Gabrielle Upton

{{Infobox officeholder

|honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Gabrielle Upton

| honorific-suffix= {{postnominals|country=AUS|size=100%|FRSN}}

| image = The Hon. Gabrielle Upton MP.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Gabrielle Upton in 2017

| office = Minister for the Environment

| term_start = 30 January 2017

| term_end = 23 March 2019

| premier = Gladys Berejiklian

| predecessor = Mark Speakman

| successor = Matt Kean

| office1 = Minister for Local Government

| term_start1 = 30 January 2017

| term_end1 = 23 March 2019

| premier1 = Gladys Berejiklian

| predecessor1 = Paul Toole

| successor1 = Shelley Hancock

| office2 = Minister for Heritage

| term_start2 = 30 January 2017

| term_end2 = 23 March 2019

| premier2 = Gladys Berejiklian

| predecessor2 = Mark Speakman

| successor2 = post abolished

| constituency_MP3= Vaucluse

| parliament3 = New South Wales

| term_start3 = 26 March 2011

| term_end3 = 25 March 2023

| predecessor3 = Peter Debnam

| successor3 = Kellie Sloane

| office4 = Attorney General of New South Wales

| term_start4 = 2 April 2015

| term_end4 = 30 January 2017

| premier4 = Mike Baird

| predecessor4 = Brad Hazzard

| successor4 = Mark Speakman

| office5 = Minister for Sport and Recreation

| term_start5 = 30 August 2013

| term_end5 = 23 April 2014

| premier5 = Barry O'Farrell

| predecessor5 = Brad Hazzard

| successor5 = Stuart Ayres

| office6 = Minister for Family and Community Services

| term_start6 = 23 April 2014

| term_end6 = 2 April 2015

| premier6 = Mike Baird

| predecessor6 = Pru Goward

| successor6 = Brad Hazzard

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1964|12|16}}

| birth_place = Sydney, Australia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| constituency =

| party = Liberal Party

| profession = Lawyer

| residence =

| alma_mater = {{bulleted list|University of New South Wales|Stern School of Business}}

| signature =

| footnotes =

| website =

}}

Gabrielle Cecelia Upton (born 16 December 1964) is an Australian former politician. She was the member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of Vaucluse for the Liberal Party from 2011 until her retirement at the 2023 New South Wales state election.

Upton was the Parliamentary Secretary for the NSW Premier.{{Cite NSW Parliament |name=The Hon. Gabrielle Cecelia Upton MP |id=59 |access-date=11 September 2019}} Upton previously served as the New South Wales Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Local Government, and the Minister for Heritage from January 2017 until March 2019 in the first Berejiklian ministry.{{cite news|agency=AAP|title=Refreshed NSW cabinet sworn in|url=http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2017/01/30/refreshed-nsw-cabinet-to-be-sworn-in.html|access-date=30 January 2017|publisher=Sky News|location=Australia|date=30 January 2017}}{{cite news |last=Sas |first=Nick |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-31/cabinet-reshuffle-after-nsw-election-from-berejiklian/10956776 |title=Gladys Berejiklian says Liberal Party has no women problem as re-elected NSW Premier shuffles Cabinet |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=31 March 2019 |access-date=3 April 2019 }} She also served as the NSW Attorney General between April 2015 and January 2017 in the second Baird government and was the first woman to be appointed as Attorney General.{{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|access-date=6 April 2015|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=3 April 2015}} Upton served as the New South Wales Minister for Family and Community Services in the first Baird government during 2014 and 2015;{{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 |access-date=24 April 2014 |last=Nicholls |first=Sean}} and the Minister for Sport and Recreation during 2013 and 2014.

Background and early career

Upton was born and raised in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney where she attended Brigidine College in Randwick and the University of New South Wales, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws.{{cn|date=December 2024}} Upton's career began as a banking and finance lawyer with legal firms Freehill, Hollingdale & Page and DLA Phillips Fox, after being admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia in 1988.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

Upton moved to live New York City in 1993 where she graduated with a Master of Business Administration (Finance and Management) from the Stern School of Business at New York University, New York. She then worked as a banker with Deutsche Bank and Toronto Dominion Bank in New York financing the energy sector. From 2000 until 2010, Upton was legal counsel at the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of CAMAC, the Australian federal government's principal advisory committee on corporations and securities law, between 2006 and 2011.{{Cite web|title=CAMAC Annual Report - 2010-2011|url=https://www.camac.gov.au/camac/camac.nsf/byheadline/pdfannual+report+2010+2011/$file/camac_ar_2010-11.pdf |access-date=18 February 2021|website=camac.gov.au}} Upton served as Deputy Chancellor at the University of New South Wales from 2006 until 2009, and on the University's Council from 2002 to 2010. From 2005 to 2011, Upton was the Deputy Chair of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award – Australia and from 2009 to 2011 was Chair of The Friends of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Australia; and was also a board member of Neuroscience Research Australia from 2007 to 2011; and a Fellow of the Law Faculty at the University of New South Wales. She is a Fellow of The Australian Institute of Company Directors. Upton is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales (FRSN).

