Craig Knowles

Knowles' parents were Marie and Stan Knowles, member for Ingleburn from 1981 to 1988 and Macquarie Fields from 1988 to 1990. He was born in Liverpool, New South Wales and educated at Liverpool Boys High School, Sydney College of Technical and Further Education. He worked in the New South Wales Department of Business and Consumer Affairs from 1988 and was the Western Sydney Co-ordinator in the Office of State Development of New South Wales Premiers' Department from 1987 to 1988. He was an alderman on Liverpool City Council from 1982 to 1994 and Mayor from 1986 until 1988.

Knowles served as a Labor Party member for Macquarie Fields from May 1990 to May 1991, Moorebank from 1991 to 1999 and Macquarie Fields from 1999 to 2005. He was Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning from 1995 to 1999, Minister for Health from 1999 to 2003 and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Natural Resources from 2003 to 2005.

Knowles introduced a number of changes during his time as Planning Minister. These included the introduction of private certification of buildings. Another controversial change was the introduction of Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, which increased the powers of the Minister in approving major developments and superseded heritage and environmental protection legislation.

Knowles' political career was damaged by allegations raised by nurse Nola Fraser in relation to deaths at Campbelltown and Camden hospitals when he was Minister for Health. An Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into Knowles' behaviour cleared the minister in September 2005, but he had already been moved from the health portfolio.{{cite web|title=ICAC makes no findings of corrupt conduct in relation to the Hon. Craig Knowles MP |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales |date=13 April 2005 |url=http://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/index.cfm?objectid=34877316-D1A0-9FDD-F38321703BAB0FC4 |accessdate=2007-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060920004847/https://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/index.cfm?objectID=34877316-D1A0-9FDD-F38321703BAB0FC4 |archive-date=20 September 2006 }} He was also damaged by the Orange Grove affair, as a supporter of a retail outlet, which was later found to have been opened in contravention of zoning regulations in his electorate, while he was Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning. In April 2005, he was charged with drink-driving at a random breath test, with a low-level over the limit reading.{{cite news | last =Kidman | first =John |author2=Alex Mitchell| title =Over-limit Knowles blows his chances| date = 3 April 2005| url =http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Overlimit-Knowles-blows-his-chances/2005/04/02/1112302290194.html| accessdate =2007-03-02| work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}

Knowles had been considered a possible successor to Bob Carr as Premier but declined to be nominated when Carr retired in August 2005; himself resigning from the ministry the same day as Carr and his deputy, Andrew Refshauge.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1429564.htm |title=Craig Knowles also quits NSW politics |work=PM (ABC Radio) |date=3 August 2005 |author=Roy, Edmond |format=transcript |accessdate=15 July 2011 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/labor-clearout-now-knowles-quits/2005/08/03/1122748671114.html |title=Labor clearout: now Knowles quits |agency=AAP |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=3 August 2005 |accessdate=15 July 2011 }} Knowles resigned from parliament a few days later, sparking the 2005 Macquarie Fields by-election. He was ultimately succeeded by Labor's candidate Steven Chaytor.{{Cite NSW Parliament |name=The Hon. Craig John Knowles (1959– ) |former=Yes |access-date=30 April 2019 |id=2101}}

After his retirement from politics, Knowles became a consultant and political lobbyist.{{cite news | last=Catharine Munro | title=Former planning boss goes back to the office to lobby | date= 29 May 2007 | publisher= Fairfax Media| url =http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/former-planning-boss-goes-back-to-the-office-to-lobby/2007/05/28/1180205163524.html | work =The Sydney Morning Herald| accessdate = 2007-05-29 }} He has a number of advisory roles, statutory appointments, and non-profit directorships, including:

