Scott Barrett (politician)

Barrett was born and raised in the Central West region, and attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School. He then attended Hawkesbury Agricultural College where he completed a Bachelor Systems Agriculture and served as President of the Hawkesbury Student Union.^[2]

Barrett then worked as a presenter and reporter with ABC Radio in north-west Queensland and then served as a media adviser for federal Katter's Australia Party MP Bob Katter between 2008 and 2010.^[2][3] He then joined the National Party and worked as a party campaign manager in the Division of Hunter at the 2013 federal election, and as a regional co-ordinator for the party in 2014. He then worked as a policy adviser for the Baird government.^[2]

Barrett was also a charity manager and had worked overseas for charities. He was the NSW state manager for charity group GIVIT, which provided drought, flood and bushfire relief.^[3][4]

Barrett ran for the National Party in the Orange by-election in 2016 but was not elected.^[3]

Following the resignation of Trevor Khan in January 2022, Barrett was selected by the National Party to fill the casual vacancy caused by Khan's resignation. He was appointed by a joint sitting of the New South Wales parliament on 24 February 2022.^[1] In March 2022, Barrett was appointed as Deputy Government Whip in the Legislative Council, serving in the role until his defeat at the 2023 election.^[4]

In September 2024 Barrett was appointed to the Legislative Council to fill the casual vacancy left by Bronnie Taylor.^[5]