Phil Costa
Encyclopedia
Phillip John "Phil" Costa (born 24 July 1949) is an Australia
n politician. He was an Australian Labor Party
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 2007 until 2011, representing the electorate of Wollondilly
. He served as Minister for Water and Minister for Corrective Services.
. Prior to his election he was a primary school teacher and principal of public schools in the Oaks
and Buxton
. He was named the Citizen of the Year in Wollondilly Shire in 1984.
Costa initially planned to stand as an independent candidate in the 2007 State Election but was persuaded by Premier Morris Iemma
to stand instead for the Australian Labor Party
. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly
on 24 March 2007 with 53% of the vote. From June 2007 to September 2008, he was a member of the State Parliament's Standing Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and Ethics and Chair of the Standing Committee on Broadband in Rural and Regional Communities.
From 8 September 2008 to 4 December 2009, he was appointed Minister for Water, Minister for Rural Affairs and Minister for Regional Development in the Cabinet
of incoming Premier Nathan Rees
.
Phil Costa has come under heavy criticism in recent months from Wollondilly Councillor Benn Banasik, Mayor of Camden Council Chris Patterson
and Campbelltown Councillor Jai Rowell
for the Labor Government's approval of the AGL Power Station at Appin
. Wollondilly Council passed a resolution from Councillor Benn Banasik requesting Phil Costa to resign but this was later withdrawn. Costa hit back at the council, complaining in the local newspaper the Macarthur Chronicle that he had received 12 letters from Wollondilly Council. Despite being the Minister for Regional Development, Phil Costa has disavowed knowledge or responsibility for a State government project that will see a new commuter car park in his electorate built next to existing family homes as a replacement for an existing car park facing the Macarthur train station that will now be converted into a tavern by commercial developers.
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. He was an Australian 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...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 2007 until 2011, representing the electorate of Wollondilly
Electoral district of Wollondilly
Wollondilly is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Jai Rowell of the Liberal Party of Australia....
. He served as Minister for Water and Minister for Corrective Services.
Early life
Costa was born on 24 July 1949 at Guildford, New South WalesGuildford, New South Wales
Guildford is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Guildford is located 25 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of the City of Holroyd and the City of Parramatta...
. Prior to his election he was a primary school teacher and principal of public schools in the Oaks
The Oaks, New South Wales
The Oaks is a town located in the Macarthur Region of New South Wales, Australia in Wollondilly Shire on the south western edge of the Sydney Basin. The Oaks is located south-west of Sydney via the Hume Highway, west of Camden and 290m above sea-level...
and Buxton
Buxton, New South Wales
Buxton is a small village in Macarthur Region of New South Wales, Australia, in Wollondilly Shire. In 2006, Buxton had a population of 1,699 people. Its name comes from the town of Buxton, Derbyshire.- Geography :...
. He was named the Citizen of the Year in Wollondilly Shire in 1984.
Politics
Costa was elected to Wollondilly Shire Council in the 1980s and served as Deputy Mayor from 1999 to 2005 before being elected as Mayor from 2006 to 2007, immediately prior to the 2007 State election.Costa initially planned to stand as an independent candidate in the 2007 State Election but was persuaded by Premier Morris Iemma
Morris Iemma
Morris Iemma , is a former Australian politician and 40th Premier of New South Wales, succeeding Bob Carr after he resigned on 3 August 2005. Iemma led the Australian Labor Party to victory in the 2007 election before resigning as Premier on 5 September 2008, and as a Member of Parliament on 19...
to stand instead for the Australian 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...
. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
on 24 March 2007 with 53% of the vote. From June 2007 to September 2008, he was a member of the State Parliament's Standing Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and Ethics and Chair of the Standing Committee on Broadband in Rural and Regional Communities.
From 8 September 2008 to 4 December 2009, he was appointed Minister for Water, Minister for Rural Affairs and Minister for Regional Development in the Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of incoming Premier Nathan Rees
Nathan Rees
Nathan Rees MP, , an Australian politician, was the 41st Premier of New South Wales and parliamentary leader of the New South Wales division of the Australian Labor Party from September 2008 to December 2009...
.
Controversies
After being voted in as Mayor in 2007, Phil Costa was announced as the Labor candidate for Wollondilly. Deputy Mayor of the time Judith Hannan and councillors Michael Banasik, Denise Appel, Helen Kuiper, Simon Landow and Shane Read passed a vote of no confidence in Mayor Phil Costa limiting Costa’s powers as Mayor. Phil Costa refused to step down and went on to win election in the State Election 2007.Phil Costa has come under heavy criticism in recent months from Wollondilly Councillor Benn Banasik, Mayor of Camden Council Chris Patterson
Chris Patterson
Chris Patterson is a professional rally racing co-driver.He competed first time in the World Rally Championship in 1993 and has won the 2006 Production World Rally Championship with Nasser Al-Attiyah. Patterson is recognized as one of the world's most experienced rally navigators...
and Campbelltown Councillor Jai Rowell
Jai Rowell
Jai Travers Rowell MP , an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Wollondilly for the Liberal Party since 2011.-Early career and background:...
for the Labor Government's approval of the AGL Power Station at Appin
Appin, New South Wales
Appin is a town in the Macarthur Region of New South Wales, Australia in Wollondilly Shire. It is situated about 16 kilometres south of Campbelltown and 35 kilometres north west of Wollongong.-Early history:...
. Wollondilly Council passed a resolution from Councillor Benn Banasik requesting Phil Costa to resign but this was later withdrawn. Costa hit back at the council, complaining in the local newspaper the Macarthur Chronicle that he had received 12 letters from Wollondilly Council. Despite being the Minister for Regional Development, Phil Costa has disavowed knowledge or responsibility for a State government project that will see a new commuter car park in his electorate built next to existing family homes as a replacement for an existing car park facing the Macarthur train station that will now be converted into a tavern by commercial developers.