Duncan Gay

{{Infobox officeholder

|honorific-prefix = The Honourable

|name = Duncan Gay

|honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM|size=100%}}

|image = NSW Minister for Roads and Ports, Duncan Gay speech at the Holbrook bypass open day (cropped).jpg

|caption = Duncan Gay in 2013

|office = Vice-President of the Executive Council

|premier = Mike Baird

|term_start = 6 May 2014

|term_end = 30 January 2017

|predecessor = Mike Gallacher

|successor = Don Harwin

|office1 = Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

|leader1 = Mike Baird

|term_start1 = 6 May 2014

|term_end1 = 30 January 2017

|predecessor1 = Mike Gallacher

|successor1 = Don Harwin

|office2 = Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight

|premier2 = Mike Baird

|term_start2 = 2 April 2015

|term_end2 = 30 January 2017

|predecessor2 = himself {{small|(Roads and Freight)}}

|successor2 = Melinda Pavey

|office3 = Minister for Roads and Freight

|premier3 = Mike Baird

|term_start3 = 23 April 2014

|term_end3 = 2 April 2015

|predecessor3 = himself {{small|(Roads and Ports)}}

|successor3 = himself {{small|(Roads, Maritime and Freight)}}

|office4 = Minister for the North Coast

|premier4 = Mike Baird

|term_start4 = 17 October 2014

|term_end4 = 2 April 2015

|predecessor4 = Andrew Stoner

|successor4 = portfolio abolished

|office5 = Minister for Roads and Ports

|premier5 = Barry O'Farrell

|term_start5 = 3 April 2011

|term_end5 = 23 April 2014

|predecessor5 = David Borger {{small|(Roads)}}
Eric Roozendaal {{small|(Ports and Waterways)}}

|successor5 = himself {{small|(Roads and Freight)}}

|office6 = Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

|leader6 = Barry O'Farrell
Mike Baird

|term_start6 = 3 May 2011

|term_end6 = 6 May 2014

|predecessor6 = Eric Roozendaal

|successor6 = John Ajaka

|office7 = Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council

|term_start7 = 19 March 1988

|term_end7 = 31 July 2017

|predecessor7 =

|successor7 = Wes Fang

|birth_name = Duncan John Gay

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1950|5|2|df=y}}

|birth_place = Crookwell, New South Wales, Australia

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = The Nationals

|alma_mater = Newington College

|spouse = Katie Gay

|children = 2

|religion =

|website =

|footnotes =

}}

Duncan John Gay {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} (born 2 May 1950), an Australian politician, was the Vice-President of the Executive Council of New South Wales and the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council from May 2014 to January 2017; and the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight from April 2015 to January 2017.{{cite news|last=Hasham|first=Nicole|title=Premier Mike Baird's new NSW cabinet sworn in: Gladys Berejiklian and Gabrielle Upton first female Treasurer and Attorney-General|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/premier-mike-bairds-new-nsw-cabinet-sworn-in-gladys-berejiklian-and-gabrielle-upton-first-female-treasurer-and-attorneygeneral-20150402-1mdjb7.html|accessdate=6 April 2015|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=3 April 2015|archive-date=9 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809201938/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/premier-mike-bairds-new-nsw-cabinet-sworn-in-gladys-berejiklian-and-gabrielle-upton-first-female-treasurer-and-attorneygeneral-20150402-1mdjb7.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Coultan, Mark|title=Mike Baird reveals NSW cabinet|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/mike-baird-reveals-nsw-cabinet/story-fnsgbndb-1227287846548|accessdate=6 April 2015|newspaper=The Australian|date=1 April 2015|archive-date=14 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414065312/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/mike-baird-reveals-nsw-cabinet/story-fnsgbndb-1227287846548|url-status=live}} Gay was the Leader of the Nationals in the Legislative Council until January 2017 and was a member of the Council from 1988 to 2017, representing The Nationals.{{cite web|title=Our Legislative Council Ministers|url=http://nsw.nationals.org.au/our-team/our-team/the-nationals-team.html|work=The Nationals Team|accessdate=21 June 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706125439/http://nsw.nationals.org.au/our-team/our-team/the-nationals-team.html|archivedate=6 July 2011}}

