Rob Stokes

Stokes grew up in Mona Vale. He attended fee-paying Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore) and obtained his Higher School Certificate in 1991.{{cite web |url=http://www.shoreoldboys.org.au/.../edoras/Resources/SHORE/OBU/PesidentsReports/Presidents%20Report%20July%2007.doc |title=President's Report 2007 |work=Old Boys' Union |publisher=Shore School |year=2007 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He obtained a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws, a Master of Laws and a PhD at Macquarie University; a Diploma of Biblical Studies, and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.{{cite NSW Parliament |id=38 |name=The Hon. (Rob) Robert Gordon STOKES, MP |access-date=3 April 2019}}

Stokes was an associate with the law firm David Begg & Associates in Martin Place, Sydney. He also worked in a number of other legal firms including one at Mona Vale.{{cite web |title=People power can make a difference |work=Postgrad and beyond |url=http://www.postgradandbeyond.mq.edu.au/enewsletter/buslaw/issue_2_06_stories/story1.htm |publisher=Macquarie University |year=2006 |access-date=18 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20060820191314/http://www.postgradandbeyond.mq.edu.au/enewsletter/buslaw/issue_2_06_stories/story1.htm |archive-date=20 August 2006 }}{{cite web |title=Robert Stokes Gets In! |work=Business Law Bulletin |url=http://www.law.mq.edu.au/html/pdf/buslawbulletin1_01.pdf |publisher=Macquarie University |date=12 February 2007 |access-date=18 August 2008}} He subsequently became a lecturer in the Division of Law at Macquarie University.{{cite web |title=Rob Stokes |url=http://www.robstokes.com.au/about/about_firstname/about_firstname.html |publisher=Rob Stokes |access-date=18 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719012716/http://www.robstokes.com.au/about/about_firstname/about_firstname.html |archive-date=19 July 2008}} He became a member of the Young Lawyers Association of New South Wales and was a member of both the Environmental Law and CLE Committees. He became a presidential nominee in 2004 and was elected to Executive Council at the 2004 Annual Assembly.{{cite web |title=2005 Executive Councillors |url=http://www.lawsociety.com.au/page.asp?partid=16448 |publisher=Young Lawyers Association of New South Wales |access-date=18 August 2008}}

Stokes was a policy adviser to Liberal Opposition Leader John Brogden, the Member for Pittwater. When Brogden resigned in controversial circumstances,{{cite news |title=NSW politician quits after slur |date=29 August 2005 |publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4193938.stm |access-date=17 May 2011}} the 2005 by-election was won by independent candidate Alex McTaggart in what many described as a shock result. Pittwater had long been reckoned as a classic "blue ribbon" Liberal seat.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/brkfast/stories/s1518038.htm |title=Pittwater Shock |date=28 November 2005 |work=Radio National|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=27 January 2010}}{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/wipeout-party-brawls-begin/2005/11/27/1133026350266.html |title=Wipeout: party brawls begin |date=28 November 2005 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=16 February 2010 }} Less than two years later, Stokes regained the seat for the Liberals at the 2007 general election.{{cite news |title=Libs on warpath in Pittwater |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/grassroots/libs-on-warpath-in-pittwater/2007/03/23/1174597836745.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=22 March 2007 |access-date=18 August 2008}} He won the seat with 50.3 per cent of the primary vote, just over the 50 per cent threshold required to win the seat outright, and 59.4 per cent of the vote on a two-party preferred basis.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nsw/2007/results/pitt.htm |title=Pittwater |date=2 April 2007 |work=NSW Votes 2007 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=17 May 2011}}

After the election, Stokes established his electorate office in Mona Vale. Stokes paid tribute to Brogden in his inaugural speech to the NSW Parliament on 31 May 2007.{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=Parliament of New South Wales |house=Legislative Assembly |date=31 May 2007 |page=613–616 | title=Inaugural Speeches | url = https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Hansard/Pages/HansardFull.aspx#/DateDisplay/HANSARD-1323879322-38211/HANSARD-1323879322-38166 |speaker=Rob Stokes |access-date = 13 October 2020}}

