Ron Hoenig (born 21 April 1953) is an Australian barrister and current member for Heffron in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. He is currently the Minister for Local Government, Vice-President of the Executive Council, and Leader of the House, in the NSW Labor Government of Premier Chris Minns. He previously served as Mayor of the City of Botany Bay in New South Wales from 1981 to 2012, a record 31 years, before standing down and winning the 25 August Heffron by-election in the state parliament for the Labor Party.[2][3][4]

Ron Hoenig
Minister for Local Government
Assumed office
5 April 2023
PremierChris Minns
Preceded byWendy Tuckerman
Leader of the House
Assumed office
5 April 2023
PremierChris Minns
Preceded byAlister Henskens
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Assumed office
5 April 2023
PremierChris Minns
Preceded byPenny Sharpe
Manager of Opposition Business
In office
11 June 2021 – 5 April 2023
LeaderChris Minns
Preceded byRyan Park
Succeeded byAlister Henskens
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Heffron
Assumed office
25 August 2012
Preceded byKristina Keneally
Local government offices
39th Mayor of the Municipality of Botany
In office
September 1981 – 11 May 1996
DeputyGeorge Glinatsis
Preceded byRobert Mann
Succeeded byCity proclaimed
39th Mayor of the City of Botany Bay
In office
11 May 1996 – 8 September 2012
DeputyGeorge Glinatsis
Preceded byCity proclaimed
Succeeded byBen Keneally
Alderman of the Municipality of Botany
for Mascot Ward
In office
20 September 1980 – 31 June 1993
Councillor of the Municipality of Botany
for Mascot Ward
In office
1 July 1993 – 11 May 1996
Councillor of the City of Botany Bay
for Mascot Ward
In office
11 May 1996 – 11 September 1999
Personal details
Born (1953-04-21) 21 April 1953 (age 71)
Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyLabor Party
ResidenceRosebery[1]
ProfessionBarrister
Websiteronhoenig.blogspot.com

Early life and background

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Hoenig was born in Camperdown on 21 April 1953, and at age five moved with his parents from Maroubra to a house in King Street, Eastlakes. Hoenig received his education at local schools, Eastlakes Public School, Daceyville Public School, and JJ Cahill Memorial High School in Mascot.[5]

With a university education beyond his family's financial resources, at age 19 Hoenig was employed in the Petty Sessions Branch of the Attorney General and Justice Department, and with the removal of university fees by the Whitlam Labor Government, he enrolled to study law at the Solicitors’ Admission Board (now the Legal Profession Admission Board) and was admitted with a Diploma in Law to practise law in New South Wales in 1980. Hoenig worked as an articled clerk, and then as a solicitor in the Public Solicitor's Office, practicing litigation and criminal law. In 1987, he was appointed as a Public Defender for the State of New South Wales, a role he held until being elected to parliament in 2012.[6][7]

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Hoenig was a practising barrister and public defender, who acted as the counsel assisting the inquiry into the death of Dianne Brimble, where he made recommendations that up to three of the persons assisting the inquiry could face prosecution. He defended David Dinh, who was accused of killing New South Wales MP John Newman. Dinh was acquitted by a jury.[8]

Local council

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After being elected as an alderman of the Municipality of Botany in September 1980, Hoenig was elected mayor in 1981 and became the first popularly elected mayor of the council in 1983, with 85% of the vote.[9][10] He was re-elected mayor in 1987 (unopposed), 1991 (80%), 1995 (88%), 1999 (unopposed), 2004, and 2008.[11][12][13][14] Hoenig was mayor when Botany was proclaimed the City of Botany Bay on 11 May 1996.

