Premier Colin Barnett Preceded by Tony McRae Premier Colin Barnett | Premier Colin Barnett Preceded by Troy Buswell Name Mike Nahan | |
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Full Name Michael Dennis Nahan Born 2 July 1950 (age 73)
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States ( 1950-07-02 ) Political party Liberal Party of Australia Role Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly Party Liberal Party of Australia Office Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since 2008 Education Australian National University, University of Michigan Profiles | ||
Moving towards a more effective federation hon dr mike nahan
Michael Dennis "Mike" Nahan (born 2 July 1950) is an Australian politician, serving as Western Australian Liberal leader and Leader of the Opposition since the 2017 state election. He has been Liberal member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Riverton since 2008. He served as Treasurer of Western Australia from March 2014 until March 2017.
Contents
- Moving towards a more effective federation hon dr mike nahan
- Biography
- State politics
- Treasurer of Western Australia
- Leader of the Opposition
- References
Biography
Nahan was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1950 as one of 13 children and grew up on a small farm, later graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics from Western Michigan University. After arriving in Australia in the late 1970s, he received a doctorate in economics from the Australian National University having previously completed a master's degree in agricultural economics.
Nahan arrived in Western Australia in July 1982. He joined the Institute of Public Affairs, a libertarian think tank, as a policy director. Between 1995 and 2005 he was Executive Director of the IPA.
State politics
Nahan entered politics at the 2008 Western Australian state election when he defeated incumbent Labor MP Tony McRae for the seat of Riverton.
Nahan is currently Trustee of the Parliamentary Superannuation Board and was Chairman of the Economics and Industry Standing Committee in State Parliament from November 2008 to August 2012. As part of the Economics and Industry Standing Committee, Mike Nahan presided over the Kimberley Ultramarathon Inquiry, an Inquiry set up to understand why five individuals received extensive burns. It was later determined that the fire was caused by an out of control prescribed burn being conducted by FESA, El Questro, the WA Police and the Salerno family.
After the 2013 Western Australian state election, Nahan was appointed Western Australian Minister for Energy, Finance, and Citizenship and Multicultural Interests by Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett.
Treasurer of Western Australia
Nahan was appointed as the Treasurer of Western Australia on 14 March 2014 following the resignation of Troy Buswell. His first budget as Treasurer was delivered in May 2014.
As Treasurer of Western Australia, Nahan presided over the loss of the state's AAA credit rating in August 2014 when state debt was downgraded to AA1 (further downgraded to AA2 in February 2016), and an unemployment rate of 6.5% in March 2017.
Leader of the Opposition
The Liberal government was roundly defeated at the 2017 state election, suffering the worst defeat of a sitting government in Western Australian history. Notably, the Liberals' support in Perth almost melted. The Liberals were cut down to only nine seats in the capital, including Nahan's. Following the defeat, Barnett resigned as WA Liberal leader and returned to the backbench.
Two days after the election, outgoing minister Bill Marmion indicated that Nahan had the most support in the much-reduced Liberal party room to succeed Barnett. He was elected unopposed as Liberal leader, and hence Leader of the Opposition, on 21 March, with outgoing Deputy Premier Liza Harvey remaining deputy leader.