Political Career
McKim supported the government in passing the same sex relationships bill (which recognises same sex relationships in Tasmania under common law) and has promoted the Greens' own Same-Sex Marriage Bill.
He campaigned heavily against the use of 1080 poison, forestry practices and the state's anti-terrorism bill.
McKim was re-elected at the 2006 election, receiving 15.93 per cent of first preferences, an increase compared to his previous vote of 12.59% in the 2002 election. He replaced Peg Putt as Leader of the Tasmanian Greens when Putt retired from Parliament in 2008.
In the 2010 Tasmanian election McKim achieved 24.1% of first preferences in the division of Franklin. On 19 April 2010, Labor Premier David Bartlett agreed to appoint Mr McKim as a Minister along with Cassy O'Connor as Cabinet Secretary
As a Minister, McKim originally held the portfolios of Sustainable Transport and Alternative Energy, Corrections and Consumer Protection, Climate Change, Human Services, and Community Development: though he delegated responsibility for the portfolios of Human Services and Community Development to fellow Greens MP and then Cabinet Secretary Cassy O'Connor.
After a Cabinet reshuffle in November 2010 the portfolios of Human Services and Community Development were formally assumed by newly appointed Greens Minister Cassy O'Connor, whilst McKim was sworn in as Minister for the newly created Aboriginal Affairs portfolio along side his other three portfolios.
Another Cabinet reshuffle, caused by Lin Thorp losing her seat in the Tasmanian Legislative Council elections and David Bartlett resigning from the Tasmanian House of Assembly, then saw McKim sworn in on 13 May 2011 as Minister for the key portfolio of Education and Skills, whilst retaining the portfolios of Corrections and Consumer Protection, and Sustainable Transport.
Read more about this topic: Nick Mc Kim
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