Biography
- Parliamentary service
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- State: Elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council for Rumney, 1999. Defeated at general elections 2011.
- Federal: Chosen by the Parliament of Tasmania on 20.6.2012 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. N Sherry (resigned). Defeated at general elections 2013.
- Committee service
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- Joint Standing: Treaties served from 21.6.2012 to 30.6.2014; National Broadband Network served from 21.6.2012 to 5.8.2013; Parliamentary Library served from 4.12.2013 to 30.6.2014
- Joint Statutory: Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 21.6.2012 to 5.8.2013
- Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 27.6.2012 to 11.11.2013; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 27.6.2012 to 11.11.2013; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 17.10.2012 to 17.10.2012; Community Affairs: References served from 25.2.2013 to 11.11.2013; Environment and Communications: References served from 12.11.2013 to 13.11.2013; Environment and Communications: References served as Chair from 14.11.2013 to 30.6.2014; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 4.12.2013 to 5.3.2014; Community Affairs: References served from 6.3.2014 to 30.6.2014
- Senate Select: Electricity Prices served from 23.8.2012 to 1.11.2012; National Broadband Network served from 14.11.2013 to 30.6.2014
- Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills served from 21.6.2012 to 11.11.2013; Senators' Interests served from 12.11.2013 to 6.3.2014; Parliamentary Library served from 12.11.2013 to 1.12.2013; Publications served from 12.11.2013 to 30.6.2014
- Parliamentary party positions
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- Australian Labor Party. Served: 20.06.2012 to 30.06.2014
- Party positions
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- Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference.
- Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party (Tas.).
- Assistant Secretary of the Australian Labor Party (Tas.).
- Chair of the Australian Labor Party Platform Committee.
- Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (Tas.).
- Secretary of the Australian Labor Party local branch.
- Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1994.
- Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Tas.) from 1995.
- Personal
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- Born: 4.11.1953, Hobart, Australia
- Gender: Female
- Marital Status: Married
- Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament
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- DipEd (University of Tasmania).
- TCAE (Tasmanian College of Advanced Education).
- BA (University of Tasmania).
- Teacher from 1977 to 1999.
- Health Research Consultant at the Menzies Centre for Population from 1991 to 1995.
- Medical School Consultant at the University of Tasmania from 1991 to 1995.
- Adviser to Senator S Mackay, 1996.
- Member of the Legislative Council (Tas.) from 1999 to 2011.
- State/Territory Government service
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- Elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council for Rumney, 1999. Defeated at general elections 2011.
- Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council from 2006 to 2011.
- Minister for Human Services from 17.9.2008 to 21.4.2010.
- Minister for Education and Skills from 21.4.2010 to 7.5.2011.
- Minister for Children from 21.4.2010 to 7.5.2011.
- Minister for Police and Emergency Management from 21.4.2010 to 7.5.2011.