Ryan Park (politician)

The Honourable
Ryan Park
MP
The Honourable Ryan Park MP
Minister for Health
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 28 March 2023
Premier	Chris Minns
Preceded by	Brad Hazzard
Minister for Regional Health
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 28 March 2023
Premier	Chris Minns
Preceded by	Bronnie Taylor
Minister for Mental Health
	In office; 28 March 2023 – 5 April 2023
Premier	Chris Minns
Preceded by	Bronnie Taylor
Succeeded by	Rose Jackson
Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 28 March 2023
Premier	Chris Minns
Preceded by	John Ajaka (2014-2015)
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly; for Keira
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 26 March 2011
Preceded by	David Campbell
Personal details
Born	Ryan John Park; 1977 (age 46–47); Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Political party	Labor Party
Residence	East Corrimal
Occupation	Teacher, chief of staff
Website	www.ryanpark.com.au

Ryan John Park (born 1977^{[citation needed]}) is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly since March 2011, representing the electorate of Keira. He is the current Minister for Health. He previously served as the NSW Shadow Minister for Health since 2019, and the Shadow Minister for the Illawarra since 2013.^[2] He is the third most senior Labor MP in the NSW Legislative Assembly.^{[citation needed]}

Early life

Park was born in Wollongong and attended local state schools. He was raised in Dapto and attended Dapto High School, where he became school captain. He studied teaching at the University of Wollongong. He majored in health and physical education and won the university medal.^[3]

Career

Park taught at Lake Illawarra High School.^[4] He then worked as a curriculum adviser at the Department of Education.^[3]

Park then went on to work further in the NSW public service and was a chief of staff to his predecessor David Campbell, the then Minister for Transport and Roads. After Campbell resigned from the ministry in early 2010, Park was named as deputy director-general of the Department of Transport.^[5] Later in the year, Campbell announced he would not contest the upcoming election and Park was chosen as the endorsed Labor candidate where he retained the seat. He held on against the Liberal party candidate, John Dorahy, a former professional rugby league footballer.^[6]

Park was appointed to the Shadow Ministry in 2012 as Shadow Minister for Roads, and was subsequently promoted to become Shadow Minister for Education and the Illawarra in 2013.^[2]

Second term

At the 2015 NSW election, Park received a large swing towards him, returning his seat to safe Labor status. Following this successful result, Park was promoted further to become the Shadow Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and the Illawarra.

In 2016, Deputy Opposition Leader Linda Burney resigned from the NSW Parliament to contest the federal seat of Barton. She was replaced as Deputy by Michael Daley. Following this, Park was appointed to Daley's former role as Shadow Treasurer in March 2016 and Daley took on Park's former portfolio of Infrastructure. Park became the third most senior Labor member of the Legislative Assembly at this time.^{[citation needed]}

Park refused to contest the Labor leadership at the 2018 ballot,^[7] which was ultimately won by Michael Daley. Upon Daley's accession to the leadership, Park regained the Infrastructure portfolio from Daley.

Third term

After Labor's defeat at the 2019 election, Daley resigned as party leader and Deputy Leader Penny Sharpe of the Legislative Council was appointed as interim leader while a leadership vote that involved the rank-and-file membership of the party took place. Park again declined to contest the leadership vote^[8] and on 31 March, he was named the party's acting leader in the Legislative Assembly pending the result.^[9]

Following the leadership ballot and the appointment of Jodi McKay, Park was named Shadow Minister for Health, the South Coast, Housing and Homelessness. Park lost the Treasury and Infrastructure portfolios but retained the Shadow Ministry for the Illawarra on McKay's frontbench.

McKay resigned as Labor leader in 2021. Park once again chose not to run in the resulting leadership vote.^[10] It was subsequently won by Chris Minns who retained Park as Shadow Minister for Health, the Illawarra and the South Coast and also appointed him as Shadow Minister for Mental Health. His former portfolio of Housing and Homelessness was given to Rose Jackson.

Fourth term

Following Chris Minns' win in the 2023 election, Park was appointed Minister for Health, Minister for Regional Health and Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast.

Personal life

Park lives in East Corrimal with his wife Kara and two children.^[11]^[12]

References

^ "Keira - The Legislative Assembly District of Keira". elections.nsw.gov.au. New South Wales Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Mr Ryan John PARK, BEd (Hons), MEd MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
^ ^a ^b Christopher Harris (26 March 2023). "Meet the people set to make up the next NSW government". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
^ Ryan Park's Policy Booklet Ryan Park. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
^ Clennell, Andrew (14 July 2010). "Former David Campbell chief of staff gets $250,000-plus Department of Transport job". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
^ Keira – NSW Votes 2011 ABC News. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
^ "Keira MP Ryan Park won't pursue NSW Labor leadership role after Luke Foley's resignation". Illawarra Mercury. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
^ "NSW Labor leader Michael Daley steps down, says he still wants top job". 25 March 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
^ "NSW Labor names leader for lower house". SBS News. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
^ Humphries, Glen (28 May 2021). "Ryan Park won't contest Labor leadership, sources say". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong, New South Wales. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
^ Pearson, Andrew (28 April 2017). "Illawarra politicians' property portfolio revealed". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
^ "About". Ryan Park. Retrieved 16 July 2017.

External links

Campaign website

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by David Campbell	Member for Keira 2011–present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Brad Hazzard	Minister for Health 2023–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Bronnie Taylor	Minister for Regional Health 2023–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Bronnie Taylor	Minister for Mental Health 2023–2023	Succeeded by Rose Jackson

[1] "Keira - The Legislative Assembly District of Keira". elections.nsw.gov.au. New South Wales Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 March 2023.

[NSW_Parl-2] "Mr Ryan John PARK, BEd (Hons), MEd MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 April 2019.

[smh-3] Christopher Harris (26 March 2023). "Meet the people set to make up the next NSW government". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2023.

[4] Ryan Park's Policy Booklet Ryan Park. Retrieved 6 April 2011.

[5] Clennell, Andrew (14 July 2010). "Former David Campbell chief of staff gets $250,000-plus Department of Transport job". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 April 2011.

[6] Keira – NSW Votes 2011 ABC News. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.

[7] "Keira MP Ryan Park won't pursue NSW Labor leadership role after Luke Foley's resignation". Illawarra Mercury. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[8] "NSW Labor leader Michael Daley steps down, says he still wants top job". 25 March 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[9] "NSW Labor names leader for lower house". SBS News. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[10] Humphries, Glen (28 May 2021). "Ryan Park won't contest Labor leadership, sources say". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong, New South Wales. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[11] Pearson, Andrew (28 April 2017). "Illawarra politicians' property portfolio revealed". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 16 July 2017.

[12] "About". Ryan Park. Retrieved 16 July 2017.

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