=Neuroscience and mental health advocacy=

Upton has spoken out about the need to raise awareness about mental health and in March 2010 gave a speech to Sydney Rotary where she called for a "full gamut" approach to combating mental illness. This speech noted that every day in Australia six to seven people die by suicide, which was 40 per cent higher than deaths caused on the country's roads – a statistic she described as "completely unacceptable".{{cite news|url=http://digitaledition.wentworthcourier.com.au/default.aspx?iid=34569&startpage=page0000038 |last=Bennett |first=Jennifer |title=Suicide statistics completely unacceptable' says Upton |work=Wentworth Courier |page=38 |date=24 March 2010 |access-date=17 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706113304/http://digitaledition.wentworthcourier.com.au/default.aspx?iid=34569&startpage=page0000038 |archive-date=6 July 2011 }} She has written about the prevalence of mental illness among young Australian lawyers and discussed moves by the legal profession to combat mental illness in the law firm workplace.{{cite news |url=http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/suicide-prevention-is-everyones-problem/ |title=Suicide prevention is everyone's problem |last=Upton |first=Gabrielle |work=The Punch |date=25 March 2010 |access-date=17 May 2011}}

Political career

Following the earlier announcement that the Liberal sitting member, Peter Debnam, would not re-contest the next state election, Upton won Liberal Party pre-selection for Vaucluse on 26 September 2010.{{cite news |url=http://wentworth-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/gabrielle-upton-wins-liberal-preselection-for-vaucluse/ |last=Bennett |first=Jennifer |title=Gabrielle Upton wins Liberal preselection for Vaucluse |work=Wentworth Courier |date=26 September 2010 |access-date=17 May 2011}} At the 2011 state election, she was elected with a swing of 9.9 points, winning the seat with 81.4 per cent of the two-party preferred vote.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nsw/2011/guide/vauc.htm |title=Vaucluse |work=NSW Votes 2011 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=17 May 2011 |date=5 April 2011 |last=Green |first=Antony |author-link=Antony Green }} Following the election, she was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Tertiary Education and Skills. In August 2011, she was appointed Chair of the NSW Parliamentary friends of Israel.{{Cite web |url=http://www.jwire.com.au/news/support-for-israel-in-the-nsw-parliament/18576 |title=Support for Israel in the NSW Parliament |access-date=8 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105124237/http://www.jwire.com.au/news/support-for-israel-in-the-nsw-parliament/18576 |archive-date=5 November 2013 |url-status=dead }} On 21 August 2013, Upton was appointed as the Minister for Sport and Recreation.

Due to the resignation of Barry O'Farrell as premier in April 2014,{{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 |access-date=23 April 2014 }} and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle by the new Liberal Leader, Mike Baird, Upton was appointed as the Minister for Family and Community Services and relinquished the portfolio of Sport and Recreation.{{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=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=23 April 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-22/premier-mike-baird-announces-new-cabinet-line-up/5402930 |title=Baird Cabinet announced: Premier promotes Constance to Treasurer, makes way for five new MPs |work=ABC News |location=Australia |access-date=22 April 2014 |date=22 April 2014}}

Following the 2015 state election, Baird announced that Upton would be Attorney General, becoming the first female Attorney General of New South Wales.{{cite news| url = http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-premier-mike-baird-announces-new-cabinet-20150401-1mcndb.html| title = NSW premier Mike Baird announces new cabinet | work = The Sydney Morning Herald| date = 1 April 2015| access-date = 1 April 2015 }} As Attorney General, Upton introduced a pilot program to help support child witnesses through the court process, using specialist judges to better deal with child sexual assault trials, and experts called "children's champions".{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.nsw.gov.au:443/Pages/media-news/media-releases/2015/law-paves-way-for-children%27s-champions.aspx|title=Law paves way for children's champions|publisher=NSW Department of Justice|website=justice.nsw.gov.au|access-date=11 September 2019}}

