Rob Stokes

The Honourable Rob Stokes MP
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Pittwater
Incumbent
Assumed office 24 March 2007
Preceded by	Alex McTaggart
Majority	25.4 points (2015)
Minister for Planning
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 April 2015
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	Pru Goward
Minister for the Environment
In office 23 April 2014 – 2 April 2015
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	Robyn Parker
Succeeded by	Mark Speakman
Minister for Heritage
In office 23 April 2014 – 2 April 2015
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	Robyn Parker
Succeeded by	Mark Speakman
Assistant Minister for Planning
In office 23 April 2014 – 2 April 2015
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	new title
Succeeded by	Mark Speakman
Minister for the Central Coast
In office 6 May 2014 – 2 April 2015
Premier	Mike Baird
Preceded by	Mike Gallacher
Succeeded by	abolished
Personal details
Born	(1974-01-17) 17 January 1974
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse(s)	Sophie Stokes
Alma mater	Macquarie University
Occupation	Lawyer
Website	Parliamentary webpage

Robert "Rob" Gordon Stokes MP (born 17 January 1974), an Australian politician, is the New South Wales Minister for Planning since April 2015 in the second Baird government.^[1] He is also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Pittwater for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2007. Stokes has previously served as the Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Heritage, the Assistant Minister for Planning, and the Minister for the Central Coast during 2014 and 2015 in the first Baird government.^[2][3]

Early life

Stokes grew up in Mona Vale. He attended Shore School and obtained his Higher School Certificate in 1991.^[4] He obtained a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws, a Master of Laws and a PhD at Macquarie University; a Diploma of Bible Studies (at the Ministry Training College in Oxford Falls), and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.^[5]

Early career

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.^[6][7] He subsequently became a lecturer in the Division of Law at Macquarie University.^[8] 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.^[9]

Political career

Stokes was a policy advisor to Liberal Opposition Leader John Brogden, the Member for Pittwater. When Brogden resigned in controversial circumstances,^[10] the 2005 by-election was won by independent candidate Alex McTaggart in what many described as a shock result.^[11][12] Less than two years later, Stokes regained the seat for the Liberals at the 2007 general election.^[13] He was elected with a swing of 26.9 per cent, and won the seat with 59.4 per cent of the vote on a two-party preferred basis.^[14]

After the election, Stokes established his electorate office in Mona Vale. Stokes paid tribute to John Brogden in his inaugural speech to the NSW Parliament on 31 May 2007.

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.^[15] Following the election, Stokes was appointed as NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy in the O'Farrell government.^[16]

Due to the resignation of Barry O'Farrell as Premier,^[17] and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle by Mike Baird, the new Liberal Leader,^[2] Stokes was appointed as Minister for the Environment, Minister for Heritage, and Assistant Minister for Planning and appointed as a member of cabinet.^[18][5] Two weeks later, following the resignation of Mike Gallacher, Stokes was appointed as Minister for the Central Coast.^[3]

Following the 2015 state election, Stokes was sworn in as the Minister for Planning on 2 April 2015 in the second Baird government.^[1]

References