State Politics
He won the seat of electoral district of Camden for the Liberal Party in 1984. Fahey was elected member for Southern Highlands at the 1988 general election, and re-elected at the 1991 and 1995 state elections. During this period, Fahey was Minister for Industrial Relations from March 1988 and Minister for Further Education, Training and Employment from July 1990 in the Premier Nick Greiner led coalition government.
In June 1992, Fahey was appointed Premier of New South Wales after Greiner was forced to resign as a result of an Independent Commission Against Corruption of New South Wales investigation. In 1994 NSW Parliament was prorogued on 7 December when the Fahey government was attempting to stop a committee's work.
In March 1995 Fahey's government was narrowly defeated in a state election by the Labor opposition, led by Bob Carr.
Fahey is noted for having thwarted an attack on Charles, Prince of Wales, thereby preventing a potential assassination attempt. On Australia Day 1994, Charles, Prince of Wales was about to commence handing out awards at a ceremony in Sydney's Darling Harbour when a former anthropology student, David Kang, lunged onto the stage towards the Prince, simultaneously firing two shots from a starter's pistol. Fahey, sitting next to the Prince, subsequently assisted by the then Australian of the Year, Ian Kiernan, tackled Kang and wrestled him to the ground, after which Kang was subdued and arrested. Although the attack proved less dangerous than it was first thought to be, Fahey was nonetheless widely praised for his unthinking bravery.
Fahey played a key role in the bidding process for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and is also noted for his reaction when Sydney won, jumping up and down enthusiastically.
Read more about this topic: John Fahey (politician)
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