During his time as mayor, Hoenig campaigned on various issues such as heritage protection, where he supported the establishment of the Botany Historical Trust in 1994 and commissioned the Botany Bay Heritage Study in 1996, as well as the non-expansion of both the Botany Port and Sydney Airport.[15][16] He did not seek re-election at the 2012 local government elections.[17]

State parliament

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Hoenig was preselected as the Labor candidate for 25 August 2012 Heffron by-election in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, following the parliamentary resignation of former premier and state Labor MLA Kristina Keneally. Hoenig drew top spot on the ballot paper, with three other candidates from the CDP, Greens and Democrats.[3][18] Hoenig won with a 60 percent primary and 70 percent two-candidate-preferred vote.[19]

On 11 June 2021 Hoenig was appointed as manager of opposition business by leader of the opposition Chris Minns[20]

Personal life

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Hoenig's parents Ernest and Edith migrated to Australia after World War II. Edith was a Holocaust survivor born in Czechoslovakia and Ernest was born in Austria. Hoenig married Christine Stamper on 27 June 1985 at St Bernard's Roman Catholic Church, Botany, and the marriage produced two sons; Benjamin and Matthew.[21] Hoenig is a member of the Maroubra Synagogue.[22]

Hoenig is a supporter of the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league club, having served as a board director in 1999, and was a prominent opponent at the time of the National Rugby League's efforts to remove the club from the competition and proposals to merge it with other clubs.[23][24][25]

References

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  1. ^ "Candidates - The Legislative Assembly District of Heffron". elections.nsw.gov.au. New South Wales Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  2. ^ Mr Ron HOENIG, Who's Who in Australia 2017, ConnectWeb, 2017.
  3. ^ a b 2012 Heffron by-election: Antony Green ABC
  4. ^ "Mr Ron HOENIG, DipLaw (SAB) MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Our Minister > Minister for Local Government". Office of Local Government. NSW Government. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  6. ^ Hoenig, Ron (12 September 2012). "Inaugural Speeches - Full Day Hansard Transcript (Legislative Assembly, 12 September 2012, Corrected Copy)" (PDF). Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Mayor's background > Councillor Ron Hoenig, Mayor of the City of Botany Bay". City of Botany Bay. Archived from the original on 24 October 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Brimble: Up to three may be charged". The Australian. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Municipal and Shire Elections - Municipality of Botany Ordinary Election of Aldermen September 20, 1980". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 August 1980. p. 19.
  10. ^ "Public Notices - Botany Municipal Council. Election of Mayor and Ordinary Election of Aldermen". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 December 1983. p. 24.
  11. ^ "Councillor Ron Hoenig". City of Botany Bay. Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  12. ^ "No contest in wards of Ulm and Mascot". The Sydney Morning Herald (The Eastern Herald). 3 September 1987. p. 2.
  13. ^ Willis, Katrina (19 September 1991). "Labor's hold on power continues". The Sydney Morning Herald (The Eastern Herald). p. 6.
  14. ^ Wainwright, Robert (11 September 1995). "Labor relief as voters fail to exact toll". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 4. Labor took all seven seats on Botany Council, with the Mayor, Ron Hoenig, winning 85 per cent of the poll.
  15. ^ Dempster, Quentin (11 July 2003). "Saving Port Kembla". Stateline. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  16. ^ Irvine, Jessica (13 February 2007). "Airport mall's future cloudy after veto". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  17. ^ "List of Candidates". botanybay.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  18. ^ "Ron Hoenig, Labor candidate for Heffron". www.nswalp.com. 6 July 2012. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  19. ^ "Election Night: Two Candidate Preferred" (PDF). elections.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 25 August 2012.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ "Shadow Ministry in both Houses (by Seniority)". Members. Parliament of New South Wales. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  21. ^ Cribb, Timothy (27 June 1985). "Mayor's two big announcements: the bay and the bride". The Sydney Morning Herald (The Eastern Herald). p. 3.
  22. ^ "State member candidate visits Jewish House". jwire.com.au. 1 August 2012. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  23. ^ Mascord, Steve (2 July 1999). "Stone age over: resignation rocks NRL". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 35.
  24. ^ Kent, Paul (23 October 1999). "Rabbitohs in stew as pair quit board". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 63.
  25. ^ Craven, Gladys (15 May 1999). "First-grade mates in line for NRL Chief's job". The Sun-Herald. p. 120.
Civic offices
Preceded by
Robert Mann
Mayor of Botany
1981–1996
City Proclaimed
New title
Council proclaimed
Mayor of Botany Bay
1996–2012
Succeeded by
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Heffron
2012–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Manager of Opposition Business
2021–2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the House
2023–present
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Local Government
2023–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Vice-President of the Executive Council
2023–present
Incumbent