The Hon. John Thwaites

John Thwaites is a Professorial Fellow, Monash University, and Chair of the Monash Sustainability Institute. He also chairs The Climate Group in Australia and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.

John Thwaites was Deputy Premier of Victoria,, from 1999 until his retirement in 2007. During this period he was Minister for Health, Minister for Planning, Minister for Environment, Minister for Water, Minister for Victorian Communities and Victoria's first Minister for Climate Change.

John Thwaites introduced major reforms to improve Victoria's sustainability and liveability including:
- A new residential planning code - Rescode
- 5-star energy and water efficiency for all new homes
- energy and water efficiency requirements for major industry
- A mandatory renewable energy target for Victoria (VRET)
- incentives and targets for energy efficiency
- reform of water pricing and legislation to encourage conservation
- sustainability requirements for government accommodation.

As Minister for Environment, John worked closely with the Green Building Council and industry to promote more sustainable commercial buildings.

In his current role as Chairman of the Monash Sustainability Institute, John is promoting cross-disciplinary research in sustainability issues.

John Thwaites was a Member of the Victorian Parliament from 1992 to 2007, and prior to entering Parliament was a barrister practising in planning and administrative law. He has degrees in Law and Science.