Graham Annesley
{{Short description|Australian rugby league administrator and politician}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Graham Annesley
|honorific-suffix =
|image =
|alt =
|caption =
| order = Minister for Sport and Recreation
| term_start = 3 April 2011
| term_end = 28 August 2013
| premier = Barry O'Farrell
| predecessor = Kevin Greene
| successor = Gabrielle Upton
|constituency_MP1 = Miranda
|parliament1 = New South Wales
|majority1 = 21.0% (2011)
|term_start1 = 26 March 2011
|term_end1 = 28 August 2013
|predecessor1 = Barry Collier
|successor1 = Barry Collier
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1957|5|26}}
|birth_place =
|birthname =
|nationality = Australian
|party = Liberal Party
|spouse =
|partner = Erica Clark
|children = Two
|residence = Sylvania, New South Wales
|alma_mater =
|occupation = Sport administrator
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
Graham Annesley (born 26 May 1957){{cite news|last=Reilly|first=Tom|title=Newsmaker Graham Annesley|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac;jsessionid=91AAEC4DFEB2CA4F3AB86863AD500200?page=1&sy=afr&kw=director&pb=none&dt=selectRange&dr=1month&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=200&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=SMH110507KC4OP6GHION|accessdate=9 June 2013|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=7 May 2011}} is an Australian former politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Miranda for the Liberal Party from 2011 to 2013. From 3 April 2011 to 28 August 2013 he was the Minister for Sport and Recreation in the O'Farrell government.
Annesley was formerly chief executive officer of the Gold Coast Titans, chief operating officer of the National Rugby League (NRL) and a leading rugby league referee. He is currently the head of elite football operations for the NRL.
Rugby league
Annesley commenced his rugby league career with the Parramatta District Rugby League Referees Association. Starting as a 13-year-old referee,{{cite web|url=http://www.australiaday.com.au/ambassadors/ambassadors.aspx?AmbassadorID=279 |title=Graham Annesley |work=Australia Day Ambassadors |publisher=Australia Day Council of NSW |accessdate=26 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720105224/http://www.australiaday.com.au/ambassadors/ambassadors.aspx?AmbassadorID=279 |archivedate=20 July 2011 }} Annesley also undertook later administrative roles in the Association, including Secretary (1979–1980) and President (1985–1988).{{cite web|url=http://www.parramattarefs.com/pastexecutive.html|title=Past Executive Committee Members|work=History|publisher=Parramatta District Rugby League Referees' Association|accessdate=26 April 2010}} He was elected as a Life Member of the Association in 1984.{{cite web|url=http://www.parramattarefs.com/pasthonours.html|title=Past Honours|work=History|publisher=Parramatta District Rugby League Referees' Association|accessdate=26 April 2010}}
Rising through the refereeing ranks, Annesley became a first grade referee in 1982. Between 1982 and 1997 he controlled 244 first-grade matches and six finals matches. He is ranked number 12 in the list of all-time first grade matches refereed.{{cite web|title=Referees 1939–2013 |url=http://stats.rleague.com/rl/misc/referees.html |publisher=rleague.com |accessdate=9 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616052927/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/misc/referees.html |archivedate=16 June 2013 }}
Annesley's representative appointments include the 1994 State of Origin, six test matches and two city-country games.{{Cite web |title=Graham Annesley - Referee Career - RLP |url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/referees/graham-annesley-ref/summary.html |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org}}
Annesley's business career included appointments with DHL, McWilliams Wines, Totalisator Agency Board (TAB) and the Roads & Traffic Authority. He became a full-time sports administrator in 1995 as director of football for the NRL, promoted to chief operating officer in 2002.
Annesley is credited with introducing the video referee system in 1996.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10162|title=Rugby: Only time before video used|last=Jessup|first=Peter|date=17 July 1999|work=New Zealand Herald|publisher=APN News & Media|accessdate=26 April 2010}}
Politics
Pre-selected by the Liberal Party to contest Miranda at the 2007 state election, Annesley was defeated by the sitting Labor member Barry Collier by a margin of 603 votes.{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/state_government_elections/electoral_districts/all_districts_/miranda/results_2007/perferential_count|title=State Electoral District of Miranda|date=3 January 2008|work=2007 State Election Results|publisher=New South Wales Electoral Commission|accessdate=26 April 2010}} He again contested the seat at the March 2011 elections and was elected, receiving a swing of 21.8% in the traditionally Liberal seat, winning 71.0% of the vote on a two-party preferred basis.{{cite news
| url = http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nsw/2011/guide/mira.htm
| author = Green, Antony
| author-link = Antony Green
| title = Miranda
| work = NSW Votes 2011
| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
| date = 4 April 2011
| accessdate = 8 April 2011 }} As Collier retired at the election, Annesley's main competitor was Therese Cook, representing Labor.
