Graham Annesley

Graham Annesley (born 26 May 1957)[1] is an Australian former politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Miranda for the Liberal Party from 2011 to 2013. From 3 April 2011 to 28 August 2013 he was the Minister for Sport and Recreation in the O'Farrell Government.

Graham Annesley
Minister for Sport and Recreation
In office 3 April 2011 – 28 August 2013
Premier	Barry O'Farrell
Preceded by	Kevin Greene
Succeeded by	Gabrielle Upton
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Miranda
In office 26 March 2011 – 28 August 2013
Preceded by	Barry Collier
Succeeded by	Barry Collier
Majority	21.0% (2011)
Personal details
Born	26 May 1957
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party
Domestic partner	Erica Clark
Children	Two
Residence	Sylvania, New South Wales
Occupation	Sport administrator

Annesley is the former chief executive officer of the Gold Coast Titans team in the National Rugby League. Annesley is a former chief operating officer of the National Rugby League, and a former leading rugby league referee.

Rugby league

Annesley commenced his rugby league career with the Parramatta District Rugby League Referees Association. Starting as a 13-year-old referee,[2] Annesley also undertook later administrative roles in the Association, including Secretary (1979–1980) and President (1985–1988).[3] He was elected as a Life Member of the Association in 1984.[4]

Rising through the refereeing ranks, Annesley became a first grade referee in 1982. Between 1982 and 1997 he controlled 244 first-grade matches and six finals matches. He is ranked number 12 in the list of all-time first grade matches refereed.[5]

Annesley's notable representative appointments include the 1994 State of Origin and test matches between Great Britain and Australia, also in 1994.[6]

Annesley's business career included appointments with DHL Worldwide Express, McWilliams Wines, Totalisator Agency Board (TAB) and the Roads and Traffic Authority. He became a full-time sports administrator in 1995 as director of football for the NRL, promoted to chief operating officer in 2002.[2]

Annesley is credited with introducing the video referee system in 1996.[7]

Away from rugby league, Annesley is an Australia Day ambassador for Liverpool Shire Council.[2][8]

Politics

Pre-selected by the Liberal Party to contest Miranda at the 2007 state election, Annesley was defeated by the sitting Labor member Barry Collier by a margin of 603 votes.[9] He again contested the seat at the March 2011 elections and was elected, receiving a swing of 21.8% in the traditionally Liberal seat, winning 71.0% of the vote on a two-party preferred basis.[10] As Collier retired at the election, Annesley's main competitor was Therese Cook, representing Labor.

Annesley was subsequently appointed Minister for Sport and Recreation in the O'Farrell–Stoner coalition government.[11][12][13] On 28 August 2013 he announced his resignation as Minister for Sport and Recreation and his intention to resign from Parliament to become CEO of the Gold Coast Titans, triggering a 2013 Miranda by-election on 19 October.[14] In his resignation speech to parliament, Annesley said he never regarded himself as a politician and that there were many aspects of politics he did not care for. He said that he had always felt more at home as a sports administrator.[15][16]

In October 2013, Annesley said that he arranged for Telstra to put in mobile reception, six months prior and without charge, for a new property at Yowie Bay he bought with his wife, claiming he couldn't do his job as a minister otherwise.[17]

References

1. Reilly, Tom (7 May 2011). "Newsmaker Graham Annesley". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
2. "Graham Annesley". Australia Day Ambassadors. Australia Day Council of NSW. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
3. "Past Executive Committee Members". History. Parramatta District Rugby League Referees' Association. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
4. "Past Honours". History. Parramatta District Rugby League Referees' Association. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
5. "Referees 1939–2013". rleague.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
6. Hadfield, Dave (24 October 1994). "Rugby League: Edwards left on tenterhooks". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
7. Jessup, Peter (17 July 1999). "Rugby: Only time before video used". New Zealand Herald. APN News & Media. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
8. "Irving honoured". Warren Advocate. Fairfax Media. 27 January 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
9. "State Electoral District of Miranda". 2007 State Election Results. New South Wales Electoral Commission. 3 January 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
10. Green, Antony (4 April 2011). "Miranda". NSW Votes 2011. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
11. "Mr Graham Annesley (1957- )". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
12. Rothfield, Phil (3 April 2011). "Annesley will get to referee all sports now". The Daily Telegraph. News Limited. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
13. "New faces in Barry O'Farrell's Cabinet". The Australian. News Limited. AAP. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
14. Graham Annesley, Minister for Sport and Recreation (28 August 2013). "Resignation of Minister for Sport and Recreation". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). New South Wales: Legislative Assembly. p. 22932. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
15. Barry O'Farrell announces Sports Minister Graham Annesley has resigned: Daily Telegraph 28 August 2013
16. Graham Annesley resigns from NSW ministry to take up role as Gold Coast Titans chief: ABC 29 August 2013
17. Former MP Greg Annesley sends the wrong signal to the electorate by quitting parliament early, The Australian, 18 October 2013

External links

• Graham Annesley, MP – Liberal Party.
• "Interview: Graham Annesley". ABC Radio Grandstand. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 September 2008. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
• Maiden Speech – Parliament of New South Wales.