=Minister for the Environment, Local Government and Heritage=

Following the resignation of Mike Baird as Premier,{{cite web|url=http://m.thesatellite.com.au/news/baird-resigns-nsw-premier-quit-top-job-and-parliam/3133375/|first=Owen|last=Jacques|title=Baird resigns: NSW Premier to quit top job and Parliament|work=The Satellite|date=19 January 2017|access-date=18 January 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002956/http://m.thesatellite.com.au/news/baird-resigns-nsw-premier-quit-top-job-and-parliam/3133375/|archive-date=2 February 2017}} Gladys Berejiklian was elected Liberal leader and sworn in as Premier.{{cite web|title=Swearing-In of The Honourable Gladys Berejiklian MP, the 45th Premier of New South Wales, and The Honourable John Barilaro MP, Deputy Premier|url=https://www.governor.nsw.gov.au/governor/vice-regal-program/monday-23-january-2017/|website=Vice Regal Program|publisher=Governor of New South Wales|access-date=27 January 2017|date=23 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202042336/https://www.governor.nsw.gov.au/governor/vice-regal-program/monday-23-january-2017/|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=Clennell|first1=Andrew|title=Premier Gladys Berejiklian plans major reshuffle for cabinet|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/premier-gladys-berejiklian-plans-major-reshuffle-for-cabinet/news-story/1bb77d4e287dc82004f80186e40d18f0|access-date=27 January 2017|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=26 January 2017}} Upton became the Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Local Government, and the Minister for Heritage in the Berejiklian ministry.

In October 2017, as heritage minister, Upton refused to list the 1981 Sirius building in The Rocks on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, despite the unanimous recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales. She said: "While the Sirius building is distinctive, in my view, it is not a landmark worthy of state heritage protection."{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=James |title=Sirius demolition one step closer as state government declines to grant heritage status |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sirius-demolition-one-step-closer-as-state-government-declines-to-grant-heritage-status-20171025-gz7u90.html |access-date=24 August 2019 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=25 October 2017}} In response, the Chair of the Save Our Sirius Foundation noted that her determination was "an ignorant decision made by an out-of-touch government [...] Upton's only argument and the only thing she cites in her decision is the opinion of a group of private companies the government hired to tell them what they want to hear."{{cite news |last1=Cheng |first1=Linda |title=Sirius denied heritage protection, again |url=https://architectureau.com/articles/sirius-denied-heritage-protection-again/ |access-date=24 August 2019 |agency=ArchitectureAU |date=26 October 2017}}

In December 2017, Upton introduced the container deposit scheme called "Return and Earn".{{Cite web|url=https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/news/media-releases/2018/epamedia181202-return-and-earn-a-billion-reasons-to-celebrate|title=Return and Earn: A billion reasons to celebrate|website=NSW Environment Protection Authority|access-date=10 September 2019}} It was the single largest initiative undertaken to reduce litter in NSW, and was associated with a 28% drop in litter covered by the container deposit scheme in 2017–18, compared with 2016–17.{{cite web |title=National Report 2017 - 2018 National Litter Index |url=http://kab.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019_NLI17_18_EPORT.pdf |publisher=Keep Australia Beautiful National Association |access-date=10 November 2019 |page=33}}{{Cite web|url=http://wastemanagementreview.com.au/tag/return-and-earn/|title=Return and Earn Archives|website=Waste Management Review|access-date=10 September 2019}}

In May 2018, together with the Premier, Upton announced the $45 Million Koala Strategy, the largest commitment by any state government to increasing the koala population.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/your-government/the-premier/media-releases-from-the-premier/koala-strategy-will-save-australias-national-treasure/|title=Koala strategy will save Australia's national treasure|website=NSW Government|access-date=11 September 2019}} The package included additional natural habitat for koalas, funding to tackle diseases, improve research and address roadkill hotspots.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-06/new-parks-for-koalas-to-breed-to-save-iconic-species-in-nsw/9732854|title=New parks set aside to save declining koala population in NSW|last1=Khalik|first1=Jennine|last2=Kennedy|first2=Jean|date=6 May 2018|work=ABC News|access-date=11 September 2019}}

