Tanya Plibersek

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Tanya Plibersek MP
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Sydney
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 October 1998
Preceded by Peter Baldwin
Minister for Human Services
In office
14 September 2010 – 14 December 2011
Preceded by Chris Bowen
Succeeded by Brendan O'Connor (Human Services)
Minister for Housing
Minister for the Status of Women
In office
3 December 2007 – 14 September 2010
Preceded by Brian Howe (Housing 1991–96, position vacant 1996–2007)
Julie Bishop (Women)
Succeeded by Kate Ellis (Status of Women)
Mark Arbib (Social Housing and Homelessness)
Minister for Health
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 December 2011
Preceded by Nicola Roxon
Personal details
Born 2 December 1969 (1969-12-02) (age 42)
Sydney, Australia
Nationality Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s) Michael Coutts-Trotter
Alma mater University of Technology, Sydney
Macquarie University
Occupation Public servant

Tanya Joan Plibersek, MP (born 2 December 1969), is an Australian politician with the Australian Labor Party, and Federal Minister for Health. She has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since October 1998, representing the seat of Sydney, New South Wales.[1] Plibersek is the first Slovene Australian to reach the position of a minister in the Australian government.[2]

Contents

[edit] Early years and personal background

Plibersek was born in Sydney, the daughter of migrants from Slovenia, and was dux of Jannali Girls High School.[3] She was educated at the University of Technology, Sydney and Macquarie University, where she gained a master's degree in politics and public policy.[1] Before entering Parliament, she was Women's Officer at the University of Technology, Sydney and worked for the Domestic Violence Unit at the NSW Government's Office for the Status and Advancement of Women as well as the office of Senator Bruce Childs.[4] She lives in Sydney with her husband Michael Coutts-Trotter.[5] and children Anna, Joseph and Louis.[6]

[edit] Political career

Plibersek was elected to the House of Representatives for Sydney in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007.[7] She was elected to the Shadow Ministry after the 2004 election. She was Shadow Minister for Work, Family and Community, Shadow Minister for Youth and Early Childhood Education and Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader on the Status of Women since October 2004. This portfolio was retitled Shadow Minister for Child Care, Youth and Women in June 2005. Following the Shadow Ministerial reshuffle in December 2006 (when Kevin Rudd assumed the leadership of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party) Plibersek was promoted to be Shadow Minister for Human Services, Housing, Youth and Women.

Plibersek writes a fortnightly column for The Sydney Morning Herald and has appeared regularly as a commentator on ABC talk show Q&A since 2008.

In the 2007 Federal election, Plibersek was re-elected to the seat of Sydney with a 2.12% swing toward the Labor Party.[8] On 3 December 2007, Plibersek was appointed Minister for Housing and Minister for the Status of Women.

In the 2010 Federal election, Plibersek was re-elected to the seat of Sydney with a 2.25% swing against the Labor Party.[9] On 11 September 2010, Plibersek was appointed Minister for Human Services and Minister for Social Inclusion when she returns from maternity leave.

[edit] Housing

Tanya Plibersek, at the launch of a social housing project in Braddon, February 2010

As Minister for Housing, Plibersek launched the Social Housing Initiative, which provided for the construction of more than 19,300 new public housing units, with approximately 70,000 units receiving repairs and maintenance.[10] In December 2008, along with Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister at that time, Plibersek released the Government’s White Paper on Homelessness, The Road Home, which has a goal of halving homelessness by 2020. [11]

[edit] Political positions

[edit] Women

As Minister for the Status of Women in the Rudd Labor Government, Plibersek initiated policies such as convening the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children in May 2008, and releasing the National Council’s Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children in March 2009.[12][13] Plibersek also addressed the 2009 United Nations International Women’s Day event, attended by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and announced Australia’s formal accession to the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).[14] Plibersek said that acceding to the Optional Protocol "will send a strong message that Australia is serious about promoting gender equality and that we are prepared to be judged by international human rights standards."[15]

