1. Andrew James Constance was born on 31 October 1973 and is an Australian politician who represented Bega for the Liberal Party in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 2003 and December 2021.
18 Facts About Andrew Constance
1. 2.
At the time Andrew Constance was elected in 2003, he was aged 29 years, and he became the youngest member of the Parliament.
3.
Andrew Constance previously worked as a corporate affairs consultant representing large industry associations and multinationals in the Asia-Pacific region.
4.
Andrew Constance was appointed Minister for Ageing and Disability Services in 2011 and championed the person-centred reforms which were necessary steps towards the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
5.
Andrew Constance was promoted to Minister for Finance and Services in 2013 after the sacking of Greg Pearce, with the portfolio of Ageing and Disability Services transferred to John Ajaka.
6.
Andrew Constance handed down his first Budget on 17 June 2014.
7.
Andrew Constance continued to be the Minister for Transport after Gladys Berejiklian became premier in 2017.
8.
On 10 March 2020, Andrew Constance announced his resignation from politics and will not contest the next state election, citing that recovery from the bushfires will take priority before announcing an effective date.
9.
Andrew Constance supported the legalisation of voluntary assisted dying in New South Wales.
10.
Andrew Constance supported the amendment to the NSW Crimes Act 1900 to decriminalise abortion.
11.
Andrew Constance is strongly of the opinion that abortion rights must be safeguarded since being legalised, writing in an opinion piece for The Sydney Morning Herald about why he thinks the right to an abortion should be held in high regard.
12.
Andrew Constance was preselected as the Liberal candidate for Gilmore on 17 January 2022.
13.
At the subsequent election, Andrew Constance was narrowly defeated by incumbent MP Fiona Phillips of the Australian Labor Party.
14.
Andrew Constance made a deal with sections of the Right faction whereby he, if elected, would resign after 18 months to run as the party's candidate for the seat of Gilmore at the next federal election for a second time.
15.
Andrew Constance was endorsed by Berejiklian, Senator Marise Payne and her partner, former state Cabinet minister Stuart Ayres.
16.
Andrew Constance was ultimately defeated in the final vote to Maria Kovacic, with 243 votes compared to Kovacic's 287.
17.
On 2 March 2024, it was announced that Andrew Constance had won preselection for the seat of Gilmore to recontest the seat.
18.
On Monday 24 February 2025, Andrew Constance stated that the Liberal Party would seek to move away from the Paris climate agreement if elected.