Noreen Hay
Noreen Hay | |
|---|---|
| Member of New South Wales Legislative Assembly | |
| Assumed office 22 March 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Col Markham |
| Constituency | Electoral district of Wollongong |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1951 (age 72–73) London, England |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Spouse | Christoper Hay |
| Children | Four children |
| Residence | Wollongong |
| Occupation | Trade union official, personal care worker |
Noreen Hay (born c. 1951) is an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. She represented Wollongong for the Australian Labor Party since 2003. In July 2015, Hay stood down as NSW Opposition whip due to allegations of electoral fraud and branch stacking.[1]
Early life
Hay was born in London into a working-class family of practising Christians.[2] She was the second eldest of five children to parents Nora and Tadg Herlihy, who had migrated to the United Kingdom from Cork, Ireland.[2] She married Christopher Martin Hay and in 1982 they migrated with their four children to Wollongong, New South Wales.
Hay enrolled in Wollongong TAFE and subsequently found employment with the NSW Home Care Service, caring for the elderly and bedridden in Wollongong's outer suburbs.[2] She became a union official and regional secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers' Union and worked as an electorate officer to Jennie George, the Federal Member for Throsby.[3][4]
Political career
In 2002, she won ALP preselection from the sitting member, Col Markham,[5] and was the first woman elected for the seat of Wollongong.
Following the 2007 election, Hay was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to Health Minister Reba Meagher.[4] She was stood down in February 2008 by the Premier Iemma being named in an ICAC inquiry into Wollongong Council.[6] Hay was re-appointed in March 2008 after being cleared by the ICAC.
State Premier Nathan Rees dismissed Noreen Hay from her position as Parliamentary Secretary for Health on 12 September 2008 after allegations arose that she participated in simulated mammary intercourse with Police Minister Matt Brown at an office party in June. Both Brown and Hay denied the allegations.[7]
References
- ^ Knowles, L; McClymont, A. "Wollongong MP Noreen Hay stands down as NSW Opposition whip". ABC News. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ a b c "Inaugural Speeches". Hansard: Parliament of New South Wales. May 2003. Retrieved 30 January 2008.
- ^ "Hay, Noreen (c. 1951– )". Australian Women. National Foundation for Australian Women. Retrieved 7 February 2007.
- ^ a b "Ms Noreen Hay, MP". Members of Parliament. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ^ Norington, Brad (16 December 2002). "Rival beats MP to safe ALP seat". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 February 2007.
- ^ Iemma stands down Wollongong probe MP – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- ^ "Premier dumps Noreen Hay". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 September 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2008.