Matt Kean FAQ
Matt Kean
Matt Kean entered Parliament in 2011 and spent his early years advocating for stronger mental health policy.
Elevated to the NSW Cabinet in 2017, he was appointed Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation in 2017.
Following the 2019 NSW election, he was appointed Minister for Energy and Environment.
Since this appointment, Kean has added substantial expanses of land to the NSW National Parks’ Estate, beating and then doubling acquisition targets which will mean an extra 400,000 hectares (over five per cent) will be added by the end of 2022.
An outspoken critic of “climate denialism” he has campaigned for greater and national action on climate change, particularly in the wake of the 2019-20 bushfires.
Championing a more progressive set of energy and climate policies in the Liberal Party, he has argued that the centre of Australian politics needs to reclaim its voice in the political debate.
In 2020, he delivered the biggest renewable energy policy in Australia’s history.
The Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap: a 20-year plan for NSW’s energy infrastructure that incentivises private investment in renewable energy while simultaneously reducing emissions and lowering electricity bills for the families and businesses of NSW.
He has shown that when politicians make a concerted effort to find common ground and put aside tribal and ideological differences, real and lasting reform can be achieved.
In October 2021, Matt was appointed Treasurer in the Perrottet Government. He delivered his first Budget in June 2022.
In August 2022, Matt was elected Deputy Leader of the NSW Liberal Party.
Q&A with Matt Kean
- New Line Road has been a major local issue for decades. The Government has allocated funds for strategies to alleviate some of the pressure of this contentious road (and roads tying into it). What do you think is the solution to New Line Rd?
- Where are you at with New Line Road today?
- Can you pledge that if there is a change of government or administration that this will still go ahead?
- Onto Cherry Metro Station [that you were out visiting this morning], which is a part of your new constituency [after recent border changes]. A lot has happened there in a relatively short space of time. The development is still ongoing, carparking is still an issue, there’s concern from residents about over development in that area. What’s your vision and plan?
- There is ongoing concern from residents about high rise development around the station, adjoining Castle Hill Road, population growth in that cluster around the Station, how would you respond to those concerns?
- What are your top priorities for your local electorate?
- Will New Line Road still be a key priority of yours if you’re in opposition?
- You have held this seat of Hornsby for 11 years now, some residents are concerned there is complacency and that fresh blood is needed. How would you respond to that?
- You’ve been vocal about pre selection. We’ve seen this mass exodus of high profile Liberal and National MPs in a short space of time. Do you believe the Liberal Party is doing all it can to rectify these losses?
- One last question, you may not get asked as often, is about your family life. You’re young, it’s a very demanding and stressful job. Where does your wife and family fit into all of this, especially at this pointy end leading into the election?
- You think? But you’re on my television every day and it really is very different, you are the Treasurer…?