Robert Webster (politician)

For other politicians of this name, see Robert Webster (disambiguation).

The Honourable Robert Webster AM
Member of Parliament for Goulburn
In office 1984–1995
Personal details
Born	(1951-09-16)16 September 1951 Sydney
Nationality	Australian
Political party	National Party & Liberal Party
Spouses	Elizabeth née Love ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1998)​ Caro née Black ​ (m. 1999)​
Relations	Son of Leila Elizabeth & Eccleston Bales Webster
Children	2 sons 2 daughters
Education	Wyvern House Newington College
Profession	Director of korn ferry international

The Honourable Robert James Webster AM (born 16 September 1951) is an Australian company director and grazier and a former New South Wales parliamentarian.

Early life

Webster was born in Sydney and attended Newington College (1963–1969), commencing as a preparatory school student in Wyvern House.[1] From 1970 until his election to State parliament he was a grazier at Salisbury Downs, a property near Bigga.

Parliamentary career

Webster represented Goulburn for the National Party in the NSW Legislative Assembly from March 1984 until May 1991 when he was elected as a member of the Legislative Council where he served until retiring from politics in 1995.[2] During his parliamentary career he served as Minister for Administrative Services and Assistant Minister for Transport, Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister for Administrative Services, Minister for Planning, Minister for Energy, Minister for State Development and Minister for Tourism, and finally as Minister for Planning and Minister for Housing. While in Parliament, Webster was a member of the National Party but since 1996 has been a member of the Liberal Party.

Business career

He is a former Executive Director of the International Banks and Securities Association of Australia and is now a Director of Korn Ferry International and Chair of the Board at Endeavour Energy.[3]

Community service

Between 1997 and 2004 he served a Chairman of the National Science & Technology Centre, Questacon.[4] He is currently chairman of ANZ Stadium's Advisory Board.[5] He is a former member of Newington College Council.[6]

Honours and recognition

Webster was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours for "significant service to the people and Parliament of New South Wales, and to business".[7]

References

1. Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 211
2. As a former MLC and Minister of the Crown he was granted retention of the title of Honourable for life:"Retentions". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 74. 16 June 1995. p. 3252. Retrieved 15 October 2019 – via Trove.
3. "Modern Slavery Statement" (PDF). Endeavour Energy. 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
4. "The Hon. Robert James Webster, MP (1951– )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
5. Robert Webster's ANZ Stadium letter has Baird ministers in tizz Retrieved 19 September 2017.
6. Newington College Council Retrieved 19 September 2017.
7. "The Honourable Robert James Webster". Australian Honours Search Facility. Retrieved 10 June 2024.

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Ron Brewer	Member for Goulburn 1984 – 1991	Succeeded by Seat abolished