Andrew Constance

The Honourable Andrew Constance MP
Member of New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 March 2003
Preceded by	Russell Smith
Constituency	Bega
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 April 2015
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	Gladys Berejiklian (as Minister for Transport)
Treasurer of New South Wales
In office 2 August 2013 – 2 April 2015
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	Greg Pearce
Succeeded by	Gladys Berejiklian
Minister for Ageing
In office 4 April 2011 – 2 August 2013
Premier	Barry O'Farrell
Succeeded by	John Ajaka
Minister for Disability Services
In office 4 April 2011 – 2 August 2013
Premier	Barry O'Farrell
Succeeded by	John Ajaka
Minister for Industrial Relations
In office 6 May 2014 – 2 April 2015
Premier	Mike Baird
Succeeded by	Gladys Berejiklian
Minister for Finance and Services
In office 2 August 2013 – 17 April 2014
Personal details
Born	31 October 1973
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Children	One
Website	Parliamentary webpage

Andrew James Constance MP (born 31 October 1973), is an Australian politician, and is the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure since 2 April 2015 in the second Baird government.^[1][2] He is the member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Bega for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2003.^[3]

Constance previously served as the Treasurer of New South Wales and the Minister for Industrial Relations between 2014 and 2015 in the first Baird government;^[4][5] the Minister for Ageing and Disability Services between 2011 and 2013; and the Minister for Finance and Services, between 2013 and 2014, in the O'Farrell government.

Political career

At the time Constance was elected in 2003, he was aged 29 years, and he became the youngest member of the Parliament. Constance previously worked as a corporate affairs consultant representing large industry associations and multinationals in the Asia-Pacific region.^[6] A former President of the Young Liberals, his family connections in the Bega area stem back to the 1860s when his great-great-grandfather, James Constance, drove a team of bullocks through the Bega Valley.^[7]

Constance was appointed Minister for Ageing and Disability Services in 2011 and championed the person-centred reforms which were necessary steps towards the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Under Constance's stewardship, NSW became the first Australian state or territory to agree to the full funding of the scheme with the Commonwealth.

Constance was promoted as Minister for Finance and Services in 2013 after the sacking of Greg Pearce, with the portfolio of Ageing and Disability Services transferred to John Ajaka.^[8][9]

Due to the resignation of Barry O'Farrell as Premier,^[10] and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle by Mike Baird, the former Treasurer and new Liberal Leader,^[4] in April 2014 Constance was appointed as Treasurer;^[3][11][12] and his responsibilities expanded to include Industrial Relations less than one month later.^[5]

Constance handed down his first Budget on 17 June 2014.

Following the 2015 state election, Constance was appointed Minister for Transport and Infrastructure.^[1][2] Under his leadership, NSW was the first Australian state to legalise ride sharing services like Uber. ^[13] He is also responsible for the delivery of Australia's largest public transport project in Sydney Metro.

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. "Mr Andrew James Constance, MP". Members of Parliament. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
4. Nicholls, Sean (22 April 2014). "Mike Baird's cabinet reshuffle a preparation for next election". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
5. Hasham, Nicole (6 May 2014). "Stuart Ayres shines on first day as Police Minister". The Age. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
6. Green, Antony (4 April 2011). "Bega". NSW Votes 2011. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
7. "Mr Andrew Constance, MP - Maiden Speech". Hansard. Parliament of New South Wales. 21 May 2003. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
8. Nicholls, Sean (1 August 2013). "Greg Pearce sacked over conflict of interest". smh.com.au. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
9. Clennell, Andrew (1 August 2013). "Premier Barry O'Farrell sacks finance minister Greg Pearce". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
10. "Barry O'Farrell quits as NSW Premier over memory fail". The Australian. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
11. "Mike Baird's NSW cabinet". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
12. Smyth, Ben (22 April 2014). "Andrew Constance named Treasurer in NSW cabinet reshuffle". Bay Post. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
13. "UberX legalised in NSW, taxi drivers to be compensated". ABC News. 2015-12-17. Retrieved 2016-10-18.