Steve Whan

Early career and background Born in Canberra, he is the son of Bob Whan, a former member for the federal seat of Eden-Monaro. Steve Whan was educated at the Canberra College of Advanced Education (now University of Canberra). He graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences, majoring in Economics and Politics. In 1998, he received a Graduate Certificate in Management from the University of Western Sydney.

From 1987 to 1988 Whan was assistant private secretary to John Brown, Federal Minister for Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories. He later worked for senator Bob McMullan until 1992. Between 1992 and 1994, Whan worked for Ros Kelly, Federal Minister for Environment, Sport and Territories.

He worked for the Australian Sports Commission from 1994 to 2001, and subsequently became a consultant on community relations and sport, before being preselected as a Labor candidate for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Political career Representing Labor, Whan contested Eden-Monaro, which was held by his father Bob between 1972 and 1975, at the 1998 and 2001 federal elections, and was unsuccessful on both occasions.

Whan was elected as the member for New South Wales state seat of Monaro at the 2003 state election. which was one of the lowest anti-Labor swings in the state. Less than three months later, Whan was appointed to the Legislative Council to fill a casual vacancy, succeeding Tony Kelly. Whan was immediately promoted to the shadow cabinet, becoming the shadow minister for Resources and Primary Industries, shadow Special Minister of State, and shadow minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing. Before his preselection, Whan stated his intention to retire from politics if he did not win Monaro at the 2015 election.

At the 2015 election, Whan was defeated for the second time by sitting member John Barilaro, by a margin of 2.53 points. Barilaro improved the Nationals margin by 0.53 points, even though the remainder of the state swung to the ALP.

In February 2023, it was announced that he would be replacing Terry Campese as the Labor candidate for Monaro at the March state election and was subsequently elected. He served for five months as Government Whip in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly before being appointed as Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education in the Minns ministry.