Metherell, Terry Alan, 1947 –

Terry Alan Metherell was born in England in 1947. He was educated at Caringbah High School and the University of Sydney, where he first graduated Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Diploma of Education and then Doctor of Philosophy. Between 1973 and 1975 Metherell was a tutor and part time lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of Sydney.

From 1975 to 1977 Metherell was research assistant and later private secretary to Hon. R.J. Ellicot, Commonwealth Attorney General. Metherell was private secretary to Senator J.L. Carrick, a federal government minister, from 1977-1980. In November 1980 Metherell was pre-selected as the Liberal member for the northern Sydney seat of Davidson and was elected to the Legislative Assembly on 19 September 1981.

On his election Metherell was immediately appointed Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads and held the shadow ministry until 1985. In 1986 he was appointed Shadow Minister for Education and Youth Affairs. In March 1988 a Liberal Government was elected under the Premiership of Nick Greiner. Terry Metherell was appointed Minister for Education and Youth Affairs. He undertook a programme of reform of the education system in NSW which resulted in the Education Reform Act, 1990 [now the Education Act, 1990]. The Minister and the Act were unpopular and Metherell was replaced as Minister for Education in 1990. In 1991 he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary and was elected as representative of the Legislative Assembly on the University of Sydney Senate.

On 2 October 1991 Metherell resigned from the Parliamentary Liberal Party in protest against party policy. He remained as an Independent Member for Davidson until his resignation from Parliament April 1992. In the state election of April 1992 the seat of Davidson was won by Liberal candidate Andrew Humpherson.