Dean Cambell Nalder(born 5 February 1966) is an Australian former politician who was a member of theLegislative AssemblyofWestern Australiafor theLiberal Partyfrom 2013 to 2021, representing theseat of Alfred Coveuntil 2017, andBatemanfollowing the 2017 electoral boundary re-distribution. At various times, he served asMinister for Transport,Minister for FinanceandMinister for Agriculture and Foodin the ministry ofPremierColin Barnettfrom 2014 to 2016.[1]Following the Liberals' defeat at the2017 state election,Nalder served in a number of shadow portfolios in the shadow ministries ofMike NahanandLiza Harveyuntil resigning from the frontbench on 8 December 2020, following his announcement of retirement from politics at thenext election.[2]He was succeeded in his seat of Bateman byLabor'sKim Giddenson 13 March 2021.
Dean Nalder | |
|---|---|
 Dean Nalder with wife Colette Nalder | |
| Western Australian Minister for Transport | |
| In office 17 March 2014 – 20 September 2016 | |
| Premier | Colin Barnett |
| Preceded by | Troy Buswell |
| Succeeded by | Bill Marmion |
| Western Australian Minister for Agriculture and Food | |
| In office 31 March 2016 – 20 September 2016 | |
| Premier | Colin Barnett |
| Preceded by | Ken Baston |
| Succeeded by | Mark Lewis |
| Western Australian Minister for Finance | |
| In office 17 March 2014 – 8 December 2014 | |
| Premier | Colin Barnett |
| Preceded by | Mike Nahan |
| Succeeded by | Bill Marmion |
| Member of theWestern Australian Legislative AssemblyforBateman | |
| In office 11 March 2017 – 13 March 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Matt Taylor |
| Succeeded by | Kim Giddens |
| Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly forAlfred Cove | |
| In office 9 March 2013 – 11 March 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Janet Woollard |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dean Cambell Nalder 5 February 1966 Narrogin, Western Australia,Australia |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
Early life
editNalder was born inNarrogin,and raised on a farm atWagin,in Western Australia'sWheatbeltregion. His father,Cambell Nalder,was aNational Partymember of parliament, and his grandfather,Sir Crawford Nalder,was a leader of theCountry Party of Western AustraliaandDeputy Premier of Western Australia.
Nalder attendedWesley College, Perthfor his secondary education,[3]and attendedCurtin University of Technology,graduating in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in business, economics and financial management.[3]In 1995, Nalder completed a graduate diploma in applied finance from the Securities Institute of Australia.[3]
He worked for theANZ Bankfrom 1990 until 2008. Various promotions during those years saw him moving successively to Sydney and Melbourne. In 2004, he returned to Perth, to take up the position of general manager retail for South Australia and Western Australia. In 2008, Nalder joinedAustralia Postas state commercial manager, leaving the organisation in 2010, rather than move to the eastern states.[4]
Australian rules football career
editBetween 1988 and 1991, Nalder represented theSouth Fremantle Football Club,appearing in 30 matches in theWest Australian Football League(WAFL).[5]He represented South Fremantle as acentre half-forwardin the 1989 2nd semi-final of theWAFL.[6][7]
He retired in 1992 due to injuries.
Politics
editNalder entered parliament at the2013 state election,winning theseat of Alfred Covefrom theindependentincumbentJanet Woollard.[8][9]Following the resignation ofTroy Buswellfrom theBarnett Ministryon 10 March 2014, Nalder was appointedMinister for TransportandMinister for Finance.He replacedMike Nahan(who had been elevated toTreasurer) in the latter position.[1]
Nalder was removed as Minister of Finance in December 2014 after allegations emerged of potential conflicts of interest between his private business interests and his ministerial responsibilities.[10]The allegations included that he had failed to properly disclose a personal investment he had made in Metier Asia and had a potential conflict of interest relating to a car leasing company which provided services to public servants under a scheme administered by his own department.Western AustralianPremierColin Barnettordered a review of Nalder's private financial interests and, despite the review finding no evidence that Nalder had sought or gained any personal benefit, criticised him for "serious errors of judgement" and demoted him as the Minister for Finance. Nalder accepted his demotion and acknowledged that he had made mistakes which had "created the perception of a potential wrong-doing."[11]
In October 2015, WA Auditor General Colin Murphy found Nalder's refusal to provide information to Parliament about the controversialPerth Freight Linkwas "not appropriate" and "not reasonable".[12]
A redistribution ahead of the2017 state electionsaw Alfred Cove abolished, with most of Nalder's base transferred to neighbouring Bateman, held by fellow first-term LiberalMatt Taylor.Nalder challenged Taylor for Liberal preselection and won. At the election, he retained Bateman for the Liberals, albeit with a swing of 13.7 percent.