[edit] Same-sex discrimination

Plibersek campaigned strongly for the removal of discrimination against same sex de facto couples in Federal legislation, raising the issue formally in Parliament on multiple occasions (including 1999,[16] 2006,[17] and 2008[18]) over her parliamentary career. In her regular paid advertisement in the South Sydney Herald, in 2010 Pliberek wrote that 'The passing of these reforms to federal legislation was one of the proudest moments of my time in the Australian Parliament'[19] and has marched in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade in 2008.[20] The Labor Party was criticised by some LGBT groups[21][22] over the party's bipartisan policy against the legalisation of same-sex marriage. Plibersek's own views aside, in 2007 she told The Sydney Morning Herald[23]

Labor does not support changing the Marriage Act to allow same-sex marriage.

On 25 July 2004, Plibersek was loudly heckled at an anti-homophobia rally due to the issue.[22]

[edit] War in Iraq

Plibersek opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[24] It was reported that when US President, George W. Bush, visited the Australian Parliament in 2003, ‘Sydney Labor MP Tanya Plibersek walked around the chamber as President Bush shook hands with MPs to give Bush's national security adviser Condoleezza Rice a book of speeches by Labor MPs opposing Australia invading Iraq without UN approval.’[25] She also stated in Parliament that ‘I do not support an attack on Iraq. I particularly do not support a pre-emptive first strike. Nor do I support any action that is initiated by the US alone rather than being sanctioned by the United Nations.’[24]

[edit] Israel

In 2002, Plibersek angered former Federal Labor MP Barry Cohen by commenting that "I can think of a rogue state which consistently ignores UN resolutions whose ruler is a war criminal – it is called Israel and the war criminal is Ariel Sharon."[26] She later apologised for the remark.[26]