He served as the Minister for Roads and Freight, and as the Minister for the North Coast between 2014 and 2015 in the first Baird government;{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mike-bairds-cabinet-reshuffle-a-preparation-for-next-election-20140422-371g9.html |title=Mike Baird's cabinet reshuffle a preparation for next election |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=22 April 2014 |accessdate=24 April 2014 |author=Nicholls, Sean |archive-date=3 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803101814/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mike-bairds-cabinet-reshuffle-a-preparation-for-next-election-20140422-371g9.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/nsw/stuart-ayres-shines-on-first-day-as-police-minister-20140506-zr5pr.html|title=Stuart Ayres shines on first day as Police Minister|author=Hasham, Nicole|date=6 May 2014|work=The Age|accessdate=6 May 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/john-barilaro-elevated-as-andrew-stoner-suddenly-quits-cabinet-20141017-117i9h.html|title=John Barilaro elevated as Andrew Stoner suddenly quits cabinet|author=Nicholls, Sean|date=17 October 2014|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=9 January 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924211253/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/john-barilaro-elevated-as-andrew-stoner-suddenly-quits-cabinet-20141017-117i9h.html|url-status=live}} and the Minister for Roads and Ports in the O'Farrell ministry between 2011 and 2014.{{cite NSW Parliament |name=The Hon. Duncan John Gay (1950 - ) |id=1 |former=Yes |access-date=2 April 2019}}

Early life

Gay was born and raised in Crookwell, New South Wales near Goulburn and educated at Crookwell District Rural School.{{cite web|title=Biography of The Hon Duncan Gay MLC|url=http://nsw.nationals.org.au/our-team/the-nationals-team/hon-duncan-gay-mlc.html|publisher=The Nationals|accessdate=20 June 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930123021/http://nsw.nationals.org.au/our-team/the-nationals-team/hon-duncan-gay-mlc.html|archivedate=30 September 2011}} He attended Newington College (1962–1967) in Sydney as a boarding student before studying accountancy and wool classing.{{cite book |publisher=Newington College |title=Register of Past Students 1863–1998 |year=1999 |pages=71 }} He is married to Katie and they have two children.

Prior to his political career, Gay owned a small trucking company and managed his family's grazing property at Crookwell.

Political career

Gay was elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council in March 1988{{cite journal|last=Dickson|first=E.I.|title=Statistical Returns – Periodic Election for Legislative Council (49th Parliament)|date=19 March 1988}} and has been a member of the National Party since 1974; and served in various portfolios and positions while in opposition.

Following the election of the O'Farrell government at the 2011 election, Gay was appointed as the Minister for Roads and Ports in the New South Wales government. Following the resignation of Barry O'Farrell as Premier,{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/barry-ofarrell-quits-as-nsw-premier-over-memory-fail/story-fn59niix-1226886224077 |title=Barry O'Farrell quits as NSW Premier over memory fail |date=16 April 2014 |work=The Australian |accessdate=23 April 2014 |archive-date=20 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420062753/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/barry-ofarrell-quits-as-nsw-premier-over-memory-fail/story-fn59niix-1226886224077 |url-status=live }} and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle by Mike Baird, the new Liberal Leader, in April 2014 the name of Gay's portfolio changed to Minister for Roads and Freight;{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mike-bairds-nsw-cabinet-20140422-371j4.html |title=Mike Baird's NSW cabinet |date=22 April 2014 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=23 April 2014 |archive-date=25 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425025148/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mike-bairds-nsw-cabinet-20140422-371j4.html |url-status=live }} the responsibilities as Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council were added in May 2014; and as Minister for the North Coast added in October 2014. Following the 2015 state election, Gay's portfolio responsibilities were amended slightly and renamed as Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight.

