergen-Belsen was a Nazi concentration camp in Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany, southwest of the town of Bergen near Celle...
. Mr Nairn did not agree with his staffer's sentiments.
In the 2007 federal election, Nairn lost his seat to Labor candidate Mike Kelly
Mike Kelly (politician)
Michael Joseph "Mike" Kelly AM, MP , is an Australian politician, elected to the Australian House of Representatives as member for the Division of Eden-Monaro, New South Wales for the Australian Labor Party at the 2007 federal election...
. Nairn was one of five Coalition frontbenchers to lose their seats at the election. The loss of the Division of Eden-Monaro by the Liberal Party to the Labor Party continues the trend of the seat being won by every party to form Government since 1972.