Spouse Deborah Watkins Profession Teacher Party Australian Labor Party | Name John Watkins Nationality Australian Role Member of Parliament | |
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Books Shadows in the Mist: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories | ||
Political party Australian Labor Party | ||
John Arthur Watkins (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.
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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 Australian 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, Watkins was from the minority Labor Left faction.
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. His retirement triggered the unintentional downfall of Premier Morris Iemma. 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).
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); 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, until his resignation in June 2014.