18 Facts About Don Harwin

Donald Thomas Harwin was born on 5 July 1964 and is an Australian politician.

Don Harwin was the New South Wales Special Minister of State and the Minister for the Public Service and Employee Relations, Aboriginal Affairs, and the Arts in the second Berejiklian ministry since April 2019; and the Vice-President of the Executive Council, and the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council since January 2017 in the Berejiklian government.

Don Harwin briefly resigned from his roles with effect from 15 April 2020, however was reinstated on 3 July 2020.

Don Harwin has previously served as the Minister for the Arts, the Minister for Resources and the Minister for Energy and Utilities in the first Berejiklian ministry, from January 2017 until March 2019; and served as the twentieth President of the New South Wales Legislative Council between May 2011 and January 2017.

Don Harwin joined the Liberal Party in Lugarno and the Young Liberals in Earlwood in 1983 and graduated from the University of Sydney in 1985 with a Bachelor of Economics.

In 1987, Don Harwin commenced working as an assistant on electoral matters in the office of Ron Phillips.

Don Harwin worked for a number of ministers in the Greiner and Fahey Liberal governments between 1988 and 1990 and 1991 and 1995.

Between 1988 and 1990, Don Harwin was NSW President of the Young Liberal movement, becoming a member of the State Executive of the NSW branch of the Liberal Party during the same period.

Don Harwin was re-elected to the Liberal Party State Executive, serving between 1994 and 2000.

Don Harwin takes a strong interest in psephological matters as well as political history, frequently providing strategic advice to the Liberal party on State and Federal redistribution processes.

Don Harwin continued to serve as opposition whip in the Legislative Council.

Don Harwin was elected Opposition Whip on 3 April 2003 following the retirement of John Jobling.

Don Harwin was appointed a Trustee of the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Fund.

Don Harwin resigned as President of the Legislative Council and was sworn in as the Minister for Resources, the Minister for Energy and Utilities, the Minister for the Arts, and the Vice-President of the Executive Council with effect from 30 January 2017.

Don Harwin continued in his previous role as the Leader of the Government Business in the Legislative Council.

Don Harwin resigned as Minister of the Arts on 10 April 2020, effective 15 April 2020, after being fined for supposedly defying the ban on non-essential travel during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.

On 18 December 2021 Don Harwin announced that he opted not to be considered in the new ministry due to personal reasons.

Don Harwin resigned from the Legislative Council on 22 March 2022.