Scott Barrett (politician)

Scott James Barrett is an Australian politician. He was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council on 24 February 2022 to fill the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Trevor Khan. He is a member of the National Party.

Scott Barrett
Assumed office
5 September 2024
Preceded byBronnie Taylor
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
In office
24 February 2022 – 3 March 2023
Preceded byTrevor Khan
Personal details
Political partyThe Nationals
SpouseMaryanne Hawthorn[1]
ResidenceWindera[2]
Alma materHawkesbury Agricultural College
OccupationJournalist

Early life and career

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Barrett was born and raised in the Central West region, and attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School. He then attended Hawkesbury Agricultural College where he completed a Bachelor Systems Agriculture and served as President of the Hawkesbury Student Union.[3]

Barrett then worked as a presenter and reporter with ABC Radio in north-west Queensland and then served as a media adviser for federal Katter's Australia Party MP Bob Katter between 2008 and 2010.[3][4] He then joined the National Party and worked as a party campaign manager in the Division of Hunter at the 2013 federal election, and as a regional co-ordinator for the party in 2014. He then worked as a policy adviser for the Baird government.[3]

Barrett was also a charity manager and had worked overseas for charities. He was the NSW state manager for charity group GIVIT, which provided drought, flood and bushfire relief.[4][5]

Political career

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Barrett ran for the National Party in the Orange by-election in 2016 but was not elected.[4]

Following the resignation of Trevor Khan in January 2022, Barrett was selected by the National Party to fill the casual vacancy caused by Khan's resignation. He was appointed by a joint sitting of the New South Wales parliament on 24 February 2022.[1] In March 2022, Barrett was appointed as Deputy Government Whip in the Legislative Council, serving in the role until his defeat at the 2023 election.[5]

In September 2024 Barrett was appointed to the Legislative Council to fill the casual vacancy left by Bronnie Taylor.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Legislative Council Hansard – 24 February 2022 - Election of a member of the Legislative Council". 24 February 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Legislative Council Group I: LIBERAL / THE NATIONALS". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Orange by-election". ABC News. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "NSW National Party farewells Trevor Khan, weighs candidates for Upper House vote". ABC News. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b "The Hon. Scott BARRETT". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  6. ^ Preselection Updates [@Preselection_AU] (5 September 2024). "NSW Legislative Council: Scott Barrett has been appointed to the NSW Legislative Council by the Nationals to replace retiring former minister Bronnie Taylor" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 5 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024 – via Twitter. This is Barrett's second appointment to NSW's upper chamber, having been appointed to replace Trevor Khan in 2022, only to lose his seat at the state election a year later.