{{Short description|Australian politician (born 1974)}} {{other people|Robert Stokes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2014}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Rob Stokes | image = MP Rob Stokes 2014 (cropped).jpg | image_size = 180px | caption = Stokes in 2014 | office = Minister for Infrastructure | premier = Dominic Perrottet | term_start = 21 December 2021 | term_end = 25 March 2023 | predecessor = ''himself'' {{small|(as Minister for Planning and Public Spaces)}} | successor = Anoulack Chanthivong{{efn|As Minister for Building}} | office1 = Minister for Cities | premier1 = Dominic Perrottet | term_start1 = 21 December 2021 | term_end1 = 25 March 2023 | predecessor1 = ''himself'' {{small|(as Minister for Planning and Public Spaces)}} | successor1 = Anthony Roberts{{efn|As Minister for Planning}} | office2 = Minister for Active Transport | premier2 = Dominic Perrottet | term_start2 = 21 December 2021 | term_end2 = 25 March 2023 | predecessor2 = ''himself'' {{small|(as Minister for Transport and Roads)}} | successor2 = David Elliott{{efn|As Minister for Transport}} | office3 = Minister for Planning and Public Spaces | premier3 = Gladys Berejiklian<br>Dominic Perrottet | term_start3 = 2 April 2019 | term_end3 = 21 December 2021 | predecessor3 = Anthony Roberts<br/>{{small|(as Minister for Planning)}} | successor3 = {{unbulleted list|Anthony Roberts<br/>{{small|(as Minister for Planning)}}|''himself'' {{small|(as Minister for Infrastructure and as Minister for Cities)}}}} | office4 = Minister for Transport and Roads | premier4 = Dominic Perrottet | term_start4 = 6 October 2021 | term_end4 = 21 December 2021 | predecessor4 = Andrew Constance | successor4 = {{unbulleted list|David Elliott {{small|(as Minister for Transport)}}|Natalie Ward {{small|(as Minister for Metropolitan Roads)}}|''himself'' {{small|(as Minister for Active Transport)}} }} | office5 = Minister for Education | premier5 = Gladys Berejiklian | term_start5 = 30 January 2017 | term_end5 = 23 March 2019 | predecessor5 = Adrian Piccoli | successor5 = Sarah Mitchell {{small|(as Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning)}} | office6 = Minister for Planning | premier6 = Mike Baird | term_start6 = 2 April 2015 | term_end6 = 30 January 2017 | predecessor6 = Pru Goward | successor6 = Anthony Roberts | office7 = Minister for the Environment | premier7 = Mike Baird | term_start7 = 23 April 2014 | term_end7 = 2 April 2015 | predecessor7 = Robyn Parker | successor7 = Mark Speakman | office8 = Minister for Heritage | term_start8 = 23 April 2014 | term_end8 = 2 April 2015 | premier8 = Mike Baird | predecessor8 = Robyn Parker | successor8 = Mark Speakman | office9 = Assistant Minister for Planning | term_start9 = 23 April 2014 | term_end9 = 2 April 2015 | premier9 = Mike Baird | predecessor9 = ''new title'' | successor9 = Mark Speakman | office10 = Minister for the Central Coast | term_start10 = 6 May 2014 | term_end10 = 2 April 2015 | premier10 = Mike Baird | predecessor10 = Mike Gallacher | successor10 = Scot MacDonald{{efn|As Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and the Central Coast}} | constituency_MP11 = Pittwater | parliament11 = New South Wales | term_start11 = 24 March 2007 | term_end11 = 25 March 2023 | predecessor11 = Alex McTaggart | successor11 = Rory Amon | birth_name = Robert Gordon Stokes | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1975|1|17}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | party = Liberal Party | alma_mater = Macquarie University | occupation = Planner | signature = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Robert Gordon Stokes''' (born 17 January 1975) is an Australian former politician. Stokes served as the New South Wales Minister for Infrastructure, the Minister for Cities, and the Minister for Active Transport in the Perrottet ministry between 21 December 2021 and 25 March 2023.<ref name="Gazette 2021-12-21">{{Gazette NSW |title=Parliament, Ministerial, Courts and Police |issue=662 |date=21 December 2021 |url=https://gazette.legislation.nsw.gov.au/so/download.w3p?id=Gazette_2021_2021-662.pdf}}</ref> He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Pittwater for the Liberal Party between 2007 and 2023.
