Duncan Gay

Duncan John Gay (born 2 May 1950), an Australian politician, was the Vice-President of the Executive Council of New South Wales and the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council from May 2014 to January 2017; and the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight from April 2015 to January 2017.[1][2] Gay was the Leader of the Nationals in the Legislative Council until January 2017 and was a member of the Council from 1988 to 2017, representing The Nationals.[3]

The Honourable Duncan Gay
Vice-President of the Executive Council
In office 6 May 2014 – 30 January 2017
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	Mike Gallacher
Succeeded by	Don Harwin
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
In office 6 May 2014 – 30 January 2017
Leader	Mike Baird
Preceded by	Mike Gallacher
Succeeded by	Don Harwin
Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight
In office 2 April 2015 – 30 January 2017
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	himself (Roads and Freight)
Succeeded by	Melinda Pavey
Minister for Roads and Freight
In office 23 April 2014 – 2 April 2015
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	himself (Roads and Ports)
Succeeded by	himself (Roads, Maritime and Freight)
Minister for the North Coast
In office 17 October 2014 – 2 April 2015
Premier	Andrew Stoner
Preceded by	Andrew Stoner
Succeeded by	portfolio abolished
Minister for Roads and Ports
In office 3 April 2011 – 23 April 2014
Premier	Barry O'Farrell
Preceded by	David Borger (Roads) Eric Roozendaal (Ports and Waterways)
Succeeded by	himself (Roads and Freight)
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
In office 3 May 2011 – 6 May 2014
Leader	Barry O'Farrell Mike Baird
Preceded by	Eric Roozendaal
Succeeded by	John Ajaka
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
In office 19 March 1988 – 31 July 2017
Succeeded by	Wes Fang
Personal details
Born	2 May 1950 Crookwell, New South Wales
Political party	The Nationals
Spouse(s)	Katie Gay
Children	2
Education	Newington College

He served as the Minister for Roads and Freight, and as the Minister for the North Coast between 2014 and 2015 in the first Baird government;[4][5][6] and the Minister for Roads and Ports in the O'Farrell ministry between 2011 and 2014.[7]

Early life

Gay was born and raised in Crookwell, New South Wales near Goulburn and educated at Crookwell District Rural School.[8] He attended Newington College (1962–1967) in Sydney as a boarding student before studying accountancy and wool classing.[9] He is married to Katie and they have two children.[8]

Prior to his political career, Gay owned a small trucking company and managed his family's grazing property at Crookwell.[8]

Political career

Gay was elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council in March 1988[10] and has been a member of the National Party since 1974;[8] and served in various portfolios and positions while in Opposition.[7][8]

Following the election of the O'Farrell government at the 2011 election, Gay was appointed as the Minister for Roads and Ports in the New South Wales government. Following the resignation of Barry O'Farrell as Premier,[11] and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle by Mike Baird, the new Liberal Leader,[4] in April 2014 the name of Gay's portfolio changed to Minister for Roads and Freight;[12] the responsibilities as Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council were added in May 2014;[5][7] and as Minister for the North Coast added in October 2014.[6] Following the 2015 state election, Gay's portfolio responsibilities were amended slightly and renamed as Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight.

Major activities in Gay's term as Minister for Roads included Bridges for the Bush, Fixing Country Roads and Fixing Country Rail as well as commencement of planning for the introduction of the WestConnex;[13][14][15] a road project that has had its costs reported to be overrun by A$1.4 billion.[16] Gay announced the preferred construction contractor for the NorthConnex;[17][18][19] and the continued duplication of the Pacific Highway.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]

In January 2017 Gay was replaced in the reshuffle of the Berejiklian ministry.[32] He retired from politics at the end of July and took up a paid advisory role with private transport and infrastructure consultancy MU Group.[33] Gay is a Director of ARC Asia-Pacific Consortium and in September 2018 was appointed Chair of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.[34]

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. Coultan, Mark (1 April 2015). "Mike Baird reveals NSW cabinet". The Australian. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
3. "Our Legislative Council Ministers". The Nationals Team. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
4. Nicholls, Sean (22 April 2014). "Mike Baird's cabinet reshuffle a preparation for next election". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
5. Hasham, Nicole (6 May 2014). "Stuart Ayres shines on first day as Police Minister". The Age. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
6. Nicholls, Sean (17 October 2014). "John Barilaro elevated as Andrew Stoner suddenly quits cabinet". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
7. "The Hon. Duncan John GAY (1950 - )". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
8. "Biography of The Hon Duncan Gay MLC". The Nationals. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
9. Register of Past Students 1863–1998. Newington College. 1999. p. 71.
10. Dickson, E.I. (19 March 1988). "Statistical Returns – Periodic Election for Legislative Council (49th Parliament)". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
11. "Barry O'Farrell quits as NSW Premier over memory fail". The Australian. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
12. "Mike Baird's NSW cabinet". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
13. Thomsen, Simnon (24 June 2015). "We're getting a better idea of what Sydney's controversial road project WestConnex will really cost". Business Insider Australia. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
14. "WestConnex". Have Your Say. NSW Government Sydney Motorways Project Office. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
15. Shakibaei, Bambul (10 October 2012). "Transport for NSW vs Infrastructure NSW". Transport Sydney. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
16. Saulwick, Jacob; O'Sullivan, Matt (20 November 2015). "WestConnex $1.4 billion blow-out: higher bills for years to come". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
17. "Transurban announces preferred contractor for NorthConnex (PDF)" (PDF). Transurban. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
18. "NorthConnex tunnel: Tony Abbott and Barry O'Farrell give go-ahead to $3b project to link M1 and M2 in Sydney". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
19. "Missing NSW road link step closer". The Western Australian. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
20. "Banora Point project". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
21. "Tintenbar to Ewingsdale". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
22. "Ballina bypass". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
23. "Pimlico to Teven upgrade". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
24. "Devils Pulpit upgrade". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
25. "Glenugie upgrade". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
26. "Sapphire to Woolgoolga". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
27. "Nambucca Heads to Urunga upgrade". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
28. "Frederickton to Eungai". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
29. "Kempsey Bypass". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
30. "Herons Creek to Stills Road Upgrade". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
31. "Bulahdelah upgrade". Roads and Maritime Services. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
32. "NSW reshuffle: Gladys Berejiklian axes Adrian Piccoli and Duncan Gay from cabinet". The Guardian. Australia. 29 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
33. Nichols, Sean. "Former roads minister Duncan Gay takes job with transport consultancy MU Group".
34. "Ministerial Statement: New leadership to drive heavy vehicle regulator".

External links

• Official website
• The Hon. Duncan John Gay, MLC at Parliament of New South Wales
• Legislative Council of NSW Oral History Project - Interview on 10 December 2018