Former NSW Labor MP honoured in awards

Politician turned lobbyist Craig Knowles has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

The former NSW Labor MP has received the Australia Day honour for services to the NSW parliament and his dedication to the community through a range of health initiatives.

Mr Knowles held a number of portfolios while he served between 1990 and 2005, including the planning and housing, and health portfolios.

One his controversial changes during his time as planning minister included changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, where he increased the powers of the minister in approving major developments and superseded heritage and environmental protection legislation.

Since retiring from politics in 2005, Mr Knowles has been a director at the Black Dog Institute since 2008 and a board member of the Children's Medical Research Institute.

He was also a president of the NSW Asthma Foundation and director of a Sydney University Australian-Vietnamese medical foundation.