In September 2018, a number of concerns were made public over Upton's ability to perform as a minister. Allegations from former staff and other government sources included her "contempt for bureaucrats", suggestions that she was "paralysed by indecision", and claims that "Departmental briefs sat on her desk for months and months without her even looking at them".{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Alexandra |title=Senior adviser to Gabrielle Upton receives compensation for severe stress |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/senior-adviser-to-gabrielle-upton-receives-compensation-for-severe-stress-20180913-p503mi.html |access-date=14 September 2018 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=14 September 2018}} The month before, Upton came under fire for allowing a significant delay in determining applications for new items to the New South Wales State Heritage Register, with the exception of Hadley Park in Castlereagh, the original home of the family of conservative radio commentator Ray Hadley, thereby fulfilling her obligations under the Heritage Act 1977 "almost entirely in the breach".{{cite news |last1=Saulwick |first1=Jacob |title='It's ludicrous': minister delays heritage decisions, except for Ray Hadley |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/it-s-ludicrous-minister-delays-heritage-decisions-except-for-ray-hadley-20180810-p4zwsa.html |access-date=24 August 2019 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=11 August 2018}}

Attention also focused on the "toxic environment" of her 12-staff office, with 16 staff members having left in the 18-month period up to September 2018, and one former staffer receiving compensation for severe stress. Separate sources, including fellow government ministers, labelled her as "the weakest performer in the cabinet" and that "her inaction presiding over her former NSW environment portfolio was almost at the level of performance art".{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Alexandra |last2=Loussikian |first2=Kylar |title='Weakest performer in cabinet': NSW Environment Minister under threat |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/weakest-performer-in-cabinet-nsw-environment-minister-under-threat-20180912-p503bo.html |access-date=13 September 2018 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=13 September 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Loussikian |first1=Kylar |last2=Hutchinson |first2=Samantha |title='A strong campaigner': the beauty of Wikipedia |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-strong-campaigner-the-beauty-of-wikipedia-20190402-p51a0i.html |access-date=29 October 2022 |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=3 April 2019}}

Upton was not reappointed to the ministry following the 2019 state election.

Later political career

In October 2019, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Upton was given the responsibility for research and development investment.{{Cite web|date=2019-10-28|title=Top minds to help accelerate research and development investment in NSW|url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/top-minds-to-help-accelerate-research-and-development-investment-nsw|access-date=2020-11-18|website=NSW Government|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|date=2019-10-27|title=Gonski drafted in to lead R&D push|url=https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/gonski-drafted-in-to-lead-r-and-d-push-20191026-p534jd|access-date=2020-11-18|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}} To guide the development of an Action Plan she appointed an Advisory Council chaired by David Gonski{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=|title=Leadership, Collaboration and Coordination - The Keys to Accelerating R&D in NSW|work=|url=https://www.gabrielleupton.com.au/media-release-leadership-collaboration-and-coordination-the-keys-to-accelerating-rd-in-nsw/ |access-date=}}{{Cite web|date=2020-03-16|title=NSW looks to boost start-ups with procurement changes|url=https://www.afr.com/technology/nsw-looks-to-boost-start-ups-with-procurement-changes-20200311-p54939|access-date=2020-11-18|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-08-31|title=Deep tech picked to lead the virus recovery|url=https://www.afr.com/technology/deep-tech-picked-to-lead-the-virus-recovery-20200828-p55qf3|access-date=2020-11-18|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=NSW Plan to step up commercialisation of research|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fhigher-education%2Fnsw-plan-to-step-up-commercialisation-of-research%2Fnews-story%2Fc327debba4b8e0e760b47f08d96ad726&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=e3502c104d4d3d9dea3efbec2a93c346-1612225859 |access-date=2021-02-02|website=www.theaustralian.com.au}} Upton has also written on the potential for NSW to be the home of technological innovation.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-22|title=New South Wales can be the home of global technological innovation|url=https://www.afr.com/technology/new-south-wales-can-be-the-home-of-global-technological-innovation-20210122-p56w7v|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}

On 25 January 2021, the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, together with Upton, launched the [https://www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/preview/d29d5b70cafe6823/4f2ddc13d20ecc0e/ "Turning ideas into Jobs" Accelerating research and development in NSW] Action Plan.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-25|title=NSW action plan to turn ideas into jobs|url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/nsw-action-plan-to-turn-ideas-into-jobs|access-date=2021-02-02|website=NSW Government|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|date=2021-01-25|title=Business welcomes NSW research and development push|url=https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/business-welcomes-nsw-research-and-development-push-20210125-p56wqf|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=January 25, 2021|title=Business Council statement: NSW action plan to accelerate research and development|url=https://www.bca.com.au/business_council_statement_nsw_action_plan_to_accelerate_research_and_development|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Business Council of Australia|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-01-25|title=NSW government to place greater focus on research and development|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/nsw-government-to-place-greater-focus-on-research-and-development/video/5fb0d832ceac881658536a9f5e35a81e|access-date=2021-02-02|website=dailytelegraph|language=en}} $26 million was announced as a kick-off funding to support a Small Business Innovation Research program and matchmaking platform.