Stokes has previously served as the Minister for Infrastructure in the second Berejiklian ministry between April 2019 and December 2021; and temporarily served as the Minister for Transport and Roads in the Perrottet ministry between October and December 2021.<ref>{{Gazette NSW |title=Government Notices |issue=30 |page=1088-1090 |date=2 April 2019 |url=https://gazette.legislation.nsw.gov.au/so/download.w3p?id=Gazette_2019_2019-30.pdf |access-date=3 April 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/news/premier-announces-new-cabinet/|title=Premier announces new Cabinet|publisher=Premier of New South Wales|date=31 March 2019|access-date=3 April 2019|archive-date=10 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310145752/https://www.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/news/premier-announces-new-cabinet/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Han, Sophie |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/berejiklian-s-new-massive-cabinet-sworn-in-amid-peals-of-laughter-20190402-p519wj.html |title=Berejiklian's new massive cabinet sworn in amid peals of laughter |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2 April 2019 |access-date=3 April 2019 }}</ref> He has also previously served as the Minister for Education from January 2017 until March 2019 in the First Berejiklian ministry;<ref name=gladys>{{cite news|agency=AAP|title=Refreshed NSW cabinet sworn in|url=http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2017/01/30/refreshed-nsw-cabinet-to-be-sworn-in.html|access-date=30 January 2017|publisher=Sky News|location=Australia|date=30 January 2017}}</ref> the Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Heritage, the Assistant Minister for Planning, and the Minister for the Central Coast during 2014 and 2015 in the first Baird government;<ref name="smh.com.au">{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mike-bairds-cabinet-reshuffle-a-preparation-for-next-election-20140422-371g9.html |title=Mike Baird's cabinet reshuffle a preparation for next election |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=22 April 2014 |access-date=23 April 2014 |author=Nicholls, Sean }}</ref><ref name=age>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/nsw/stuart-ayres-shines-on-first-day-as-police-minister-20140506-zr5pr.html|title=Stuart Ayres shines on first day as Police Minister|author=Hasham, Nicole|date=6 May 2014|work=The Age|access-date=6 May 2014}}</ref> and the Minister for Planning from April 2015 until January 2017 in the second Baird government.<ref name="smh Baird 2">{{cite news|last=Hasham|first=Nicole|title=Premier Mike Baird's new NSW cabinet sworn in: Gladys Berejiklian and Gabrielle Upton first female Treasurer and Attorney-General|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/premier-mike-bairds-new-nsw-cabinet-sworn-in-gladys-berejiklian-and-gabrielle-upton-first-female-treasurer-and-attorneygeneral-20150402-1mdjb7.html|access-date=6 April 2015|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=3 April 2015}}</ref>
==Background and early career== Stokes grew up in Mona Vale. He attended fee-paying Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore) and obtained his Higher School Certificate in 1991.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shoreoldboys.org.au/.../edoras/Resources/SHORE/OBU/PesidentsReports/Presidents%20Report%20July%2007.doc |title=President's Report 2007 |work=Old Boys' Union |publisher=Shore School |year=2007 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He obtained a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws, a Master of Laws and a PhD at Macquarie University; a Diploma of Biblical Studies, and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.<ref name=nswpl>{{cite NSW Parliament |id=38 |name=The Hon. (Rob) Robert Gordon STOKES, MP |access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref>
Stokes was an associate with the law firm David Begg & Associates in Martin Place, Sydney. He also worked in a number of other legal firms including one at Mona Vale.<ref>{{cite web |title=People power can make a difference |work=Postgrad and beyond |url=http://www.postgradandbeyond.mq.edu.au/enewsletter/buslaw/issue_2_06_stories/story1.htm |publisher=Macquarie University |year=2006 |access-date=18 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20060820191314/http://www.postgradandbeyond.mq.edu.au/enewsletter/buslaw/issue_2_06_stories/story1.htm |archive-date=20 August 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Robert Stokes Gets In! |work=Business Law Bulletin |url=http://www.law.mq.edu.au/html/pdf/buslawbulletin1_01.pdf |publisher=Macquarie University |date=12 February 2007 |access-date=18 August 2008}}</ref> He subsequently became a lecturer in the Division of Law at Macquarie University.