MAX Light Rail
editMAX Light Rail was a proposedlight railnetwork promised by the Liberal Party in the lead-up to the2013 election.
Construction of the first stage was originally scheduled to begin in 2016, and be completed by the end of 2018. However, Nalder deferred the project in 2015 for three years, in response to the Barnett Government's financial woes and the loss of the state'sAAA Credit Rating.[13]Under the new timeframe, the MAX network was to open in 2022.
In April 2014, Nalder became Minister for Transport just a year after entering Parliament. Nalder announced the government would investigate splitting the project into two parts, to allow an earlier start to be made on construction, with priority given to the Balga – CBD section.[13]
In March 2015, Nalder announced the government was considering using buses to implement the MAX route rather than light rail. He said a preliminary analysis suggested that using buses would cost approximately 50% less than a light rail system.[14]At the time, Nalder denied that represented a broken promise.[14]
In February 2016, Nalder announced another change, this time promising a heavy rail line.[15]
In June 2016, Nalder confirmed that the MAX light rail plan had been cancelled. While still planning a northern transport corridor, he said it would not be implemented using light rail and would use other alternatives.[16]
Later
editIn September 2016, Nalder resigned from the ministry, stating he no longer supported Colin Barnett as leader of the Liberal Party[17]Days after his resignation, Nalder announced that he would stand for the Liberal Party leadership if aspill motionwas successful. At a party-room meeting, the spill motion was moved by one of his supporters,Murray Cowper,but was defeated 31–15, and Nalder subsequently said that he had "no further interest in any challenge".[18]
In November 2020, Nalder announced he would run for the Liberal leadership, followingLiza Harvey's resignation four months out from the2021 Western Australian state election,[19]but dropped out of the race shortly beforethe vote,citing a lack of sufficient support.[20]In December 2020, he announced that he would not re-contest his seat of Bateman at the election due in March 2021, citing family reasons. A few days later, he also announced his immediate resignation as shadow treasurer, reportedly throwing the Liberal Party into disarray.[20]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ab"Mr Dean Cambell Nalder".Parliament of Western Australia.Retrieved8 December2021.
- ^Spagnolo, Joe (1 December 2020)."Dean Nalder quits: Shadow treasurer and Bateman MP resigns from politics ahead of March 2021 election".The West Australian.Retrieved2 December2020.
- ^abc"Dean Nalder's Education".Linked in.Retrieved10 March2020.
- ^"Corporate".Dean Nalder.Retrieved6 December2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^"South Fremantle League Players 1900 – 2010"(PDF).South Fremantle Football Club. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 17 May 2013.Retrieved22 March2013.
- ^"TRIVIA THURSDAY".Retrieved10 March2020– via YouTube.
- ^"Player Stats".WAFL Footy Facts.Retrieved10 March2020.
- ^"Alfred Cove – 2013 Western Australian Election".ABC News.Retrieved22 March2013.
- ^"Big names back Alfred Cove".The West Australian.1 August 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 2 August 2012.Retrieved22 March2013.
- ^"WA Minister Dean Nalder stripped of finance portfolio after conflict of interest concerns".ABC News.8 December 2014.Retrieved8 December2014.
- ^"Dean Nalder loses Finance in reshuffle".West Australian.Seven West Media. Archived fromthe originalon 14 December 2014.Retrieved8 December2014.
- ^Foster, Brendan (3 February 2016)."Perth subway: has Dean Nalder finally become a liability to the Liberal party?".WAtoday.Retrieved22 November2020.
- ^ab"Perth's $2b light rail plan gets reboot".PerthNow.27 April 2014.Retrieved22 November2020.
- ^ab"Move from rail to buses 'not a broken promise': Nalder".Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 March 2015.Retrieved22 November2020.
- ^"Perth to Morley underground line mooted instead of light rail".Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 February 2016.Retrieved22 November2020.
- ^"WA abandons light rail promise in long-term transport plan".Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 June 2016.Retrieved22 November2020.
- ^Brendan Foster,"Liberal party in tatters with Dean Nalder quitting Cabinet",WAtoday,17 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^"Dean Nalder congratulates 'captain' Colin Barnett, says he won't challenge again",WAtoday,20 September 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
- ^"Liza Harvey announces shock decision to step down as WA Opposition Leader ahead of state election".Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 November 2020.Retrieved22 November2020.
- ^abLe May, Rebecca (5 December 2020)."Dean Nalder quits as WA Libs treasury spokesman, months from election".The Australian.Retrieved6 December2020.