Jodi McKay

Jodi McKay
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Strathfield
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 March 2015
Preceded by	Charles Casuscelli
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Newcastle
In office 24 March 2007 – 26 March 2011
Preceded by	Bryce Gaudry
Succeeded by	Tim Owen
Minister for Tourism
In office 8 September 2008 – 28 March 2011
Premier	Nathan Rees Kristina Keneally
Preceded by	Matt Brown
Succeeded by	George Souris
Minister for the Hunter
In office 8 September 2008 – 28 March 2011
Premier	Nathan Rees Kristina Keneally
Preceded by	Michael Costa
Succeeded by	Mike Gallacher
Minister for Science and Medical Research
In office 11 November 2008 – 28 March 2011
Premier	Nathan Rees Kristina Keneally
Preceded by	Tony Stewart
Succeeded by	Jillian Skinner
Minister for Women
In office 8 December 2008 – 28 March 2011
Premier	Nathan Rees Kristina Keneally
Preceded by	Verity Firth
Succeeded by	Pru Goward
Personal details
Born	16 August 1969 Gloucester, New South Wales[1]
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Profession	TV news presenter
Website	NSW Parliament website

Jodi Leyanne McKay (born 16 August 1969) is an Australian politician. She is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, having represented Strathfield for the Australian Labor Party since 2015. She previously represented Newcastle from 2007 until her defeat at the 2011 election. Between 2008 and 2011, McKay held a number of junior ministerial responsibilities in the Rees and Keneally governments, including serving as the Minister for the Hunter, Tourism, Small Business, Science and Medical Research, Commerce, and Women, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer).

Early years and background

McKay began her career as a journalist before entering the private sector in corporate communications and marketing. McKay also served on the Board of Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle Research Associates and Hunter Manufacturers' Association prior to entering politics.^[1]

Political career

McKay was installed as Labor's candidate for Newcastle over the sitting member Bryce Gaudry, after Premier Morris Iemma intervened to ensure her selection.^[2] McKay had been lined up to become the Liberal Party candidate for Port Stephens. ^[3]

The subsequent election became a tight three-way contest between McKay, Gaudry (who ran as an independent) and the independent Newcastle Lord Mayor John Tate; with McKay winning on Gaudry's preferences.^[4]

In 2008, McKay was appointed to cabinet as the Minister for Tourism and Minister for the Hunter and immediately distanced herself from the style of her predecessor Michael Costa and committed to greater engagement with local government and community groups.^[5] Her appointment was welcomed by local tourism and business groups including the Hunter Chamber of Commerce.^[5] McKay was also appointed as the Minister for Science and Medical Research, Minister assisting on Health, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Small Business, and Minister for Women. McKay was re-installed as Labor's candidate in 2011. The likely winner of a rank and file pre-selection was Tim Crakanthorp.^[6] At the 2011 election, Labor recorded a 31.0% share of the primary vote at the polls to the Liberal's 36.4% and Tate's 11.5% and the Greens 14.6%. On a two-party preferred basis this translated into 52.4% for the Liberal's Tim Owen and 47.6% for McKay, who conceded defeat.

In April 2008 the NSW Greens were critical of McKay for failing to declare a political donation from a property developer group (Buildev, which is owned by Nathan Tinkler) to help pay for printing costs during her campaign. Buildev declared $50,000 in electoral returns to McKay. McKay declared a $1,000 donation from Buildev. The donor was at the time seeking support from the Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, for a development at Medowie, near Newcastle Airport.^[7] McKay denied knowledge of the donation. The donation was made to Labor's New South Wales head office. In light of the donation McKay said she would refuse to meet with the developer throughout her tenure as a Member of Parliament and as a Minister.^[8] Subsequent to her political career, in 2014 McKay gave evidence before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) that she was asked to accept an alleged bribe and reported the matter to the NSW Police, the ICAC and the Election Funding Authority.^[9][10] McKay told the Independent Commission Against Corruption that Tinkler had offered to bankroll her 2011 election campaign, in exchange for her support of $1 billion coal loader project. Ms McKay gave evidence that she reported Mr Tinkler's alleged bribe offer to police, ICAC, the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Funding Authority. McKay told him she could not accept his money because he was a banned donor.^[11] ICAC inquiry revealed that after McKay knocked backed the ‘‘bribe’’, Tinkler’s Buildev company, Ms McKay’s colleague and senior Labor MP Joe Tripodi and former Labor staffer Ann Wills were involved in a pamphlet smear campaign that she believes contributed to her election loss. McKay was in tears in the ICAC witness box as confirmation of what she had long suspected came to light.^[12]

