Duncan Gay

The Honourable Duncan Gay MLC
Deputy Leader of the Legislative Council, Minister for Roads and Ports
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office March 1988
Personal details
Born	2 May 1950 (1950-05-02) (age 61) Goulburn
Political party	National Party of Australia
Website	www.DuncanGay.com.au

Duncan John Gay (born 2 May 1950) is an Australian parliamentarian and New South Wales Minister for Roads and Ports. He is also Leader of Government Business in the New South Wales Legislative Council for the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government. ^[1]

Early life

Gay was born and raised in Crookwell, New South Wales near Goulburn and educated at Crookwell District Rural School. ^[2] He completed his secondary schooling at Newington College in Sydney, studying accountancy and wool classing. ^[3] He is married to Katie and they have two children. ^[2]

Prior to his political career, Gay owned a small trucking company and managed his family’s grazing property at Crookwell, where his home base remains today.^[2]

Political background

Gay was first elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council in March 1988 ^[4] and has been a member of the National Party since 1974.^[2]

Throughout his 21 years in Parliament, Gay has served in various portfolios and positions^[2]:

• Minister for Roads & Ports
• Leader of The Nationals in the Legislative Council
• Leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council
• Chairman of Committees in the Legislative Council
• Deputy President of the Legislative Council
• Leader of the National Party & Deputy Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council
• Chairman of Joint Select Committee upon Police Administration
• Vice Chairman of Joint Committee on ICAC.

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.” ^[5]
• 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.” ^[6] 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. ^[7]
• 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.” ^[8]
• 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. ^[8]
• 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].” ^[9]

References

1. ^ "Our Legislative Council Ministers". The Nationals Team. http://nsw.nationals.org.au/our-team/our-team/the-nationals-team.html. Retrieved 21 June 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Biography of The Hon Duncan Gay MLC". The Nationals. http://nsw.nationals.org.au/our-team/the-nationals-team/hon-duncan-gay-mlc.html. Retrieved 20 June 2011. 
3. ^ Newington College (1999). Register of Past Students 1863–1998. pp. 71. 
4. ^ Dickson, E.I. (19 March 1988). Statistical Returns – Periodic Election for Legislative Council (49th Parliament). 
5. ^ Smith, Alexandra (22 June 2011). "Drivers help to flatten see-sawing speed zones". Sydney Morning Herald. http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/drivers-help-to-flatten-seesawing-speed-zones-20110621-1gdlq.html. Retrieved 22 June 2011. 
6. ^ "Questions Without Notice - City West Cycle Link". Hansard: 312. 6 May 2011. http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/0/EAE6F9C58A4F7DAACA257893007F0D89. Retrieved 18 June 2011. 
7. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/minister-throws-spoke-in-wheel-of-city-cyclists-20110617-1g7z2.html#ixzz1Q3zTHJcA"
8. ^ ^{a b} "NSW speed cameras used as 'cash cow' - Gay". Daily Telegraph. 1 June 2011. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/nsw-speed-cameras-used-as-cash-cow-gay/story-e6freuyi-1226067441452. Retrieved 16 June 2011. 
9. ^ "Questions Without Notice - Live Travel Time Technology". Hansard: 29. 15 June 2011. http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/0/75C79AC24455676ACA2578B00080BE6A. Retrieved 19 June 2011. 

External links

• Official website

Persondata
Name	Gay, Duncan John
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	2 May 1950
Place of birth	Goulburn
Date of death
Place of death