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rob Stokes |url=http://www.robstokes.com.au/about/about_firstname/about_firstname.html |publisher=Rob Stokes |access-date=18 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719012716/http://www.robstokes.com.au/about/about_firstname/about_firstname.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=19 July 2008}}</ref> He became a member of the Young Lawyers Association of New South Wales and was a member of both the Environmental Law and CLE Committees. He became a presidential nominee in 2004 and was elected to Executive Council at the 2004 Annual Assembly.<ref>{{cite web |title=2005 Executive Councillors |url=http://www.lawsociety.com.au/page.asp?partid=16448 |publisher=Young Lawyers Association of New South Wales |access-date=18 August 2008}}</ref>
==Political career== Stokes was a policy adviser to Liberal Opposition Leader John Brogden, the Member for Pittwater. When Brogden resigned in controversial circumstances,<ref name=slur>{{cite news |title=NSW politician quits after slur |date=29 August 2005 |publisher=BBC News|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4193938.stm |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> the 2005 by-election was won by independent candidate Alex McTaggart in what many described as a shock result. Pittwater had long been reckoned as a classic "blue ribbon" Liberal seat.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/brkfast/stories/s1518038.htm |title=Pittwater Shock |date=28 November 2005 |work=Radio National|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=27 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="wipe out">{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/wipeout-party-brawls-begin/2005/11/27/1133026350266.html |title=Wipeout: party brawls begin |date=28 November 2005 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=16 February 2010 }}</ref> Less than two years later, Stokes regained the seat for the Liberals at the 2007 general election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Libs on warpath in Pittwater |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/grassroots/libs-on-warpath-in-pittwater/2007/03/23/1174597836745.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=22 March 2007 |access-date=18 August 2008}}</ref> He won the seat with 50.3 per cent of the primary vote, just over the 50 per cent threshold required to win the seat outright, and 59.4 per cent of the vote on a two-party preferred basis.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nsw/2007/results/pitt.htm |title=Pittwater |date=2 April 2007 |work=NSW Votes 2007 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref>
After the election, Stokes established his electorate office in Mona Vale. Stokes paid tribute to Brogden in his inaugural speech to the NSW Parliament on 31 May 2007.<ref>{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=Parliament of New South Wales |house=Legislative Assembly |date=31 May 2007 |pages=613–616 | title=Inaugural Speeches | url = https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Hansard/Pages/HansardFull.aspx#/DateDisplay/HANSARD-1323879322-38211/HANSARD-1323879322-38166 |speaker=Rob Stokes |access-date = 13 October 2020}}</ref>
At the 2011 general election, Stokes was re-elected with a swing of 21.7 points, gaining 84.5 per cent of the two-party vote. Stokes' main competitor was the Greens Jonathan King.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nsw/2011/guide/pitt.htm |title=Pittwater |date=1 April 2011 |work=NSW Votes 2011 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> Following the election, Stokes was appointed as NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy in the O'Farrell government.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ministers-axed-in-nsw-shakeup-20140421-370pl.html |title=Ministers axed in NSW shake-up |author=Nicholls, Sean |date=22 April 2014 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=24 April 2014 }}</ref>
