Paul Toole

The Honourable
Paul Toole
MP
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Bathurst
Assumed office
26 March 2011
Preceded by Gerard Martin
Majority 15.0 (2015)
Minister for Local Government
Assumed office
23 April 2014
Premier Mike Baird
Preceded by Don Page
Personal details
Nationality Australia
Political party The Nationals
Spouse(s) Joanne Toole
Relations Trevor Toole (father)
Jack Toole (grandfather)[1]
Residence Kelso
Occupation Teacher

Paul Lawrence Toole, an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Bathurst for the Nationals since 26 March 2011. In April 2014, Toole was appointed as Minister for Local Government during the Cabinet reshuffle under Premier Mike Baird.[2][3]

Prior to his election to state parliament, he was the independent mayor of Bathurst Regional Council (BRC) from 2007 until 2011, having previously served as a councillor on BRC from 2005 until 2012, and before that, serving as a councillor on the now defunct Evans Shire Council between 1995 and 2005.

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.[4]

Political career

In the same year, Toole was elected a concillor 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.[4]

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.[5] At the March 2011 elections, Toole was elected and recorded a swing of 36.3 points in the traditionally Labor seat, winning 74.8% of the two-party vote[4][6] Toole's main competitor was Labor candidate, Dale Turner; and his election followed the retirement of Labor member, Gerard Martin.[7]

Following his election to state political office, 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.[8]

Due to the ICAC related resignation of Barry O'Farrell as Premier,[9] and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle by Mike Baird, the new Liberal Leader,[2] in April 2014 Toole was promoted as the Minister for Local Government in the first Baird government;[10][11] and was reconfirmed as the Minister for Local Government in the second Baird ministry.[3]

His 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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Rising son: this one's for you, Dad". Western Advocate. Fairfax Media. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  2. 1 2 Nicholls, Sean (22 April 2014). "Mike Baird's cabinet reshuffle a preparation for next election". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  3. 1 2 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.
  4. 1 2 3 Green, Antony (1 April 2011). "Electorate of Bathurst". NSW Votes 2011. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  5. ↑ Stoner, Andrew (30 October 2010). "Bathurst Mayor Paul Toole to put an end to Labor's neglect" (Press release). National Party of Australia. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  6. ↑ "Paul Toole wins seat of Bathurst". Western Advocate. Fairfax Media. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  7. ↑ Stevenson, Andrew (29 March 2011). "Bathurst resident's historic swing his alone". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  8. ↑ Eddy, Louise (29 March 2011). "Career change for our new MP". Western Advocate. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  9. ↑ "Barry O'Farrell quits as NSW Premier over memory fail". The Australian. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Paul Toole enters cabinet". Western Advocate. Fairfax Media. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "Mike Baird's NSW cabinet". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by
Gerard Martin		 Member for Bathurst
2011–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Don Page		 Minister for Local Government
2014–present 		Incumbent
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