Nick Sherry

In 2011, Nick Sherry, the Small Business Minister of the time, received widespread national criticism when he was reported in the national media to have said that internet book sales would soon leave just a few specialist bookshops in capital cities. He said that 'in five years other than a few specialist bookshops...you will not see a bookstore. They will cease to exist because of what's happening with internet-based, web-based distribution.'

On 12 December 2011, Sherry announced that he would be retiring from the Senate at the 2013 election. He later announced he would resign at the beginning of June 2012, creating a casual Senate vacancy. Lin Thorp won the preselection vote to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement.

As Australia's first Minister for Superannuation, Sherry spoke often about the need to lower fees in the industry to provide better retirement incomes for Australians. This culminated in the Minister setting up the Review into the Governance, Efficiency and Structure and Operation of Australia's Superannuation System, also known as the Cooper Review, after its head Jeremy Cooper. The Cooper Review was the first systemic, in-depth review of the operation, efficiency, cost and performance of Australia's compulsory $1.1 trillion the superannuation system ever conducted. The Gillard Government released the Cooper Review on 5 July 2010.

Following the election of Julia Gillard's government, Sherry was appointed Minister for Small Business on 14 September 2010. He was also the Minister Assisting or Deregulation and Public Sector Superannuation and Minister Assisting on Tourism. At the 2011 Labor National Conference Sherry told Gillard he wanted to step down from the cabinet as part of the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.

Sherry held the portfolio of Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law until 9 June 2009, at which point he was promoted to Assistant Treasurer.

On 3 December 2007 Sherry was appointed Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law in the Labor Government of Kevin Rudd.

Sherry took time away from the Shadow Ministry, but returned to the frontbench in 2001 as Shadow Minister for Retirement Incomes and Savings, a position he held until 2004. In 2004 Sherry was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Finance and Superannuation and in 2005 he was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Superannuation and Intergenerational Finance and Shadow Minister for Banking and Financial Services, positions he held until the 2007 election.

In October 1997, however, he was accused of improper use of his Parliamentary travel allowance. Although he was later cleared of these allegations, it caused significant distress and he attempted suicide. He was later diagnosed with clinical depression. His suicide attempt again gained media attention after Greg Wilton became the first Australian Federal Parliamentarian to take his own life, in June 2000. At the time Sherry was open about his own experiences with depression from which he recovered in 1999.

From 1991 to 2003, Sherry was a key member of, and under Labor chaired, the Senate Select Committee on Superannuation. This committee made a number of recommendations on the performance of the superannuation industry including the key Senate breakthrough that led to the introduction of the Compulsory Superannuation Guarantee system.

Sherry was elected to the Senate in 1990, representing Tasmania for the Australian Labor Party. Between 1993 and 1996 he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy in the Second Keating Ministry.

While State Secretary, Sherry also helped establish the HostPlus Superannuation Fund, an industry superannuation fund then only for hospitality industry workers, but now a full public offer fund with over $7 billion under management. Sherry held the position of trustee of HostPlus from 1987–1990 and was also a trustee, manager, and company secretary of ClubPlus Superannuation fund. Sherry held positions on the State Executive of the Tasmanian Trades and Labor Council from 1988–1990 and was President from 1988–1990.

Sherry started his working life as a night cashier and auditor at the Wrest Point Hotel and Casino in Hobart. While working at Wrest Point, Sherry joined the Federated Liquor and Allied Industries Employees' Union and became State Secretary of the then FLAIEU between 1979 and 1990. In 1992, the FLAIEU amalgamated with another union to form the present day Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU).

Sherry was born in Kingston upon Thames, London. He was educated at the University of Tasmania, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Administration. Sherry was also active in the student union while at university, sitting on the Tasmanian University Union and various business committees from 1976–1979.

Nicholas John Sherry (born 19 November 1955), a former Australian politician, was a member of the Australian Senate for the state of Tasmania from July 1990 until June 2012, representing the Australian Labor Party. Sherry was sworn in as the Assistant Treasurer on 9 June 2009, after serving as the first Australian Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law. Sherry was the first Assistant Treasurer from Tasmania.