DUNCAN Gay’s casual vacancy in the Legislative Council will be filled by a former Australian Amy pilot – and the first NSW Nationals member of Parliament to be of Asian heritage.
Wes Fang will also be the first Nationals’ Upper House member to come from the South-West in nearly 20 years.
Mr Fang, who has also flown rescue helicopters for Child Flight, lives with his young family in Wagga where his wife is a paediatrician.
A former director of the Wagga Wagga Business Chamber and founder of the Wagga Wagga Ratepayers Community, Mr Fang has been involved with the Nationals since 2010.
He was The Nationals’ third NSW Senate candidate at the 2016 Federal election.
His father is of Singaporean heritage and immigrated to Australia in the 1970s.
The Nationals said Mr Fang will have big shoes to fill: Duncan Gay served for 29 years in the Legislative Council of New South Wales and six years as Minister for Roads, the longest serving in the state.
As Mr Fang will fill a casual vacancy in the Legislative Council, he will be sworn in when the Legislative Council returns in August.