Sharryn Jackson
| Sharryn Jackson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Hasluck |
|
| In office 10 November 2001 – 9 October 2004 |
|
| Preceded by | New seat |
| Succeeded by | Stuart Henry |
| In office 24 November 2007 – 21 August 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | Stuart Henry |
| Succeeded by | Ken Wyatt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 February 1962 Perth, Western Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Alma mater | University of Western Australia |
| Occupation | Unionist |
Sharryn Maree Jackson (born 12 February 1962), Australian politician, was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives. She served one term from 2001 representing the Division of Hasluck before losing the seat at the 2004 federal election. She regained the seat at the 2007 federal election and was then defeated at the 2010 federal election.
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[edit] Personal life
Jackson was born in Perth, Western Australia, to parents from Midland and Guildford.[1] During her early childhood, she travelled throughout rural Western Australia with her family.[2] In her teenage years, she lived at the Swanleigh Boarding Hostel in Middle Swan, and attended Lockridge Senior High School.[2] She went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English, at the University of Western Australia.[2]
In 1999, Jackson was included on the honour roll celebrating the centenary of women's suffrage in Western Australia.[3]
Today, Jackson is married to John they live in Gooseberry Hill.[2] She has two stepchildren.[3]
[edit] Union work
After graduating from university, she was the women's officer of the Western Australian Trades and Labor Council.[2] For the 15 years prior to her entry into politics, she was, firstly, the Industrial Officer, and later the Assistant State Secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers' Union.
[edit] 2001 Federal election
After being overlooked by the Richard Court-led State Coalition Government for a posting as Commissioner of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission, in mid-2000 Jackson resolved to run for Federal Parliament.[1]
After the electoral redistribution which created the Division of Hasluck for the 2001 Australian Federal election, the electorate was notionally held by Labor with a margin of 2.55 per cent.[3] In the election, Jackson polled a lower primary vote than Liberal contender Bethwyn Chan,[4] but won the seat after a distribution of minor party preferences gave her a margin of 1.8 per cent.[5]
[edit] Member for Hasluck (2001 to 2004)
In 2004, Jackson was vocal in her criticism of Deckers Outdoor Corporation's campaign to enforce trademarks on the generic term "ugg boot", and helped to establish a successful fighting fund to challenge their trademarks.[6]
Another issue Jackson pursued during her first term in office was the establishment of a university in the eastern suburbs of Perth, an area not currently served by any of Western Australia's five universities.[7]
[edit] 2004 Federal election
At the 2004 Federal election, Jackson faced a challenge from first-time election candidate Stuart Henry. During the election campaign, Henry's electoral team sent campaign materials to households in the electorate in which Henry was described as "Member for Hasluck", sparking complaints to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) by the WA Labor Party.[8] Jackson said it was part of a "dirty tricks" campaign by Henry, even though the AEC concluded that the letters were not directly misleading.[7]
In the election she was defeated by Stuart Henry as part of the general swing away from Labor in Western Australia.
[edit] Post-election defeat
Following her defeat in the 2004 election, Jackson worked as Chief of Staff for State MP Bob Kucera, who was the Minister for Sport and Recreation.[9]
Jackson was appointed by Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter as Director of the "Community Cabinet and Liaison Unit", part of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, in May 2005.[10] Her employment in this role drew criticism, since the job was not advertised and the role was already being filled by other public servants.[10] It was also a controversial appointment because she kept her $120,000-value Ministerial Chief of Staff salary[11] and the unit's primary role was as a "propaganda machine" creating promotional material for Government members but not for other members.[9][11]
She was elected as Western Australian State President of the Australian Labor Party in November 2005, defeating Sarah Burke in a tight contest.[12] She took over this position from Michelle Roberts, a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. Jackson signalled that she intended to bridge the widening divisions between the different factions within the State Labor Party.[13] Jackson was re-elected State President in June 2006, again defeating Sarah Burke.[14]
After initially considering running for the Division of Brand in the forthcoming 2007 Federal election to replace outgoing member Kim Beazley,[15] Jackson announced in January 2007 that she intended to once again seek Labor Party endorsement for the seat of Hasluck.[16] She also signalled her intention to resign from the ALP State Presidency if she gained endorsement.[16] Also nominating for endorsement was Silvia Barzotto, from Labor's "New Right" faction.[17] Jackson secured Labor endorsement in the endorsement ballots of February 2007.[18]
She quit her position within the Department of Premier and Cabinet in March 2007,[10][19] and was succeeded as State ALP President by Sally Talbot in June 2007.[20]
[edit] 2007 Federal election
Jackson was a successful candidate at the 2007 federal election, regaining her former seat of Hasluck.
Jackson was probably aided in her campaign by voter discontent relating to a Government decision to allow the construction of a brick works in the electorate, against the wishes of the sitting member, Stuart Henry.[21]
Mirroring an election promise made by John Howard when he was visiting the electorate the previous week, Jackson announced that Labor would undertake major roads funding in Hasluck, including the construction of a grade-separated interchange at Great Eastern Highway and Roe Highway, to cost $48 million.[22] This promise remained unfulfilled by the 2010 election.