Owing to the resignation of Barry O'Farrell as Premier,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/barry-ofarrell-quits-as-nsw-premier-over-memory-fail/story-fn59niix-1226886224077 |title=Barry O'Farrell quits as NSW Premier over memory fail |date=16 April 2014 |work=The Australian |access-date=23 April 2014 }}</ref> and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle by Mike Baird, the new Liberal Leader,<ref name="smh.com.au"/> Stokes was appointed as Minister for the Environment, Minister for Heritage, and Assistant Minister for Planning and appointed as a member of cabinet.<ref name="nswpl"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mike-bairds-nsw-cabinet-20140422-371j4.html |title=Mike Baird's NSW cabinet |date=22 April 2014 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=24 April 2014 }}</ref> Two weeks later, following the resignation of Mike Gallacher, Stokes was appointed as Minister for the Central Coast.<ref name=age/> Following the 2015 state election, Stokes was sworn in as the Minister for Planning on 2 April 2015 in the second Baird government.<ref name="smh Baird 2"/> Following the resignation of Mike Baird as Premier,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.thesatellite.com.au/news/baird-resigns-nsw-premier-quit-top-job-and-parliam/3133375/|first=Owen|last=Jacques|title=Baird resigns: NSW Premier to quit top job and Parliament|work=The Satellite|date=19 January 2017|access-date=18 January 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002956/http://m.thesatellite.com.au/news/baird-resigns-nsw-premier-quit-top-job-and-parliam/3133375/|archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref> Gladys Berejiklian was elected as Liberal leader and sworn in as Premier.<ref>{{cite web|title=Swearing-In of The Honourable Gladys Berejiklian MP, the 45th Premier of New South Wales, and The Honourable John Barilaro MP, Deputy Premier|url=https://www.governor.nsw.gov.au/governor/vice-regal-program/monday-23-january-2017/|website=Vice Regal Program|publisher=Governor of New South Wales|access-date=27 January 2017|date=23 January 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202042336/https://www.governor.nsw.gov.au/governor/vice-regal-program/monday-23-january-2017/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ministers|url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/pages/ministers.aspx|website=parliament.nsw.gov.au|publisher=Parliament of New South Wales|access-date=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Clennell|first1=Andrew|title=Premier Gladys Berejiklian plans major reshuffle for cabinet|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/premier-gladys-berejiklian-plans-major-reshuffle-for-cabinet/news-story/1bb77d4e287dc82004f80186e40d18f0|access-date=27 January 2017|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=26 January 2017}}</ref> The first Berejiklian ministry was subsequently formed with Stokes sworn in as the Minister for Education with effect from 30 January 2017.<ref name=gladys/> Following the 2019 state election Stokes was appointed as the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces in the second Berejiklian ministry, with effect from 2 April 2019.<ref name="ABC-2019-03-31">{{cite news |author=Sas, Nick |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-31/cabinet-reshuffle-after-nsw-election-from-berejiklian/10956776 |title=Gladys Berejiklian says Liberal Party has no women problem as re-elected NSW Premier shuffles Cabinet |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=31 March 2019 |access-date=3 April 2019 }}</ref> Following the October 2021 resignation of Andrew Constance from the ministry, Stokes was sworn in as Minister for Transport and Roads, a position that he held, together with Planning and Public Spaces until December 2021. In the second rearrangement of the Perrottet ministry, Stokes was sworn in as Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Cities, and Minister for Active Transport, with effect from December 2021.<ref name="Gazette 2021-12-21"/>
==After politics== In May 2023, Stokes was appointed to the federal government's Urban Policy Forum.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions/cities/urban-policy-forum-progressing-australian-governments-urban-policy-agenda |access-date=22 May 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260307172746/https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions/cities/urban-policy-forum-progressing-australian-governments-urban-policy-agenda |date= |title=Urban Policy Forum—Progressing the Australian Government's urban policy agenda |publisher=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts |via=Australian Government |url-status=live |archive-date=7 March 2026}}</ref>
In August 2023, Stokes assumed the role of Chair at Faith Housing Alliance.<ref>{{cite news |issue=594 |date=13–19 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260210214701/https://www.pittwateronlinenews.com/Rob-Stokes-Appointed-Chair-Faith-Housing-Alliance.php |url-status=live |archive-date=10 February 2026 |url=https://www.pittwateronlinenews.com/Rob-Stokes-Appointed-Chair-Faith-Housing-Alliance.php |access-date=22 May 2026 |title=Rob Stokes Appointed Chair Of Faith Housing Alliance To Address Housing Crisis |work=Pittwater Online News}}</ref>