• Chair, Natural Resources Access Regulator Board (2017 - present){{Cite web |title=Our Board and Executive |url=https://www.nrar.nsw.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are/our-board |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Natural Resources Access Regulator}}
• President, the Asthma Foundation of New South Wales (since 2008–present){{cite web | url = http://www.asthmafoundation.org.au/Our_People.aspx| title = Our people – Board of Directors| work = About us| publisher = Asthma Foundation NSW| date = 2008| accessdate = 2011-01-27}}
• Director, the Black Dog Institute{{cite web| url = http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/Knowles.pdf| title = Who's who – Craig Knowles| work = Board of Directors| publisher = Black Dog Institute| accessdate = 2011-01-27| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110219235639/http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/Knowles.pdf| archive-date = 19 February 2011| url-status = dead}}
• Director, the Children's Medical Research Institute (2007–present){{cite web| url = http://www.cmri.org.au/Mr-Craig-Knowles/default.aspx| title = Our people – Craig Knowles| work = About us| publisher = Children's Medical Research Institute| date = 2006| accessdate = 2011-01-27| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110228063109/http://www.cmri.org.au/Mr-Craig-Knowles/default.aspx| archive-date = 28 February 2011| df = dmy-all}}
• Director, the Học Mãi Foundation at The University of Sydney{{cite web | url = http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/hocmai/about/people.php| title = Board/Council Members| work = Our people – the Học Mãi Foundation| publisher = The University of Sydney| date = 3 November 2010| accessdate = 2011-01-27}}
• Member, Advisory Board, Built Holdings Pty Limited{{cite web | url = http://www.built.com.au/about/management/advisory-board| title = Management team – Advisory Board| work = About us| publisher = Built Holdings Pty Limited| date = 2007| accessdate = 2011-01-27}}
• Chair, Murray Darling Basin Authority (2011–2015){{cite news | author = Coorey, Phillip| url = http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/exnsw-minister-craig-knowles-to-be-murray-darling-supremo-20110128-1a7jh.html| title = Ex-NSW minister Craig Knowles to be Murray Darling supremo| work = The Sydney Morning Herald| publisher = Fairfax Media| date = 28 January 2011| accessdate = 2011-01-28}}

At the 2015 Australia Day Honours, Knowles was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to local government, to the Parliament of New South Wales, and to the community through a range of health initiatives.{{cite web|title=Member (AM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division|url=http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/ad2015/Media%20Notes%20-%20AM%20(A-L).pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128114017/http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/ad2015/Media%20Notes%20-%20AM%20(A-L).pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 January 2015|page=[http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/ad2015/Media%20Notes%20-%20AM%20(A-L).pdf#page=53 53]|publisher=Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia|date=26 January 2015|accessdate=2 February 2015}}

In January 2018, Knowles was appointed by Trade Minister Steven Ciobo as the Consul-General of Australia in Auckland, New Zealand.{{cite press release|url=http://trademinister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2018/sc_mr_180126.aspx|title=New Consuls-General appointed to key Austrade posts|first=Steven|last=Ciobo|date=26 January 2018|publisher=Australian Government|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126185248/http://trademinister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2018/sc_mr_180126.aspx|archive-date=26 January 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=THE HON CRAIG KNOWLES - CONSUL-GENERAL AND SENIOR TRADE COMMISSIONER |url=https://www.austrade.gov.au/about/austrade-representatives/craig-knowles |website=Austrade Representatives |publisher=Australian Trade and Investment Commission |access-date=25 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421193233/https://www.austrade.gov.au/about/austrade-representatives/craig-knowles |archive-date=21 April 2021}}

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{{Succession box| title=Mayor of Liverpool | before= Casey Conway| after=Casey Conway| years=1986–1987}}

{{s-par|au-nsw-la}}

{{s-bef |before= Stan Knowles }}

{{s-ttl |title= Member for Macquarie Fields| years = 1990–1991}}

{{s-non|reason= District abolished}}

{{s-new|district}}

{{s-ttl |title= Member for Moorebank| years = 1991–1999}}

{{s-non|reason= District abolished}}

{{s-new|district}}

{{s-ttl |title= Member for Macquarie Fields| years = 1999–2005}}

{{s-aft|after=Steven Chaytor}}

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|rows=2|before= Robert Webster|as=Minister for Planning
Minister for Housing }}

{{s-ttl |title= Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning| years = 1995–1999 }}

{{s-aft|rows=2|after= Andrew Refshauge }}

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{{s-ttl |title= Minister for Housing| years = 1995–1999 }}

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{{s-bef |before= Andrew Refshauge }}

{{s-ttl |title= Minister for Health| years = 1999–2003 }}

{{s-aft|after= Morris Iemma }}

{{s-bef |before= Andrew Refshauge|as=Minister for Planning }}

{{s-ttl |title= Minister for Infrastructure and Planning| years = 2003–2005}}

{{s-aft|after= Frank Sartor|as=Minister for Planning }}

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{{s-vac|last= Ian Causley}}

{{s-ttl |title= Minister for Natural Resources| years = 2003–2005}}

{{s-aft|after= Ian Macdonald}}

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{{s-dip}}

{{s-bef |before= John Brand}}

{{s-ttl |title= Consul-General of Australia in Auckland| years = 2018–2022}}

{{s-aft|after=Brad Williams}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knowles, Craig}}

Category:1959 births

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly

Category:Members of the Order of Australia

Category:Politicians from Sydney

Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales

Category:21st-century Australian politicians

Category:Consuls for Australia

Category:Mayors of places in New South Wales

Category:Ministers for health (New South Wales)