Robertson was born in Sydney , and worked as an electrician before becoming an organiser for the Electrical Trades Union . He became an industrial officer with the Labor Council of New South Wales in 1991 , and was elected assistant secretary in 1998 and secretary in 2001 . He also served as a vice-president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions . Robertson entered the New South Wales Legislative Council in 2008 , and was appointed to cabinet in 2009 . He switched to the Legislative Assembly at the 2011 state election , where the Labor Party suffered a heavy defeat . Robertson was elected party leader following Kristina Keneally 's resignation , becoming leader of the opposition . He resigned the leadership in the aftermath of the 2014 Sydney hostage crisis , after the disclosure of a minor link with its perpetrator . Robertson left politics in August 2017 to work in the non-profit sector
2014 Sydney hostage crisis
2014 Sydney hostage crisis
John Robertson (politician, born 1962)