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Tim Crakanthorp
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Timothy Carson Crakanthorp is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly since 25 October 2014, when he was elected in a by-election to the seat of Newcastle.[3] Mr Crakanthorp was an elected Councillor on Newcastle City Council for 8 years. When he was elected to the Legislative Assembly he was still a serving Councillor on Newcastle City Council.[4]
Key Information
Crakanthorp was the Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, and the Minister for the Hunter in the NSW Minns ministry[5] before stepping down amid allegations of breaching the Ministerial Code of Conduct due to failing to disclose his pecuniary interests of land holdings in an urban redevelopment project within his portfolio.
On 10 April 2024, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) announced that it was terminating its preliminary investigation because it was "satisfied that there are no reasonable prospects of finding Mr Crakanthorp’s conduct is sufficiently serious to justify a finding of corrupt conduct".[6]
In June 2024, a teenager was charged with terrorism offences after entering Crakanthorp's office with weapons.[7] The teen had filmed the minister and had made threats.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Member for Newcastle". Hansard. 3 June 2020.
- ^ "Candidates – The Legislative Assembly District of Newcastle". elections.nsw.gov.au. New South Wales Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Mr (Tim) Timothy Carson CRAKANTHORP, MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ Green, Antony. "2014 Newcastle by-election". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ "NSW Shadow Ministry". Parliament of NSW. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Statement regarding Mr Timothy Crakanthorp MP - Independent Commission Against Corruption". www.icac.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Rose, Tamsin (27 June 2024). "Teenager charged with planning terrorist attack after allegedly entering NSW MP's office with knives". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "VIDEO: Teen charged over terror plot against Newcastle MP". abc.net.au. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
External links
[edit]Tim Crakanthorp
View on GrokipediaEarly life and education
Family background and upbringing
Tim Crakanthorp was born in 1970 and raised in Moruya, a regional town on the far south coast of New South Wales known for its granite quarries that supplied materials for the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons.[5] He grew up as the youngest of three brothers in a household where both parents served as public school teachers, reflecting a modest, education-focused family environment typical of regional Australia.[2][5] Crakanthorp attended Moruya High School, where he participated in student leadership activities, before relocating to Newcastle for university studies.[5] His upbringing in this rural setting instilled values aligned with public service and community involvement, as later evidenced by his early career in education and regulatory roles.Academic and early professional experiences
Crakanthorp attended Moruya High School, where he was elected school captain.[5] He earned a Bachelor of Business from Charles Sturt University, during which he served as president of the university's students association.[1][6] He later obtained a Master of International Studies from the University of Sydney, as well as Intermediate and Advanced Certificates in Mine Safety from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.[6][1] Prior to entering politics, Crakanthorp held roles including clerk at the Workers' Educational Association Sydney and tutor at Macarthur Community College.[1] His early professional experience encompassed positions in environmental education, adult and community education, disability care, and mine safety regulation for a New South Wales government authority.[6][7] These roles involved practical work such as teaching courses and advocating in the disability sector.[5][2]Entry into politics
Involvement in Australian Labor Party
Crakanthorp first joined the Australian Labor Party in 1993.[1] He subsequently served as secretary of the Mount Hutton Branch and the Wickham Branch, local party units in the Newcastle area focused on grassroots organizing and member engagement.[1] These positions involved administrative duties such as coordinating meetings, membership drives, and campaign support for ALP candidates in local elections.[1] In addition to branch roles, Crakanthorp acted as secretary for the Newcastle Local Government Committee, which advises on party policy and preselection for municipal contests, and the Newcastle State Electoral Council, responsible for state-level electoral strategies in the region.[1] He advanced to president of the Newcastle Local Government Committee, overseeing its operations and influencing ALP approaches to council governance.[1] Crakanthorp also participated as a delegate to the NSW Labor State Conference and contributed to the State Policy Forum, engaging in broader party deliberations on platform development.[1] These early involvements established Crakanthorp's standing within the party's local structures, particularly in the Hunter region, and aligned him with progressive elements advocating for social equity and regional development.[1] His party work preceded preselection for local office, reflecting a progression from volunteer administration to elected representation.[1]Local government service in Newcastle
Crakanthorp was elected as an Australian Labor Party councillor to Newcastle City Council in September 2008, securing the first position in the Second Ward during the local government elections.[8] He was re-elected in 2012, completing two terms of service until 2016.[1] Throughout his council tenure, Crakanthorp focused on community infrastructure and youth engagement, including advocacy for enhanced recreational facilities. In his 2014 inaugural speech to the New South Wales Parliament, he highlighted his role in campaigning alongside local youth to establish a skate park at Blackbutt Reserve, which he described as one of the state's premier examples.[7] He also contributed to broader council efforts on park upgrades and regional development, aligning with Labor priorities for the Hunter region.[9] Crakanthorp remained an active councillor following his victory in the October 2014 Newcastle state by-election, continuing to represent local interests until the conclusion of his second term in 2016.[10] This dual role underscored his commitment to Newcastle's municipal governance amid his transition to state politics.[11]State parliamentary career
2014 Newcastle by-election and initial term
The 2014 Newcastle by-election was triggered by the resignation of Liberal MP Tim Owen on 4 August 2014, amid revelations from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) regarding illegal political donations.[12] The seat, traditionally a Labor stronghold, had been held by the Liberals since the 2011 state election. Crakanthorp, a Newcastle City councillor since 2008, secured Australian Labor Party preselection for the by-election in May 2014.[13] The by-election occurred on 25 October 2014, alongside one in the neighboring seat of Charlestown.[14] With 54,032 enrolled electors, turnout was 80.8%, yielding 43,645 total votes. Informal votes accounted for 5.3% (2,327 ballots). Crakanthorp won on first preferences with 36.9%, reclaiming the seat for Labor; he was declared the winner on 30 October 2014. The results reflected a swing back to Labor amid dissatisfaction with the Baird Liberal government's handling of the donations scandal.[15]| Candidate | Party/Status | First Preference Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Crakanthorp | Labor | 15,253 | 36.9% |
| Karen Howard | Independent | 10,796 | 26.1% |
| Michael Osborne | The Greens | 8,236 | 19.9% |
| Jacqueline Haines | Independent | 3,019 | 7.3% |
| Jennifer Stefanac | Independent | 1,332 | 3.2% |
| Steve O’Brien | Socialist Alliance | 1,086 | 2.6% |
| Brian Buckley Clare | Independent | 862 | 2.1% |
| Milton Caine | Christian Democratic Party | 834 | 2.0% |