[edit] 2010 Federal election
At the 2010 Federal Election Hasluck was one of the seats that took several days to determine an outcome as the result was very close.[23] As at 29 August 2010, Ken Wyatt was over 900 votes ahead on a two-party preferred basis, and so he claimed the seat.[24]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Pryer, Wendy (2001-11-06). "Candidate looks to follow a notable pioneer for women.". The West Australian.
- ^ a b c d e "Sharryn Jackson - Candidate for Hasluck". Australian Labor Party. Archived from the original on 2004-11-06. http://web.archive.org/web/20041106085547/http://www.alp.org.au/people/wa/jackson_sharryn.php. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- ^ a b c Staff writer (2001-11-01). "The voter's choice - Election 2001". The Australian. p. 8.
- ^ Martin, Roger (2004-09-08). "Surviving on beginner's luck - Election 2004". The Australian. p. 8. "At the last election Ms Jackson polled lower than her Liberal opponent, but minor party preferences enabled her to sneak over the line."
- ^ Staff writer (2004-09-05). "Young home owners could be the key". The Sunday Times. p. 1. "This seat is held by Labor's Sharryn Jackson but with a 1.8 per cent margin it is there for the taking."
- ^ Staff writer (2004-03-20). "Ugg fund aims to give Deckers the boot". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
- ^ a b Pryer, Wendy (2004-10-08). "Investigation lets Libs off Hasluck hook HASLUCK". The West Australian. p. 13.
- ^ Videnieks, Monica (2004-10-01). "Liberal letter suggests Hasluck candidate is MP". The West Australian. p. 12.
- ^ a b Strutt, Jessica (2006-05-20). "Labor chief gets $100,000 to run 'propaganda' unit". The West Australian. p. 4. "WA taxpayers are paying ALP State president Sharryn Jackson $100,000 a year to head up a Government unit which senior Labor figures admit pumps out political propaganda for the party."
- ^ a b c Strutt, Jessica (2007-05-02). "ALP chief quits spin job in new bid for seat". The West Australian. p. 6.
- ^ a b Strutt, Jessica (2006-05-26). "Carpenter appointed spin chief". The West Australian. p. 7. "Alan Carpenter personally parachuted ALP State president Sharryn Jackson into her $120,000-a-year role running a State Government propaganda unit without advertising the position and when there were already senior public servants doing the job."
- ^ Staff writer (2005-11-27). "WA: "Baby Burke" fails in bid to become WA Labor president". General News (Australian Associated Press).
- ^ Taylor, Robert (2005-11-28). "Right on rise as Burke comes close". The West Australian. p. 4.
- ^ Staff writer (2006-06-26). "Burke loses Labor tussle". The Daily Telegraph. p. 14. "Ms Jackson retained her position as branch president winning 172 votes to Ms Burke's 135."
- ^ Samantha Maiden; Elizabeth Gosch (2007-01-18). "Gray may replace Beazley". The Australian. p. 2.
- ^ a b Staff writer (2007-01-18). "WA: State ALP President seeks endorsement for Hasluck". General News (Australian Associated Press).
- ^ O'Brien, Amanda (2007-02-09). "Labor turns up heat on marginals". The Australian. p. 8.
- ^ Staff writer (2007-02-20). "Key ALP players endorsed". The West Australian. p. 4.
- ^ Strutt, Jessica (2007-05-02). "ALP chief quits spin job in new bid for seat". The West Australian. p. 6. "A Government spokesman said Ms Jackson resigned as director in March and was under no obligation to do so to contest Hasluck."
- ^ Staff writer (2007-06-04). "MLC elected Party President Sally Talbot, WA ALP President". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
- ^ Gosch, Elizabeth (2007-10-26). "Roads cash not enough to calm anger over brickworks". The Australian. p. 8. "Although Mr Henry led numerous community protests against the brickworks, he could not convince his Canberra colleagues to reject the proposal."
- ^ Staff writer (2007-11-02). "Labor promises highway cash". Hills Gazette (News Limited): p. 5. "HASLUCK Labor candidate Sharryn Jackson has announced a Federal Labor government would spend $48 million on upgrading the intersection of Roe Highway and Great Eastern Highway."
- ^ Staff writer (2010-08-23). "Hasluck holds key to Abbott's hopes". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): p. 5. "Among those still undecided is Hasluck, where Liberal candidate Ken Wyatt has a wafer-thin 0.6 per cent lead over Labor incumbent Sharryn Jackson."
- ^ Staff writer (2010-08-26). "Wyatt secures Hasluck for Liberals". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): p. 5. "Liberal candidate Ken Wyatt will now become the first Indigenous person to take a seat in the House of Representatives after winning Hasluck from Labor's Sharryn Jackson."
| Parliament of Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| New division | Member for Hasluck 2001–2004 |
Succeeded by Stuart Henry |
| Preceded by Stuart Henry |
Member for Hasluck 2007–2010 |
Succeeded by Ken Wyatt |