Major activities in Gay's term as Minister for Roads included Bridges for the Bush, Fixing Country Roads and Fixing Country Rail as well as commencement of planning for the introduction of the WestConnex;{{cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-cost-of-sydneys-controversial-westconnex-motorway-has-blown-out-by-a-staggering-5-billion-in-3-years-2015-6 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160328011155/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-cost-of-sydneys-controversial-westconnex-motorway-has-blown-out-by-a-staggering-5-billion-in-3-years-2015-6 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 March 2016 |title=We're getting a better idea of what Sydney's controversial road project WestConnex will really cost |author=Thomsen, Simnon |work=Business Insider Australia |date=24 June 2015 |access-date=29 January 2017 }}{{cite web|title=WestConnex|url=http://haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/westconnex|work=Have Your Say|publisher=NSW Government Sydney Motorways Project Office|accessdate=17 January 2013|archive-date=17 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117100349/http://haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/westconnex|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Shakibaei|first=Bambul|title=Transport for NSW vs Infrastructure NSW|url=https://transportsydney.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/transport-for-nsw-vs-infrastructure-nsw/|work=Transport Sydney|accessdate=22 January 2013|date=10 October 2012|archive-date=22 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922085801/http://transportsydney.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/transport-for-nsw-vs-infrastructure-nsw/|url-status=live}} a road project that has had its costs reported to be overrun by A$1.4 billion.{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/westconnex-14-billion-blowout-higher-bills-for-years-to-come-20151120-gl41xb.html |title=WestConnex $1.4 billion blow-out: higher bills for years to come |author1=Saulwick, Jacob |author2=O'Sullivan, Matt |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=20 November 2015 |access-date=29 January 2017 }} Gay announced the preferred construction contractor for the NorthConnex;{{cite web|title=Transurban announces preferred contractor for NorthConnex (PDF)|url=http://www.transurban.com/140313_transurban_announces_preferred_tenderer.pdf|publisher=Transurban|accessdate=16 March 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316052543/http://www.transurban.com/140313_transurban_announces_preferred_tenderer.pdf|archivedate=16 March 2014}}{{cite news|title=NorthConnex tunnel: Tony Abbott and Barry O'Farrell give go-ahead to $3b project to link M1 and M2 in Sydney|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-16/nsw-to-start-work-on-northconnex-tunnel/5324118 |work=ABC News |date=16 March 2014 |location=Australia |accessdate=16 March 2014}}{{cite news|title=Missing NSW road link step closer|url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/national/a/22006099/missing-nsw-road-link-step-closer|work=The Western Australian|accessdate=16 March 2014|archive-date=16 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316171508/http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/national/a/22006099/missing-nsw-road-link-step-closer/|url-status=live}} and the continued duplication of the Pacific Highway.{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/ballina_tweed_heads/banora_point/index.html |title=Banora Point project |publisher=Roads & Maritime Services |accessdate=6 February 2014 |archive-date=14 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214140301/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/ballina_tweed_heads/banora_point/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/ballina_tweed_heads/tintenbar_ewingsdale/index.html|title=Tintenbar to Ewingsdale|publisher=Roads & Maritime Services|accessdate=6 February 2014|archive-date=14 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214140438/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/ballina_tweed_heads/tintenbar_ewingsdale/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/ballina_tweed_heads/ballina_bypass/index.html|title= Ballina bypass |publisher=Roads & Maritime Services|accessdate=6 February 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/coffs_harbour_ballina/pimlico_teven/index.html|title=Pimlico to Teven upgrade|publisher=Roads & Maritime Services|accessdate=6 February 2014|archive-date=21 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221151213/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/coffs_harbour_ballina/pimlico_teven/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/coffs_harbour_ballina/devils_pulpit/index.html|title=Devils Pulpit upgrade|publisher=Roads & Maritime Services|accessdate=7 February 2014|archive-date=14 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214140316/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/coffs_harbour_ballina/devils_pulpit/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/coffs_harbour_ballina/completed_projects/glenugie_upgrade/index.html|title=Glenugie upgrade|publisher=Roads & Maritime Services|accessdate=7 February 2014|archive-date=21 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221151259/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/coffs_harbour_ballina/completed_projects/glenugie_upgrade/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/coffs_harbour_ballina/sapphire_woolgoolga/index.html|title=Sapphire to Woolgoolga|publisher=Roads & Maritime Services|accessdate=7 February 2014|archive-date=14 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214140433/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/coffs_harbour_ballina/sapphire_woolgoolga/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/port_macquarie_coffs_harbour/nambucca_hds_to_urunga/index.html|title=Nambucca Heads to Urunga upgrade|publisher=Roads & Maritime Services|accessdate=7 February 2014|archive-date=5 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205170044/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/port_macquarie_coffs_harbour/nambucca_hds_to_urunga/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/port_macquarie_coffs_harbour/fredrickton/index.html|title=Frederickton to Eungai|publisher=Roads & Maritime Services|accessdate=7 February 2014|archive-date=14 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214140319/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/port_macquarie_coffs_harbour/fredrickton/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/port_macquarie_coffs_harbour/kempsey_bypass/index.html |title=Kempsey Bypass |publisher=Roads & Maritime Services |accessdate=7 February 2014 |archive-date=14 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214140332/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/port_macquarie_coffs_harbour/kempsey_bypass/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/hexham_port_macquarie/herons_creek/index.html|title=Herons Creek to Stills Road Upgrade|publisher=Roads & Maritime Services|accessdate=7 February 2014|archive-date=31 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131184616/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/hexham_port_macquarie/herons_creek/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/hexham_port_macquarie/bulahdelah/index.html|title=Bulahdelah upgrade|publisher=Roads & Maritime Services|accessdate=8 February 2014|archive-date=14 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214140306/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/hexham_port_macquarie/bulahdelah/index.html|url-status=live}}

