Premier of New South Wales
Following the narrow 1995 victory, he was reelected to a large majority in 1999, with a swing of seven percent to Labor. He was reelected almost as easily in 2003.
His centrist, cautious government was characterised by conservative financial management and the encouragement of market forces, and a "tough on crime" policy. It was also seen as having a strong pro-environment character and being committed to curriculum rigour, testing and literacy initiatives in schools. Carr ventured into national policy issues, particularly issues concerning the environment, population growth, embryonic stem cell research, Federal-State relations and support for a minimalist model of an Australian Republic. In terms of economic management, Carr's government, assisted by State Treasurers Michael Egan and Andrew Refshauge, delivered ten consecutive budget surpluses. As evidence of Carr's popularity, he won large majorities even as the Coalition held most of New South Wales' seats at the federal level.
Read more about this topic: Bob Carr, New South Wales State Politics
Famous quotes containing the words south and/or wales:
“Biography is a very definite region bounded on the north by history, on the south by fiction, on the east by obituary, and on the west by tedium.”
—Philip Guedalla (1889–1944)
“I just come and talk to the plants, really—very important to talk to them, they respond I find.”
—Charles, Prince Of Wales (b. 1948)