Robert Borsak
Robert Borsak | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council | |
| Assumed office 7 September 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Roy Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 April 1953 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party |
| Children | Annie Borsak (née Saab) |
| Alma mater | University of Technology Sydney |
| Occupation | Accountant |
Robert Borsak (born 14 August 1953)[1] is an Australian politician who serves as the chairman of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party. He represents the party in the New South Wales Legislative Council.[2] He was chosen by the Shooters and Fishers Party to fill the New South Wales Legislative Council vacancy caused by the death of Roy Smith on 30 July 2010.[3]
During his time in NSW Parliament, Borsak has advocated for more funding and services for rural and regional NSW,[4] defended the rights of law-abiding firearm users,[5] introduced a bill to criminalise attacks on farms by animal rights activists,[6] lobbied for further support of the greyhound racing industry[7] and railed against attempts to restrict recreational fishing.[8] Borsak has also called on the NSW Government to re-negotiate the Murray Darling Basin Plan, to secure a better deal for NSW farmers and regional communities.[9] Borsak also has denied human involvement in climate change, stating that "scientific research, reports and arguments supporting human blame for climate change, were wrong".[10]
Prior to be being elected to parliament, Borsak acted as Chairman of the Game Council NSW, which sets standards for conservation hunting in Australia.
He is an active hunter[11] and fisher.
He was a guest on the 2014 show Living with the Enemy (Australian TV series)[12]
Political career
Borsak is a member of a number of Legislative Council committees,[1] which scrutinise government activity. He chaired an inquiry into the NSW Government decision to re-locate Sydney's Powerhouse Museum. He has been publicly critical of both the cost of the museum move and the NSW Government's failure to release a business case.[13]
Under Borsak, SFF campaigned on a "biased for the bush" agenda during the 2019 state election campaign, pledging to divert funds and services away from Sydney and towards regional NSW.[14] The party achieved its best ever result at the election, winning three lower house seats.[15] Controversially, despite routine denial of preference deals between SFFP and the Labor Party, [16] Borsak was captured on film encouraging the taxi council to start a grassroots campaign to direct voters to Labor in the run-up to the February 2023 by-election[17]
In 2022, Borsak was criticised for comments that he made suggesting that independent MP Helen Dalton, who had recently left the SFF, "should be clocked."[18] Following Borsak's refusal to apologise for these comments, MPs Roy Butler and Philip Donato later resigned from the party, after failing to remove Borsak as leader.[19]
References
- ^ a b "The Hon. Robert BORSAK, MLC". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ "A Small Target". Stateline NSW. 21 August 2009.
- ^ AAP (9 August 2010). "Borsak Shooters' choice in upper house". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ "SFF demand more funding for rural NSW".
- ^ "Robert Borsak maiden speech" (PDF).
- ^ "Borsak wants more done on animal rights 'terrorism'".
- ^ "SFF support for greyhounds". ABC News. 21 February 2019.
- ^ "SFF warn premier on fishing bans".
- ^ McGowan, Michael (24 March 2019). "SFF want action on Murray Darling Basin Plan". The Guardian.
- ^ Fitzsimons, David (16 May 2019). "Vegan activists would face jail terms under SFF party legislation plan to help farmers". Western Advocate. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ Bagshaw, Eryk (1 June 2016). "NSW MP Robert Borsak shoots and then eats elephant". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ "Episode 6: Hunting". Programs. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ "Powerhouse museum business case". 12 April 2018.
- ^ "SFF pledge to be biased for the bush". Mirage News.
- ^ "SFF rise in the bush".
- ^ "MARK LATHAM IS A LIAR - NO DEALS WITH LABOR/GREENS".
- ^ "SFF Leader Robert Borsak caught on camera advocating for Labor to win in key seat".
- ^ "Robert Borsak says Independent MP Helen Dalton should be 'clocked' after heated debate in NSW Parliament". ABC News. 27 September 2022.
- ^ Cormack, Natassia Chrysanthos, Lucy (12 December 2022). "Shooters party in disarray after two MPs quit over leader's refusal to resign". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
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