2015-09-18
Tasmanian Senator Nick McKim is a passionate advocate for Tasmania’s people, environment and economy.
He was first elected to the Tasmanian parliament in 2002, and represented the electorate of Franklin in the House of Assembly for 13 years, leading the Tasmanian between 2008 and 2014.
In 2010 Nick became Australia’s first Greens Minister, with portfolios including Education and Skills, Corrections and Consumer Protection, Sustainable Transport, Climate Change and Aboriginal Affairs.
As Minister, Nick significantly increased funding for Tasmania’s public education system, helped improve literacy and numeracy in our schools faster than the rest of Australia, created the Professional Learning Institute for our teachers, created TasTAFE, successfully reformed Tasmania’s prison system, and introduced many new public transport services in urban and regional Tasmania.
Nick was also the first person to introduce marriage equality legislation into any Australian parliament, and has twice attempted to legislate for voluntary euthanasia. He replaced Senator Christine Milne in August 2015.
Nick is motivated by a belief in intergenerational equity and a conviction that for future generations to enjoy wellbeing and prosperity we have to live more sustainably today.
Nick is also certain that Tasmania has an extremely bright future. In a rapidly changing world, Tasmania’s small size and the close connections in our community mean that we can adapt more quickly and easily.