Our Minister

Katrina Hodgkinson was appointed Minister for Primary Industries and Minister for Small Business in April 2011.

She has previously held the Shadow Ministerial portfolios of Small Business, Fair Trading, Rural Affairs, Tourism, Major Events, Community Services and Natural Resource Management.

As a fifth generation Yass resident, Katrina is a strong advocate for rural NSW. She has represented the seat of Burrinjuck in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly since 1999. She currently serves as the patron of many community groups and associations, including the South West Slopes Chapter of the National Serviceman’s Association and various Agricultural Show Societies.

Growing up on a merino stud, Katrina has experienced the farming lifestyle first-hand. She is passionate about tackling the issues that affect the State’s farming community and understands both the challenges and rewards of life on the land.

Katrina proudly represents the State’s farmers as Minister for Primary Industries and believes in the great potential of rural and regional NSW.
Some of the areas covered by the Primary Industries portfolio include agriculture, Fisheries NSW, Forests NSW, NSW Food Authority, Marine Parks, NSW Office of Water, State Water, Sydney Catchment Authority, Catchment Management Authorities, aquaculture and biosecurity.

Key priority areas in both of the portfolios include food security, science and research, regional service delivery, strategic land use policy, commercial fisheries reform and water, catchment and land management.

As Minister for Small Business, Katrina is striving to provide the State’s small businesses with a more productive and fair environment to grow and prosper.

She appointed the State’s first Small Business Commissioner who will be an independent advocate for the 650,000 small businesses in NSW.

Prior to entering parliament, Katrina was the owner and operator of a wool and fine arts retail enterprise in Yass and Bowral, before becoming an adviser to Senator Nick Minchin, Minister for Industry, Science and Resources from 1997 to 1999.

Katrina is married with two children and lives at Yass.