John Graham

John Edward Graham is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since October 2016 and has been Special Minister of State and Minister for Roads, the Arts, Music, the Night-time Economy, Jobs and Tourism since 2023. He has also been the Minister for Transport since 6 February 2025.

Career 1991–2017: Early political career and party involvement Graham joined the Labor Party in 1991. He worked in the higher education sector and for the Finance Sector Union. He also worked as an adviser to NSW and Queensland state governments, including as the Deputy Chief of Staff to then-NSW Premier Nathan Rees in 2009. He is a founder of Labor Loves Live Music.

Graham became assistant general secretary of the New South Wales branch of the Australian Labor Party in the early 2010s, serving for six years.

Graham was considered for preselection for the Canterbury state by-election, and was confident he had the support of the rank-and-file members. However, Sophie Cotsis was preselected after NSW Labor leader Luke Foley intervened over concerns that Graham lived in Redfern (in the electorate of Newtown) and Foley wanted the candidate to be a woman. Graham was appointed to fill the vacancy resulting from the resignation of Cotsis to contest the by-election.

2018–2023: Shadow Ministry roles and Legislative Council leadership After Michael Daley replaced Foley as Leader in 2018, Graham was appointed to the shadow ministry in the role of Shadow Minister for Forestry, Gaming and Racing, Night Time Economy and Music, Tourism and Major Events.

After the 2019 election, Jodi McKay replaced Daley as Leader. Graham was appointed as Shadow Minister for Roads, Night Time Economy and Music in her frontbench. He retained these positions in the Shadow Ministry of Chris Minns when that was constituted in 2021. and Shadow Special Minister of State at this time.

In March 2025, Graham moved into the transport portfolio full-time, his roads portfolio moved to Jenny Aitchison, and the jobs and tourism portfolio went to Steve Kamper.

In May 2026, Graham was suspended from the Legislative Council for one day.

Personal life Graham is married to federal senator Jenny McAllister.