Duncan Gay

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The Honourable
Duncan Gay
MLC
Minister for Roads and Ports
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 April 2011
Preceded by David Borger (as Minister for Roads)
Eric Roozendaal (as Minister for Ports and Waterways)
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 April 2011
Preceded by Eric Roozendaal
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
19 March 1988[1]
Personal details
Born (1950-05-02) 2 May 1950
Crookwell, New South Wales
Political party National Party of Australia
Spouse(s) Katie Gay
Children Two
Alma mater Newington College
Website www.DuncanGay.com.au

Duncan John Gay (born 2 May 1950), an Australian politician, is the New South Wales Minister for Roads and Ports and Deputy Leader of the Government in the New South Wales Legislative Council for the Liberals/Nationals coalition government. Gay is the Leader of the National Party in the Legislative Council and has been a member of the Council since 1988, representing the National Party.[2]

Early life

Gay was born and raised in Crookwell, New South Wales near Goulburn and educated at Crookwell District Rural School.[3] He completed his secondary schooling at Newington College in Sydney, studying accountancy and wool classing.[4] He is married to Katie and they have two children.[3]

Prior to his political career, Gay owned a small trucking company and managed his family’s grazing property at Crookwell.[3]

Political background

Gay was elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council in March 1988[5] and has been a member of the National Party since 1974.[3]

Gay has served in various portfolios and positions.[1][3]

Ministerial career

Gay is currently Minister for Roads and Ports in the New South Wales Government.

  • Speed Zones Audit: Soon after entering Government, Mr Gay asked the RTA to work with NSW police and NRMA to audit speed zones on NSW roads. In a press conference on 21 June 2011, Gay said, “People spend too much time looking at the side of the road, rather than watching the car ahead. Safety is frankly put at risk because of the huge number of speed changes on highways.” [6]
  • Cycleways: Minister Gay received a significant number of inquiries regarding cycleways and bike lanes on NSW roads. He adopted a position of reform, stating that he “supports cycling as a viable, active transport mode, but [that] cycle lanes have to be part of an integrated strategy.” He went on to identify failings of the Labor government, stating “The former Government repeatedly failed to integrate transport services in this State, and the resulting cycleways are poorly planned and implemented.” [7] The City of Sydney Council disagreed with Gay's claims saying that it chose safe routes for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, favouring those already used by bike riders which had proven connectivity and dismissed Mr Gay's claim that it had not consulted the public sufficiently.[8]
  • Speed and Safety Camera Audit: As part of the O’Farrell Government’s 100-Day Strategy, Gay requested the Auditor-General to undertake an audit of the Speed and Safety Cameras around NSW. In response to community outcry, Mr Gay stated he believes “under the former state Labor government, some of these cameras had become cash cows and were simply there to generate revenue, instead of being used to improve road safety.” [9]
  • Integrated Transport Authority: Fulfilling an election promise, on 20 April 2011 Minister Gay, with Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian ordered the creation of the Integrated Transport Authority within 12 weeks of the announcement. He said the changes will boost frontline staff and customer service delivery, indicating that he envisages the RTA coming out of the process as a very different organisation.[9]
  • Live Travel Time Technology: Responding to “significant community demand,” Minister Gay announced that he had ordered the RTA to work with private motorway operators and get live travel time technology implemented on all major Sydney motorways. Responding in Question Time, the Minister noted the importance of this technology, stating that “Unlike the inaction of the former Labor Government, this Government is committed to improving road services for commuters, … ensuring that motorists' journeys are as hassle free as possible.” He also announced that “Live travel time technology [has been fast-tracked and] will be up and running on the M7 by the end of September [2011], three months ahead of schedule. The technology will also be available on the M4 by the end of December [2011].” [10]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "The Hon. Duncan John Gay, MLC". Parliament of New South Wales. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011. 
  2. "Our Legislative Council Ministers". The Nationals Team. Retrieved 21 June 2011. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Biography of The Hon Duncan Gay MLC". The Nationals. Retrieved 20 June 2011. 
  4. Register of Past Students 1863–1998. Newington College. 1999. pp. 71 isbn=. 
  5. Dickson, E.I. (19 March 1988). Statistical Returns – Periodic Election for Legislative Council (49th Parliament). 
  6. Smith, Alexandra (22 June 2011). "Drivers help to flatten see-sawing speed zones". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 June 2011. 
  7. "Questions Without Notice - City West Cycle Link". Hansard: 312. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011. 
  8. "Minister throws spoke in wheel of city cyclists". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 June 2011. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 "NSW speed cameras used as 'cash cow' - Gay". Daily Telegraph. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011. 
  10. "Questions Without Notice - Live Travel Time Technology". Hansard: 29. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011. 

External links

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