Annesley was subsequently appointed Minister for Sport and Recreation in the O'Farrell–Stoner coalition government.{{Cite NSW Parliament |id=2201 |name=Mr Graham Annesley (1957- ) |former=Yes |access-date=27 April 2019}}{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/annesley-will-get-to-referee-all-sports-now/story-e6freuy9-1226032622164|title=Annesley will get to referee all sports now |last=Rothfield |first=Phil |date=3 April 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=News Limited|accessdate=2 April 2011}}{{cite news
| url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/new-faces-in-barry-ofarrells-cabinet/story-fn3dxity-1226032816887
| author =
| agency =
| title = New faces in Barry O'Farrell's Cabinet
| work = The Australian
| publisher = News Limited
| date = 3 April 2011
| accessdate = 3 April 2011 }} On 28 August 2013 he announced his resignation as Minister for Sport and Recreation
and his intention to resign from Parliament to become CEO of the Gold Coast Titans, triggering a 2013 Miranda by-election on 19 October.{{cite hansard |title=Resignation of Minister for Sport and Recreation |jurisdiction=New South Wales |url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20130828040 |house=Legislative Assembly |date=28 August 2013 |page=22932 |speaker=Graham Annesley |position=Minister for Sport and Recreation |accessdate=2013-09-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019053659/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20130828040 |archivedate=19 October 2013 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019053659/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20130828040 |date=19 October 2013 }} {{Cite web |url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20130828040 |title=Resignation of Minister for Sport and Recreation - 28/08/2013 - NSW Parliament |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=19 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019053659/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20130828040 |url-status=dead }} In his resignation speech to parliament, Annesley said he never regarded himself as a politician and that there were many aspects of politics he did not care for. He said that he had always felt more at home as a sports administrator.[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/barry-o8217farrell-announces-sports-minister-graham-annesley-has-resigned/story-fni0cx12-1226705807664 Barry O'Farrell announces Sports Minister Graham Annesley has resigned] Daily Telegraph 28 August 2013[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-28/graham-annesley-resigns-from-nsw-ministry/4918952 Graham Annesley resigns from NSW ministry to take up role as Gold Coast Titans chief] ABC News 29 August 2013
In October 2013, Annesley said that he arranged for Telstra to put in mobile reception, six months prior and without charge, for a new property at Yowie Bay he bought with his wife, claiming he couldn't do his job as a minister otherwise.[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/former-mp-greg-annesley-sends-the-wrong-signal-to-the-electorate-by-quitting-parliament-early/story-e6frg6n6-1226742021392 Former MP Greg Annesley sends the wrong signal to the electorate by quitting parliament early] The Australian 18 October 2013
Post-politics
Since 2019, Annesley has been the NRL head of elite football operations.{{Cite web |date=2018-08-27 |title=Annesley to join NRL football department in 2019 |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/08/27/graham-annesley-to-join-nrl-football-department/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=National Rugby League |language=en}} Away from rugby league, Annesley is an Australia Day ambassador for Liverpool Shire Council.{{Cite news|url=http://www.warrenadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/irving-honoured/1735687.aspx |title=Irving honoured |date=27 January 2010 |work=Warren Advocate |publisher=Fairfax Media |accessdate=26 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706113218/http://www.warrenadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/irving-honoured/1735687.aspx |archivedate=6 July 2011 }}
References
{{Portal|Biography|Australia|Politics|Sports}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110318145803/http://www.nsw.liberal.org.au/nsw-candidates/graham-annesley.html Graham Annesley, MP] – Liberal Party.
- {{cite web|url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/grandstand/2008/09/interview-graha.html |title=Interview: Graham Annesley |date=14 September 2008 |work=ABC Radio Grandstand |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |accessdate=26 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325015859/http://blogs.abc.net.au/grandstand/2008/09/interview-graha.html |archivedate=25 March 2012 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20121024025345/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hanstrans.nsf/V3ByKey/LA20110503 Maiden Speech] – Parliament of New South Wales.
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before= Kevin Greene }}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Sport and Recreation |years=2011–2013}}
{{s-aft|after=Gabrielle Upton}}
{{s-par|au-nsw-la}}
{{succession box | title=Member for Miranda | before=Barry Collier | after=Barry Collier| years=2011–2013}}
{{s-end}}
{{O'Farrell-Baird ministry}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Annesley, Graham}}
Category:Australian rugby league referees
Category:Australian rugby league administrators
Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales
Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly