Craig John Knowles was born on 27 February 1959 and is a former Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1990 to 2005.
15 Facts About Craig Knowles
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Craig Knowles was born in Liverpool, New South Wales and educated at Liverpool Boys High School, Sydney College of Technical and Further Education.
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Craig Knowles worked in the New South Wales Department of Business and Consumer Affairs from 1988 and was the Western Sydney Co-ordinator in the Office of State Development of New South Wales Premiers' Department from 1987 to 1988.
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Craig Knowles was an alderman on Liverpool City Council from 1982 to 1994 and Mayor from 1986 until 1988.
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Craig Knowles served as a Labor Party member for Macquarie Fields from May 1990 to May 1991, Moorebank from 1991 to 1999 and Macquarie Fields from 1999 to 2005.
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Craig Knowles was Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning from 1995 to 1999, Minister for Health from 1999 to 2003 and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Natural Resources from 2003 to 2005.
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Craig Knowles introduced a number of changes during his time as Planning Minister.
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An Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into Craig Knowles' behaviour cleared the minister in September 2005, but he had already been moved from the health portfolio.
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Craig Knowles was damaged by the Orange Grove affair, as a supporter of a retail outlet, which was later found to have been opened in contravention of zoning regulations in his electorate, while he was Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning.
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Craig Knowles had been considered a possible successor to Bob Carr as Premier but declined to be nominated when Carr retired in August 2005; himself resigning from the ministry the same day as Carr and his deputy, Andrew Refshauge.
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Craig Knowles resigned from parliament a few days later, sparking the 2005 Macquarie Fields by-election.
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Craig Knowles was ultimately succeeded by Labor's candidate Steven Chaytor.
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Craig Knowles has a number of advisory roles, statutory appointments, and non-profit directorships, including:.
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At the 2015 Australia Day Honours, Craig Knowles was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to local government, to the Parliament of New South Wales, and to the community through a range of health initiatives.
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In January 2018, Craig Knowles was appointed by Trade Minister Steven Ciobo as the Consul-General of Australia in Auckland, New Zealand.