Career during political hiatus

McKay held an executive role with Family Planning NSW and was a non-executive director of both Australian Science Innovations and Epilepsy Action Australia.^[13]

After the first ICAC hearing, McKay said she would never return to politics.^[14] In October 2014 McKay was installed as the Labor candidate for the seat of Strathfield for the next state election;^[15] and was quoted following her endorsement that she realised "if you want change, it has to come from within."^[16] The likely winner of a rank and file pre-selection was John Faker. ^[17] In January 2015, even though she was not a member of Parliament, Luke Foley appointed McKay to the shadow ministry as opposition planning spokeswoman.^[18][19][20]

References

1. "Ms Jodi Leyanne MCKAY". Former members. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
2. Sikora, Kate; Hildebrand, Joe (6 March 2007). "Rat in the ranks for ALP". Daily Telegraph (Australia). Retrieved 9 September 2008.
3. Mitchell, Alex. "Newcastle TV reader’s dazzling ministerial rise".
4. Green, Antony. "2011 New South Wales Election: Analysis of Results" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Library. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
5. Strachan, Julieanne (8 September 2008). "Jodi McKay – Hunter's newest Minister". The Newcastle Herald (Australia). Retrieved 9 September 2008.
6. Harris, Michelle. [http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac;jsessionid=399D69B20381990E5F2F1C0023222442?sy=afr&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=1month&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=brs&cls=18993&clsPage=1&docID=NCH101125CH4T548LNPK> "McKay vote to bypass branch"].
7. Clennell, Andrew (14 April 2008). "Labor MP fails to mention $50,000". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
8. Goffet, Neil (5 March 2011). "Tinkler pushes coal-loader plan". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
9. McClymont, Kate; Whitbourn, Michaela; Lindell, Jasper (1 May 2014). "ICAC inquiry: Jodi McKay, Eric Roozendaal and the Nathan Tinkler 'bribe'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
10. Gerathy, Sarah (2 May 2014). "Former Newcastle MP Jodi McKay gives evidence to ICAC over alleged Nathan Tinkler bribe". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 4 May 2014.
11. HARRIS, MICHELLE (23 May 2014). "Jodi McKay able to face Newcastle again". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
12. Gerathy, Sarah (2 May 2014). "Former Newcastle MP Jodi McKay gives evidence to ICAC over alleged Tinkler bribe". ABC News. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
13. "About Us: Executive Team". Family Planning NSW. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
14. McGowen, Michael. "ICAC: Jodi McKay coy on running again". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
15. "Jodi McKay to be Labor candidate for Strathfield in 2015 NSW election". ABC News. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
16. Lynch, Peter. "Jodi McKay signals start of tough campaign over the state seat of Strathfield". Our Strathfield. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
17. .{{cite<web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/inner-west/faceless-men-burwood-mayor-john-faker-takes-a-swipe-at-labor-party-powerbrokers/story-fngr8h4f-1227101360094>title=Faceless men Burwood Mayor John Faker takes a swipe at Party powerbrokers|last=thompson|first=sean|}}
18. "Jodi McKay, Labor candidate for Strathfield, elevated to NSW shadow cabinet by new leader Luke Foley". ABC News (Australia). 6 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
19. Herbertson, Lisa (6 January 2015). "Jodi McKay named Labor’s NSW planning spokeswoman in Luke Foley’s new shadow cabinet". Inner West Courier. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
20. Coultan, Mark (6 January 2015). "Luke Foley appoints Jodi McKay to NSW shadow cabinet". The Australian. Retrieved 9 January 2015.