[edit] Maternity during minority government

Following the 2010 federal election where Labor retained government with the support of the Australian Greens and independents, parliamentary numbers were finely balanced. Plibersek was granted a 'pair' by the Coalition so that her absence from the House of Representatives while on maternity leave did not affect the result of votes.[27] She gave birth to a son on 1 October 2010.[28][29]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Unleashed: Tanya Plibersek". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 March 2008. http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2183677.htm. Retrieved 13 June 2008. 
  2. ^ "Visoki cilji iz dežele "tam spodaj" [High ambitions from the country "down there"]" (in Slovene). Nedeljski dnevnik. 12 November 2008. http://www.dnevnik.si/nedeljski_dnevnik/povabljeni_ste_na_kavo/1042221303. Retrieved 14 December 2010. 
  3. ^ "http://www.tanyaplibersek.com/?q=node/2". http://www.tanyaplibersek.com/?q=node/2. Retrieved 29 October 2011. 
  4. ^ "http://www.tanyaplibersek.com/?q=node/2". http://www.tanyaplibersek.com/?q=node/2. Retrieved 29 October 2011. 
  5. ^ Walch, Dylan; Patty, Anna (11 April 2007). "Give me a chance: schools' chief". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media): p. 6. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/give-me-a-chance-schools-chief/2007/04/11/1175971135891.html?s_cid=rss_smh. Retrieved 11 April 2007. 
  6. ^ Nader, Carol (13 August 2010). "Labor faces rising Green tide". The Age (Fairfax Media). http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/labor-faces-rising-green-tide-20100812-121ir.html. Retrieved 15 October 2010. 
  7. ^ "House of Representatives: The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Member for Sydney (NSW)". Parliament of Australia. http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/biography.asp?id=83M. Retrieved 10 August 2010. 
  8. ^ "Summary of Sydney". Federal Election 2007. Australian Electoral Commission. 19 December 2007. http://results.aec.gov.au/13745/website/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-13745-149.htm. Retrieved 19 December 2007. 
  9. ^ "Summary of Sydney". Federal Election 2010. Australian Electoral Commission. 15 September 2010. http://results.aec.gov.au/15508/Website/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-15508-149.htm. Retrieved 10 November 2010. 
  10. ^ "Social Housing Initiative". Commonwealth of Australia - Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/housing/progserv/social_housing/Pages/default.aspx. Retrieved 2010-08-10. 
  11. ^ "The Road Home - The Australian Government White Paper on Homelessness". Housing & Homelessness. Commonwealth of Australia - Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. 2008-12-21. http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/housing/progserv/homelessness/whitepaper/Pages/default.aspx. Retrieved 2010-08-10. 
  12. ^ "Time for Action: The National Council’s Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009–2021". National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. Commonwealth of Australia – Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. 2009-03. http://www.facs.gov.au/sa/women/pubs/violence/np_time_for_action/snapshot_summary/Documents/A_Snapshot.pdf. Retrieved 10 August 2010. 
  13. ^ Plibersek, Tanya (29 April 2009). "Launch of the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children's Time for Action Report". National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. Commonwealth of Australia – Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. http://www.nasasv.org.au/National_Plan/Tanya_Plibersek_Speech-Launch_of_Time_for_Action_report.pdf. Retrieved 10 August 2010. 
  14. ^ Plibersek, Tanya (5 March 2009). "Minister address United Nations on gender equality". Media Release. Commonwealth of Australia – Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressrel%2F95YS6%22. Retrieved 10 August 2010. 
  15. ^ Plibersek, Tanya; McClelland, Robert (24 November 2008). "Australia Comes In From The Cold On Women's Rights". Media Release. Commonwealth of Australia – Attorney-General. http://www.ema.gov.au/www/ministers/mcclelland.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2008_FourthQuarter_24November2008-AustraliaComesInFromTheColdOnWomensRights. Retrieved 10 August 2010. 
  16. ^ Plibersek, Tanya MP (8 June 1999). "Same Sex Relationships – Adjournment Speech". Australian House of Representatives Hansard. Commonwealth of Australia. http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/1999-06-08/0076/hansard_frag.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf. Retrieved 15 October 2010. 
  17. ^ Plibersek, Tanya MP (22 May 2006). "Superannuation: Same-Sex Couples – Grievence Debate". Australian House of Representatives Hansard. Commonwealth of Australia. http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2006-05-22/0143/hansard_frag.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf. Retrieved 15 October 2010. 
  18. ^ Plibersek, Tanya MP (25 September 2008). "Commonwealth Law Reform: Same-Sex Couples – Constituency Statement". Australian House of Representatives Hansard. Commonwealth of Australia. http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2008-09-25/0175/hansard_frag.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf. Retrieved 15 October 2010. 
  19. ^ Plibersek, Tanya MP (2010-03). "Member for Sydney – Column". South Sydney Herald (South Sydney Uniting Church): p. 4. http://www.southsydneyherald.com.au/pdf/SSH_MAR%2010.pdf. Retrieved 15 October 2010. 
  20. ^ "www.socialjusticeinearlychildhood.org/file_download/51/SJIEC+in+Mardi+Gras+2008.pdf" (PDF). http://www.socialjusticeinearlychildhood.org/file_download/51/SJIEC+in+Mardi+Gras+2008.pdf. 
  21. ^ "Labor's Same-Sex Registration Policy Entrenches Discrimination". Australian Marriage Equality (National lobby group). 27 April 2007. http://www.australianmarriageequality.com/releases/20070427.htm. Retrieved 5 August 2007. 
  22. ^ a b "Rally protests same-sex marriage ban". Green Left Weekly. 4 August 2004. http://www.greenleft.org.au/2004/592/32048. Retrieved 5 August 2007. 
  23. ^ Plibersek, Tanya (21 March 2007). "The discrimination that makes a lie of equality". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/the-discrimination-that-makes-a-lie-of-equality/2007/03/20/1174153063800.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1. Retrieved 5 August 2007. 
  24. ^ a b Plibersek, Tanya (17 September 2002). "Ministerial Statements – Foreign Affairs". Hansard – House of Representatives. Parliament of Australia. http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F2002-09-17%2F0075%22. Retrieved 5 August 2007. 
  25. ^ Kingston, Margot (23 October 2003). "Charge of the Lightfoot brigade doesn't stop Green protest". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/23/1066631547601.html. Retrieved 5 August 2007. 
  26. ^ a b "Kevin Rudd on the ALP and Israel". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 November 2004. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/relrpt/stories/s1243272.htm. Retrieved 5 August 2007. 
  27. ^ "73-72: government loses first vote in house". The Age. AAP (Australia). 29 September 2010. http://www.theage.com.au/national/7372-government-loses-first-vote-in-house-20100929-15wqn.html. Retrieved 15 October 2010. 
  28. ^ Squires, Rosie (9 October 2010). "Nation's Parliament 'controlled' by a baby". Sunday Mail (Australia: Adelaide). http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/nations-parliament-ruled-by-baby-louis/story-e6frea8c-1225936508798. Retrieved 15 October 2010. 
  29. ^ Scott, Aimee (12 October 2010). "Sydney MP Tanya Plibersek gives birth to baby Louis". Central Sydney. http://sydney-central.whereilive.com.au/news/story/new-baby-for-mp/. Retrieved 16 October 2010. 

