Don Harwin
Encyclopedia
Donald Thomas Harwin MLC (born 5 July 1964 in Sydney), an Australia
n politician, is the President of the New South Wales Legislative Council
since 2011. He is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
representing the Liberal Party of Australia
since 27 March 1999.
in Earlwood
in 1983 and graduated from The University of Sydney in 1985 with a Bachelor of Economics (Honours). Whilst at university, Harwin was a member of the Sydney University Liberal Club and was subsequently conferred as a life member of that club.
In 1987 Harwin commenced employment, working as an assistant on electoral matters in the office of Ron Phillips, the NSW Member for Miranda
. Harwin worked for a number of ministers in the Greiner
and Fahey
Liberal governments between 1988 and 1990 and 1991 and 1995. Between 1988 and 1990, Harwin was NSW President of the Young Liberal movement, becoming a member of the State Executive of the NSW branch of the Liberal Party during the same period. Harwin was again re-elected to the State Executive, serving between 1994 and 2000. Appointed the Assistant Campaign Director of the NSW Liberal Party between 1990 and 1991, Harwin became a public affairs consultant between 1995 and 1999.
He contributed two chapters to the book Social Justice: Fraud or Fair Go? edited by Dr Marlene Goldsmith
. He also contributed "1971 State General Election" to The People's Choice (Volume III), edited by Hogan and Clune, "Sir Joseph Carruthers" to The Premiers of NSW (Volume II), edited by Clune and Turner, and "Women in the NSW Coalition Parties" (with Jenny Gardiner
MLC) to No Fit Place for Women, edited by Brennan and Chappel.
coalition
election ticket for the 1999 NSW state election
, Harwin was successful and elected as a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, receiving the thirteenth highest quota at that election. Serving an eight-year term, Harwin was re-elected at the 2007 NSW state election, winning the seventh highest quota.
In 2000, he raised the issue of unsafe railway tracks in the Illawarra region, claiming that trains could only run at twenty kilometres because of faulty maintenance.
Harwin was Deputy Chair of the Procedure Committee, Deputy Chair of the Select Committee on Electoral and Political Party Funding, and Opposition Whip. Following the election of the O'Farrell
-Stoner
Liberal/National coalition government, Harwin was elected President of the Legislative Council and appointed a Trustee of the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Fund.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician, is the President of the New South Wales Legislative Council
President of the New South Wales Legislative Council
The President of the New South Wales Legislative Council is the presiding officer of the upper house of the Parliament of New South Wales. The role of President has generally been a partisan office, filled by the governing party of the time. The incumbent President is no exception, currently held...
since 2011. He is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
representing the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
since 27 March 1999.
Early years and background
Harwin was born to parents Don and Evelyn Harwin. He joined joined the Liberal Party in Lugarno and the Young LiberalsYoung Liberals
Young Liberals can mean the following:*Young Liberals , the youth wing of the Liberal Party of Australia* Young Liberals , a liberal party in Austria...
in Earlwood
Earlwood, New South Wales
Earlwood is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Earlwood is located 12 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Canterbury...
in 1983 and graduated from The University of Sydney in 1985 with a Bachelor of Economics (Honours). Whilst at university, Harwin was a member of the Sydney University Liberal Club and was subsequently conferred as a life member of that club.
In 1987 Harwin commenced employment, working as an assistant on electoral matters in the office of Ron Phillips, the NSW Member for Miranda
Electoral district of Miranda
Miranda is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Graham Annesley of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for Miranda:-Election results:...
. Harwin worked for a number of ministers in the Greiner
Nick Greiner
Nicholas "Nick" Frank Hugo Greiner AC, is an Australian businessman and former politician. He was the 37th Premier New South Wales from 1988 to 1992. He was Leader of the New South Wales Division of the Liberal Party from 1983 to 1992 and Leader of the Opposition from 1983 to 1988. He is married...
and Fahey
John Fahey (politician)
John Joseph Fahey, AC is a former Premier of New South Wales and Federal Minister for Finance in Australia. John Fahey is currently the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1984 to 1996 and the federal House of Representatives...
Liberal governments between 1988 and 1990 and 1991 and 1995. Between 1988 and 1990, Harwin was NSW President of the Young Liberal movement, becoming a member of the State Executive of the NSW branch of the Liberal Party during the same period. Harwin was again re-elected to the State Executive, serving between 1994 and 2000. Appointed the Assistant Campaign Director of the NSW Liberal Party between 1990 and 1991, Harwin became a public affairs consultant between 1995 and 1999.
He contributed two chapters to the book Social Justice: Fraud or Fair Go? edited by Dr Marlene Goldsmith
Marlene Goldsmith
Marlene Mary Herbert Goldsmith was an Australian politician. She was a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, upper house from 1988 to 1999. Marlene Goldsmith crossed the political 'floor' on several issues as she believed more in policies and truth than aligning with a party...
. He also contributed "1971 State General Election" to The People's Choice (Volume III), edited by Hogan and Clune, "Sir Joseph Carruthers" to The Premiers of NSW (Volume II), edited by Clune and Turner, and "Women in the NSW Coalition Parties" (with Jenny Gardiner
Jenny Gardiner
Jennifer Ann Gardiner is an Australian politician and National Party of Australia member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Gardiner has been a member of the Council since 25 May 1991 and is serving her third term in that Council...
MLC) to No Fit Place for Women, edited by Brennan and Chappel.
Political career
Pre-selected for the sixth position on the joint Liberal–NationalNational Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
election ticket for the 1999 NSW state election
New South Wales state election, 1999
Elections to the 52nd Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 27 March 1999. All seats in the Legislative Assembly and half the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election...
, Harwin was successful and elected as a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, receiving the thirteenth highest quota at that election. Serving an eight-year term, Harwin was re-elected at the 2007 NSW state election, winning the seventh highest quota.
In 2000, he raised the issue of unsafe railway tracks in the Illawarra region, claiming that trains could only run at twenty kilometres because of faulty maintenance.
Harwin was Deputy Chair of the Procedure Committee, Deputy Chair of the Select Committee on Electoral and Political Party Funding, and Opposition Whip. Following the election of the O'Farrell
Barry O'Farrell
Barry Robert O'Farrell MP, is an Australian politician and is the 43rd Premier of New South Wales, Minister for Western Sydney, Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party and a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Ku-ring-gai for the Liberal Party since 1999.Born in...
-Stoner
Andrew Stoner
Andrew John Stoner is an Australian politician, Deputy Premier of New South Wales and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the seat of Oxley since the 1999 state election, and the Leader of the New South Wales National Party since 31 March 2003...
Liberal/National coalition government, Harwin was elected President of the Legislative Council and appointed a Trustee of the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Fund.