Mike Gallacher

• Partner Investigator
• Chief Executive Officer
• Ports Australia
• MGallacher@portsaustralia.com.au

Current position held

Chief Executive Officer                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

About

Following an intensive and varied 16 year career as a Police Officer, Mike Gallacher was appointed to the NSW Legislative Council in 1996.  Within three years he was elected Leader of the Liberals and Nationals Coalition in the Legislative Council; a position he held continuously for over 15 years. He has performed the Shadow Ministerial role across a variety of portfolios including Ports, Industrial Relations, Transport and Police. He also served numerous years as Shadow Minister for the Hunter Valley and Central Coast regions strongly advocating on behalf of those communities.

Winning government in 2011, Mike was appointed Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter and later the further role of Minister for Industrial Relations.

As Minister, he led on behalf of the Government the public debate on issues such as measures to reduce alcohol-related violence, and rampant gang/gun-related crime and introduced initiatives to change driver behaviour.

He reformed the NSW Police Death and Disability scheme saving the State hundreds of millions of dollars whilst at the same time providing a morally and economically sustainable workers’ compensation scheme to protect Police and their families. And as Leader of the Government was crucial in negotiating and securing the support of minor parties in the Parliament on a wide variety of Government legislative priorities.

In 2017, Mike left New South Wales Parliament to take on the role as CEO of Ports Australia, the peak industry body for the Ports industry.  Bringing with him a robust approach to policy development and preparedness to strongly advocate awareness of the Port sector and the important role it plays in Australia’s future.