In March 2024, Stokes was made an industry professor of environment and sustainability at Macquarie University.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mq.edu.au/faculty-of-arts/news/macquarie-appoints-the-hon-rob-stokes |date=25 March 2024 |access-date=29 September 2025 |url-status=live |archive-date=29 September 2025 |author=Faculty of Arts |title=Macquarie appoints The Hon Rob Stokes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250929053237/https://www.mq.edu.au/faculty-of-arts/news/macquarie-appoints-the-hon-rob-stokes}}</ref>
In May 2024, Stokes received an honorary doctorate from the University of Technology Sydney.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uts.edu.au/news/2024/05/honorary-doctorate-be-conferred-hon-rob-stokes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260114123808/https://www.uts.edu.au/news/2024/05/honorary-doctorate-be-conferred-hon-rob-stokes |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-date=14 January 2026 |title=Honorary Doctorate to be Conferred on the Hon. Rob Stokes |publisher=University of Technology Sydney |date=2 May 2024}}</ref>
In December 2024, Stokes was appointed to the board of Museums of History NSW.<ref>{{cite web|type=Ministerial media release |access-date=12 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250710195203/https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/dciths/ministerial-media-releases/new-leadership-at-nsw-cultural-institutions |url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/dciths/ministerial-media-releases/new-leadership-at-nsw-cultural-institutions |publisher=NSW Government |title=New leadership at NSW Cultural Institutions |author=Minister for the Arts |archive-date=10 July 2025 |url-status=live |date=10 December 2024}}</ref>
In June 2025, Stokes assumed the position of Group Executive – Housing at Anglicare.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.anglicare.org.au/media-centre/news/rob-stokes-appointment/ |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260120121400/https://www.anglicare.org.au/media-centre/news/rob-stokes-appointment/ |archive-date=20 January 2026 |title=Rob Stokes appointed Group Executive - Housing at Anglicare Sydney |date=25 February 2025}}</ref>
==See also== {{stack|{{portal|New South Wales|Politics}}}} *First Baird ministry *Second Baird ministry *First Berejiklian ministry *Second Berejiklian ministry *Perrottet ministry
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|au-nsw-la}} {{s-bef|before=Alex McTaggart}} {{s-ttl|title=Member for Pittwater|years=2007–2023}} {{s-aft|after=Rory Amon}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef |rows=2|before=Robyn Parker }} {{s-ttl |title=Minister for the Environment | years=2014–2015 }} {{s-aft |rows=3 |after=Mark Speakman}} {{s-ttl |title=Minister for Heritage|years=2014–2015 }} {{s-new}} {{s-ttl |title=Assistant Minister for Planning | years=2014–2015 }} {{s-bef |before=Mike Gallacher }} {{s-ttl |title=Minister for the Central Coast | years=2014–2015 }} {{s-aft |after=''portfolio abolished'' }} {{s-bef |before=Pru Goward }} {{s-ttl |title=Minister for Planning | years=2015–2017 }} {{s-aft |after=Anthony Roberts}} {{s-bef |before=Adrian Piccoli }} {{s-ttl |title=Minister for Education | years=2017{{endash}}2019}} {{s-aft |after=Sarah Mitchell |as=Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning }} {{s-bef |rows=2|before=Anthony Roberts |as=Minister for Planning }} {{s-ttl |rows=2|title=Minister for Planning and Public Spaces | years=2019{{endash}}2021 }} {{s-aft |after=Anthony Roberts |as=Minister for Planning }} {{s-aft |after=''himself'' |as=Minister for Infrastructure and as Minister for Cities}} {{s-bef |rows=2|before=''himself'' |as=Minister for Planning and Public Spaces }} {{s-ttl |title=Minister for Infrastructure | years=2021{{endash}}2023 }} {{s-aft |after=''portfolio abolished''|rows=3}} {{s-ttl |title=Minister for Cities | years=2021{{endash}}2023 }} {{s-bef |before=''himself'' |as=Minister for Transport and Roads }} {{s-ttl |title=Minister for Active Transport | years=2021{{endash}}2023 }}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stokes, Rob}} Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Politicians from Sydney Category:Macquarie University alumni Category:Macquarie Law School alumni Category:21st-century Australian politicians Category:People educated at Sydney Church of England Grammar School Category:Ministers for education (New South Wales) Category:Ministers for the environment (New South Wales) Category:People from the Northern Beaches Category:Lawyers from Sydney Category:Academic staff of Macquarie University