[edit] External links

Political offices
New title Minister for Housing
2007–2010		 Succeeded by
Mark Arbib
Preceded by
Julie Bishop		 Minister for the Status of Women
2007–2010		 Succeeded by
Kate Ellis
Preceded by
Chris Bowen		 Minister for Human Services
2010–2011		 Succeeded by
Brendan O'Connor
Preceded by
Simon Crean		 Minister for Social Inclusion
2010–2011		 Succeeded by
Mark Butler
Preceded by
Nicola Roxon
as Minister for Health
and Ageing		 Minister for Health
2011–present		 Incumbent
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Peter Baldwin		 Member for Sydney
1998–present		 Incumbent

{{navbox |name = Gillard Ministry |title = Ministry of Prime Minister Julia Gillard (since 2010) |border = |state = collapsed |list1 = {{navbox|child | image = The Honorable Julia Gillard MP, Prime Minister of Australia |state = {{{10px}}}

|group1 = Prime Minister |list1 = Julia Gillard (since 2010)

|group2 = Deputy Prime Minister
Treasurer |list2 = Wayne Swan (since 2010)

|group3 = Minister for Immigration and Citizenship |list3 = Chris Bowen (since 2010)

|group4 = Minister For Defence |list4 = Stephen Smith (since 2010)

|group5 = Minister for Finance and Deregulation |list5 = Penny Wong (since 2010)

|group6 = Minister for Trade |list6 = Craig Emerson (since 2010)

|group7 = Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government
Minister for the Arts |list7 = Simon Crean (since 2010)

|group8 = Minister for Foreign Affairs |list8 = Kevin Rudd (since 2010)

|group9 = Minister for Health and Ageing |list9 = Tanya Plibersek (since 2011)

|group10 = Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |list10 = Jenny Macklin (since 2010)

|group11 = Minister for Infrastructure and Transport |list11 = Anthony Albanese (since 2010)

|group12 = Minister for Broadband, Communications
and the Digital Economy
Minister assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity |list12 = Stephen Conroy (since 2010)

|group13 = Minister for Innovation, Industry,
Science and Research |list13 = Greg Combet Innovation (since 2011) Chris Evans Tertiary Education Jobs Industry Science And Research (since 2011)

|group14 = Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth |list14 = Peter Garrett (since 2010)

|group15 = Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency |list15 = Greg Combet (since 2010)

|group16 = Attorney General |list16 = Nicola Roxon (since 2011)

|group17 = Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Cabinet Secretary |list17 = Joe Ludwig (since 2010)

|group18 = Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities |list18 = Tony Burke (since 2010)

|group19 = Minister for Resources and Energy
Minister for Tourism |list19 = Martin Ferguson (since 2010)

|group20 = Minister for Social Inclusion |list20 = Mark Butler (since 2011)

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