Andrew Rohan


Andrew Baijan Rohan, an Australian politician of Assyrian descent, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Smithfield for the Liberal Party from 2011 to 2015.

Early years and background

Born in Iraq, Rohan completed studies in petroleum geology at the University of Baghdad, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1970 and a Master of Science in 1975. Migrating to Australia in 1979, he initially worked as a petroleum geologist for Robertson Research before establishing his own printing business in 1995.
Elected as a Councillor to Fairfield City Council in 2008, Rohan was President of the Smithfield branch, and Smithfield SEC of the Liberal Party between 2003 and 2011.

Political career

At the 2011 state election Rohan was elected to the normally safe Labor seat with a swing of 18.8 points and won the seat with 54.8 per cent of the two-party vote. His main opponent was the then incumbent sitting member, Ninos Khoshaba, representing Labor. Since the seat was first created in 1988, Rohan's win was the first time the seats has been held by the Liberals. Smithfield was abolished in 2015, mostly replaced by Prospect. Rohan attempted to transfer there, but was defeated.
In August 2016 Rohan was suspended from the Liberal Party after announcing his run for Fairfield City Council as an Independent against the endorsed Liberal candidates.