George Souris
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George Souris AM (born 12 July 1949) is an Australian politician and former member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Upper Hunter for the Nationals from 1988 to 2015. Souris is a former leader of the National Party in NSW.
Early years and background
He was born at Gunnedah and was educated at The Armidale School and the University of New England. He represented NSW Country in Rugby Union and played against the touring South African Springboks at Orange 13 July 1971. He has practised as a qualified public accountant, company auditor and taxation consultant. He is married and has two sons.
Political career
Souris represented the electorate of the Upper Hunter for the Country and later re-named National Party of Australia from 1988 until his retirement at the 2015 NSW state election. He was Minister for Finance and Minister for Ethnic Affairs from July 1992 to May 1993 and Minister for Land and Water Conservation from May 1993 to the defeat of the Fahey government in March 1995. He was the leader of the Parliamentary National Party from January 1999 to March 2003.
Souris was deputy leader of the Nationals from 1993 to 1999 when he ousted Ian Armstrong as leader. When he stood down as National Party leader he became the first person to leave the National Party leadership without becoming deputy premier since Sir Davis Hughes (served 1958 to 1959 when the party was then called the Country Party).
Souris was a member of the Shadow Ministry of Barry O'Farrell.
Souris was the Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing, and Minister for the Arts in the O'Farrell government, between 2011 and 2014. He was also Minister for the Hunter between December 2013 and April 2014. When O'Farrell was succeeded as Premier by Mike Baird, Souris was dumped from Cabinet, a decision that disappointed Souris. On 27 September he announced that he will retire and not recontest Upper Hunter at the 2015 election. On his retirement announcement he revealed that it was the decision of Deputy Premier and his successor as Nationals leader Andrew Stoner for him to be removed from Cabinet, not Premier Baird's.
| New South Wales Legislative Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byCol Fisher | Member for Upper Hunter 1988–2015 | Succeeded byMichael Johnsen |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded byBob Rowland Smith | Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing 1991–1992 | Succeeded byJoe Schipp |
| Preceded byPhillip Smiles | Assistant Treasurer of New South Wales 1992–1993 | VacantTitle next held byJohn Della Bosca |
| VacantTitle last held byBob Debus | Minister for Finance 1992–1993 | VacantTitle next held byMichael Costa |
| Preceded byJohn Fahey | Minister for Ethnic Affairs 1992–1993 | Succeeded byMichael Photios |
| Preceded byGarry Westas Minister for Conservation and Land Management | Minister for Land and Water Conservation 1993–1995 | Succeeded byKim Yeadon |
| Preceded byVirginia Judge | Minister for the Arts 2011–2014 | Succeeded byTroy Grant |
| Preceded byJodi McKayas Minister for Tourism | Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing 2011–2014 | Succeeded byAndrew Stoneras Minister for Tourism and Major Events |
| Preceded byKevin Greeneas Minister for Gaming and Racing and Minister for Major Events | Succeeded byTroy Grantas Minister for Hospitality, Gaming and Racing | |
| Preceded byMike Gallacher | Minister for the Hunter 2013–2014 | Succeeded byGladys Berejiklian |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded byIan Armstrong | Deputy Leader of the New South Wales National Party 1993–1999 | Succeeded byJohn Turner |
| Leader of the New South Wales National Party 1999–2003 | Succeeded byAndrew Stoner |