Paul Toole

Paul Lawrence Toole, an Australian politician, is the Deputy Leader of the New South Wales Nationals since 2019.[2] Toole is the New South Wales Minister for Regional Transport and Roads in the second Berejiklian ministry since April 2019.[3][4][5] He is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Bathurst for the Nationals since 26 March 2011.


Paul Toole

Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Bathurst
Assumed office
26 March 2011
Preceded byGerard Martin
Majority15.0 (2015)
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads
Assumed office
2 April 2019
PremierGladys Berejiklian
Preceded byMelinda Pavey (as Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight)
Minister for Racing
In office
30 January 2017  23 March 2019
PremierGladys Berejiklian
Preceded byTroy Grant
Succeeded byportfolio abolished
Minister for Lands and Forestry
In office
30 January 2017  23 March 2019
PremierGladys Berejiklian
Preceded byNiall Blair (as Minister for Primary Industries and as Minister for Lands and Water)
Succeeded byAdam Marshall (as Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales)
Minister for Local Government
In office
23 April 2014  30 January 2017
PremierMike Baird
Preceded byDon Page
Succeeded byGabrielle Upton
Personal details
NationalityAustralian
Political partyThe Nationals
Spouse(s)Joanne Toole
RelationsTrevor Toole (father)
Jack Toole (grandfather)[1]
OccupationTeacher

Toole has previously served as the Minister for Lands and Forestry and the Minister for Racing in the First Berejiklian ministry from January 2017 until March 2019; and the Minister for Local Government in the Second Baird ministry from April 2014 until January 2017.

Early years and background

Toole is one of nine children raised by Trevor and Ellen Toole, of Peel, a village outside Bathurst, in the central west of New South Wales. Toole's father was a thrice-unsuccessful candidate for state and federal political office, representing the National Party at the 1984 and 1995 state elections for Bathurst and the 1996 federal election, for Calare. Paul Toole's grandfather, Jack Toole, was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate at 1956 state election, also for Bathurst.[1]

Toole began teaching at Assumption Primary School in Bathurst in 1995.[6]

Political career

In the same year, Toole was elected a councillor to Evans Shire Council. Evans was amalgamated with Bathurst to create the Bathurst Regional Council in 2005. He was elected to the new Council that year, filling the post of deputy mayor, becoming mayor in 2007.[6]

On 30 October 2010, Toole was the sole nominee that sought and gained endorsement by the National Party as the candidate for the state seat of Bathurst.[7] At the March 2011 elections, Toole was elected and recorded a swing of 36.3 points–almost unheard of in Australian politics–in the traditionally Labor seat, winning 74.8% of the two-party vote[6][8] Toole's main competitor was Labor's Dale Turner; and his election followed the retirement of Labor member, Gerard Martin.[9] Toole picked up enough of a swing to turn Bathurst from safe Labor to safe National in one stroke.

Following his election to state parliament, Toole announced his decision to immediately retire from teaching and step down as Mayor in September 2011. He stated that he will remain on Council until the 2012 local government elections.[10]

Due to the ICAC related resignation of Barry O'Farrell as Premier,[11] and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle by Mike Baird, the new Liberal Leader,[12] in April 2014 Toole was promoted as the Minister for Local Government in the first Baird government;[13][14] and was reconfirmed as the Minister for Local Government in the second Baird ministry.[15] Toole's attempts to force the amalgamation of a large number of councils has resulted in him becoming very unpopular across the state, including in areas of his own constituency, such as Oberon and Blayney.

Following the resignation of Mike Baird as Premier,[16] Gladys Berejiklian was elected as Liberal leader and sworn in as Premier.[17][18][19] The first Berejiklian ministry was subsequently formed with Toole sworn in as the Minister for Lands and Forestry and the Minister for Racing with effect from 30 January 2017.[20] Following the 2019 state election, Niall Blair, the former Deputy Leader of the Nationals announced news of his resignation from parliament. Toole contested the vacancy and was elected Deputy Leader. He was subsequently appointed as the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads in the second Berejiklian ministry, with effect from 2 April 2019.[21][22]

See also

References

  1. "Rising son: this one's for you, Dad". Western Advocate. Fairfax Media. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  2. Visentin, Lisa (29 March 2019). "NSW Nationals appoint Paul Toole as new deputy leader". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  3. "Government Notices (30)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 2 April 2019. p. 1088-1090. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  4. "Premier announces new Cabinet" (Press release). Premier of New South Wales. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  5. Han, Sophie (2 April 2019). "Berejiklian's new massive cabinet sworn in amid peals of laughter". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  6. Green, Antony (1 April 2011). "Electorate of Bathurst". NSW Votes 2011. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  7. Stoner, Andrew (30 October 2010). "Bathurst Mayor Paul Toole to put an end to Labor's neglect" (Press release). National Party. Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  8. "Paul Toole wins seat of Bathurst". Western Advocate. Fairfax Media. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  9. Stevenson, Andrew (29 March 2011). "Bathurst resident's historic swing his alone". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  10. Eddy, Louise (29 March 2011). "Career change for our new MP". Western Advocate. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  11. "Barry O'Farrell quits as NSW Premier over memory fail". The Australian. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  12. Nicholls, Sean (22 April 2014). "Mike Baird's cabinet reshuffle a preparation for next election". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  13. "Paul Toole enters cabinet". Western Advocate. Fairfax Media. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  14. "Mike Baird's NSW cabinet". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  15. 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.
  16. Jacques, Owen (19 January 2017). "Baird resigns: NSW Premier to quit top job and Parliament". The Satellite. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  17. "Swearing-In of The Honourable Gladys Berejiklian MP, the 45th Premier of New South Wales, and The Honourable John Barilaro MP, Deputy Premier". Vice Regal Program. Governor of New South Wales. 23 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  18. "Ministers". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  19. Clennell, Andrew (26 January 2017). "Premier Gladys Berejiklian plans major reshuffle for cabinet". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  20. "Refreshed NSW cabinet sworn in". Sky News. Australia. AAP. 30 January 2017. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  21. "The Hon. Paul Lawrence TOOLE, DipTeach MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  22. Sas, Nick (31 March 2019). "Gladys Berejiklian says Liberal Party has no women problem as re-elected NSW Premier shuffles Cabinet". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by
Gerard Martin
Member for Bathurst
2011–present
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Melinda Pavey
as Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads
2019–present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Niall Blair
as Minister for Primary Industries
Minister for Lands and Forestry
2017–2019
Succeeded by
Adam Marshall
as Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales
Preceded by
Niall Blair
as Minister for Lands and Water
Preceded by
Troy Grant
Minister for Racing
2017–2019
Succeeded by
portfolio abolished
Preceded by
Don Page
Minister for Local Government
2014–2017
Succeeded by
Gabrielle Upton
Party political offices
Preceded by
Niall Blair
Deputy Leader of the New South Wales Nationals
2019–present
Incumbent
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