Michael Egan: Tragedy as major NSW political figure dies aged 75
- Former NSW treasurer Michael Egan has died
The longest-serving treasurer in NSW has died aged 75.
Michael Egan was Labor treasurer from April 1995 to 2005 under the state's longest continuously serving premier, Bob Carr.
He was the first Treasurer to serve from the House of Lords.
Mr Egan's political career began in October 1978 when he won the Sutherland Shire seat of Cronulla, leaving him as the electorate's only beachside Labor MP to date in a usually ultra-safe Liberal seat.
The former right-wing Labor MP moved to the Legislative Council after losing Cronulla in 1984, which was also Labor Prime Minister Neville Wran's last campaign.
He became treasurer when Labor returned to power in 1995 after seven years in the political wilderness.
Unusually for a Labor treasurer, Mr Egan presided over nine consecutive budget surpluses, with Mr Carr determined to demonstrate that Labor could be good economic managers after the state-owned banking disasters in Victoria and South Australia.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and his Treasurer Daniel Mookhey – both from the Labor Right faction – have remembered Mr Egan for his long career serving the people of NSW.
“NSW has lost a dedicated and experienced public servant, the Honorable Michael Egan AO,” they said on Thursday.