John Edward Graham is an Australian politician. He has been a

Labor Labour or labor may refer to: * Childbirth, the delivery of a baby * Labour (human activity), or work ** Manual labour, physical work ** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer ** Organized labour and the labour ...

member of the

New South Wales Legislative Council The New South Wales Legislative Council, often referred to as the upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, parliament of the Australian state of New South Wales. Along with the New South Wales Legislative As ...

since October 2016 and has been Special Minister of State and Minister for Roads, the Arts, Music, the Night-time Economy, Jobs and Tourism since 2023. He has also been the Minister for Transport since 6 February 2025.

Career

1991–2017: Early political career and party involvement

Graham joined the Labor Party in 1991. He worked in the higher education sector and for the Finance Sector Union. He also worked as an adviser to NSW and Queensland state governments, including as the Deputy Chief of Staff to then-NSW Premier Nathan Rees in 2009. He is a founder of Labor Loves Live Music. Graham became assistant general secretary of the New South Wales branch of the

Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party (ALP), also known as the Labor Party or simply Labor, is the major Centre-left politics, centre-left List of political parties in Australia, political party in Australia and one of two Major party, major parties in Po ...

in the early 2010s, serving for six years. Graham was considered for preselection for the Canterbury state by-election, and was confident he had the support of the rank-and-file members. However,

Sophie Cotsis Sophie Cotsis (; born 19 November 1973) is an Australian politician and current New South Wales Government, New South Wales Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Work Health and Safety in the Minns ministry since April 2023. She wa ...

was preselected after NSW Labor leader Luke Foley intervened over concerns that Graham lived in Redfern (in the electorate of Newtown) and Foley wanted the candidate to be a woman. Graham was appointed to fill the vacancy resulting from the resignation of Cotsis to contest the by-election.

2018–2024: Shadow Ministry roles and Legislative Council leadership

After Michael Daley replaced Foley as Leader in 2018, Graham was appointed to the shadow ministry in the role of Shadow Minister for Forestry, Gaming and Racing, Night Time Economy and Music, Tourism and Major Events. After the 2019 election,

Jodi McKay Jodi Leyanne McKay (born 16 August 1969) is an Australian former politician who was the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of New South Wales from June 2019 until May 2021. She previously served as a member of the New South Wales Legisla ...

replaced Daley as Leader. Graham was appointed as Shadow Minister for Roads, Night Time Economy and Music in her frontbench. He retained these positions in the Shadow Ministry of Chris Minns when that was constituted in 2021. He was also appointed as deputy leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council and Shadow Special Minister of State at this time. Following the resignation of Walt Secord from the frontbench in 2022, Graham added the portfolios of Arts and the North Coast to his existing Shadow Ministries.

2025: Minister for Transport

In February 2025, Graham was appointed as NSW Transport Minister following Transport Minister Jo Haylen's resignation. In March 2025, Graham moved into the transport portfolio full-time, his roads portfolio moved to Jenny Aitchison, and the jobs and tourism portfolio went to Steve Kamper.

Personal life

Graham is married to federal senator Jenny McAllister. They have two children. He is a member of NSW Labor's left faction.

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, John Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Labor Left politicians Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales Australian Labor Party officials 21st-century Australian politicians Ministers for aboriginal affairs and treaty Ministers for agriculture (New South Wales) Ministers for the arts (New South Wales) Ministers for emergency services (New South Wales)