In January 2017 Gay was replaced in the reshuffle of the Berejiklian ministry.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jan/29/nsw-reshuffle-gladys-berejiklian-to-axe-adrian-piccoli-and-duncan-gay-from-cabinet |title=NSW reshuffle: Gladys Berejiklian axes Adrian Piccoli and Duncan Gay from cabinet |work=The Guardian |location=Australia |date=29 January 2017 |access-date=29 January 2017}} He retired from politics at the end of July and took up a paid advisory role with private transport and infrastructure consultancy MU Group.{{cite news|title=Former roads minister Duncan Gay takes job with transport consultancy MU Group|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/former-roads-minister-duncan-gay-takes-job-with-transport-consultancy-mu-group-20170913-gygnd6.html|first=Sean|last=Nichols|archive-date=27 February 2018|access-date=27 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227153917/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/former-roads-minister-duncan-gay-takes-job-with-transport-consultancy-mu-group-20170913-gygnd6.html|url-status=live}} Gay is a Director of ARC Asia-Pacific Consortium and in September 2018 was appointed chairman of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhvr.gov.au/news/2018/09/24/ministerial-statement-new-leadership-to-drive-heavy-vehicle-regulator|title=Ministerial Statement: New leadership to drive heavy vehicle regulator|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324041409/https://www.nhvr.gov.au/news/2018/09/24/ministerial-statement-new-leadership-to-drive-heavy-vehicle-regulator |archive-date=24 March 2019 }}

Honours

Gay was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours for "significant service to the people and Parliament of New South Wales, and to the community".{{cite web |title=King’s Birthday 2023 Honours - the full list |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/king-s-birthday-2023-honours-the-full-list-20230609-p5dffh.html |website=Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Nine Entertainment Co |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=11 June 2023 |archive-date=11 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611121554/https://www.smh.com.au/national/king-s-birthday-2023-honours-the-full-list-20230609-p5dffh.html |url-status=live }}

References

External links

[https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lc/roleandhistory/Documents/Transcript%20-%20The%20Hon.%20Duncan%20Gay%20-%20Oral%20history%20project%20interview%20-%20Monday%2010%20December%202018%20%20corrected_.pdf Legislative Council of NSW Oral History Project - Interview on 10 December 2018]

{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=Minister for Roads and Ports|years=2011–2014}}

{{s-bef|before=Eric Roozendaal|as=Minister for Ports and Waterways}}

{{s-aft|after=Himself|as=Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight}}

{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight|years=2015–2017}}

{{s-ttl|title=Vice-President of the Executive Council
Leader of the Government
in the Legislative Council |years=2014–2017}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Leader of the Government
in the Legislative Council|before=Eric Roozendaal|years=2011–2014}}

Category:1950 births

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council

Category:Members of the Order of Australia

Category:National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales

Category:People educated at Newington College

Category:21st-century Australian politicians

Category:Chairman of Committees of the New South Wales Legislative Council