At the 2011 general election, Stokes was re-elected with a swing of 21.7 points, gaining 84.5 per cent of the two-party vote. Stokes' main competitor was the Greens Jonathan King.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nsw/2011/guide/pitt.htm |title=Pittwater |date=1 April 2011 |work=NSW Votes 2011 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=17 May 2011}} Following the election, Stokes was appointed as NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy in the O'Farrell government.{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ministers-axed-in-nsw-shakeup-20140421-370pl.html |title=Ministers axed in NSW shake-up |author=Nicholls, Sean |date=22 April 2014 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=24 April 2014 }}

Owing to 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 |access-date=23 April 2014 }} and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle by Mike Baird, the new Liberal Leader, Stokes was appointed as Minister for the Environment, Minister for Heritage, and Assistant Minister for Planning and appointed as a member of cabinet.{{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=24 April 2014 }} Two weeks later, following the resignation of Mike Gallacher, Stokes was appointed as Minister for the Central Coast. Following the 2015 state election, Stokes was sworn in as the Minister for Planning on 2 April 2015 in the second Baird government. 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 as 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}}{{cite web|title=Ministers|url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/pages/ministers.aspx|website=parliament.nsw.gov.au|publisher=Parliament of New South Wales|access-date=27 January 2017}}{{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}} The first Berejiklian ministry was subsequently formed with Stokes sworn in as the Minister for Education with effect from 30 January 2017. Following the 2019 state election Stokes was appointed as the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces in the second Berejiklian ministry, with effect from 2 April 2019.{{cite news |author=Sas, 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 }} Following the October 2021 resignation of Andrew Constance from the ministry, Stokes was sworn in as Minister for Transport and Roads, a position that he held, together with Planning and Public Spaces until December 2021. In the second rearrangement of the Perrottet ministry, Stokes was sworn in as Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Cities, and Minister for Active Transport, with effect from December 2021.

{{stack|{{portal|New South Wales|Politics}}}}

• First Baird ministry
• Second Baird ministry
• First Berejiklian ministry
• Second Berejiklian ministry
• Perrottet ministry

{{Reflist}}

{{notelist}}

{{s-start}}

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

{{s-bef|before=Alex McTaggart}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member for Pittwater|years=2007–present}}

{{s-inc}}

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef |rows=2|before=Robyn Parker }}

{{s-ttl |title=Minister for the Environment | years=2014–2015 }}

{{s-aft |rows=3 |after=Mark Speakman}}

{{s-ttl |title=Minister for Heritage|years=2014–2015 }}

{{s-new}}

{{s-ttl |title=Assistant Minister for Planning | years=2014–2015 }}

{{s-bef |before=Mike Gallacher }}

{{s-ttl |title=Minister for the Central Coast | years=2014–2015 }}

{{s-aft |after=portfolio abolished }}

{{s-bef |before=Pru Goward }}

{{s-ttl |title=Minister for Planning | years=2015–2017 }}

{{s-aft |after=Anthony Roberts}}

{{s-bef |before=Adrian Piccoli }}

{{s-ttl |title=Minister for Education | years=2017{{endash}}2019}}

{{s-aft |after=Sarah Mitchell |as=Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning }}

{{s-bef |rows=2|before=Anthony Roberts |as=Minister for Planning }}

{{s-ttl |rows=2|title=Minister for Planning and Public Spaces | years=2019{{endash}}2021 }}

{{s-aft |after=Anthony Roberts |as=Minister for Planning }}

{{s-aft |after=himself |as=Minister for Infrastructure and as Minister for Cities}}

{{s-bef |rows=2|before=himself |as=Minister for Planning and Public Spaces }}

{{s-ttl |title=Minister for Infrastructure | years=2021{{endash}}2023 }}

{{s-aft |after=portfolio abolished|rows=3}}

{{s-ttl |title=Minister for Cities | years=2021{{endash}}2023 }}

{{s-bef |before=himself |as=Minister for Transport and Roads }}

{{s-ttl |title=Minister for Active Transport | years=2021{{endash}}2023 }}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stokes, Rob}}

Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly

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

Category:1975 births

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Sydney

Category:Macquarie University alumni

Category:Macquarie Law School alumni

Category:21st-century Australian politicians

Category:People educated at Sydney Church of England Grammar School

Category:Ministers for education (New South Wales)

Category:Ministers for the environment (New South Wales)