Isobel Redmond
Isobel Redmond | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 40th Leader of the Opposition (SA) Elections: 2010 | |
| In office 8 July 2009 – 31 January 2013 | |
| Deputy | Steven Griffiths (2009-2010), Martin Hamilton-Smith (2010), Mitch Williams (2010-2012), Steven Marshall (2012-2013) |
| Preceded by | Martin Hamilton-Smith |
| Succeeded by | Steven Marshall |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition (SA) | |
| In office 4 July 2009 – 8 July 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Vickie Chapman |
| Succeeded by | Steven Griffiths |
| Member of the South Australian Parliament for Heysen | |
| Assumed office 9 February 2002 | |
| Preceded by | David Wotton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Isobel Mary Redmond 8 April 1953 Heathcote, New South Wales |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Spouse | Jim Redmond |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Website | Personal website Party website Parliament website |
Isobel Mary Redmond (born 8 April 1953) was the parliamentary leader of the South Australian division of the Liberal Party of Australia and the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of South Australia between 2009 an 2013. The Redmond Liberals won 18 of 47 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly at the 2010 election, a gain of three from the 2006 election. Redmond has been the member for the electoral district of Heysen in the House of Assembly since 2002. She resigned as leader of the Liberal Party on 31 January 2013.[1]
Early life
Redmond attended Heathcote High School on the outskirts of Sydney graduating in 1971.[2] Redmond was briefly a member of the Australian Labor Party in the 1970s.[3]
In the late 70s Redmond and her husband Jim moved to Stirling, South Australia in the Adelaide Hills. After receiving the winnings of a lotto ticket from her parents she set up her own legal firm. She also worked with Jay Weatherill and Patrick Conlon at Duncan Basheer in the early 90s.[4]
She was also elected to Stirling Council,[5] and in 1999 was elected as first female President of the Stirling Rotary club.[6]
Parliament
Redmond was elected to the electoral district of Heysen in the South Australian House of Assembly at the 2002 state election and from 2004 held various shadow ministries. Redmond is linked to the conservative Evans family faction within the Liberal Party's South Australian division.[7][8][9]
Redmond became deputy leader of the Liberal Party on 4 July 2009 after party leader Martin Hamilton-Smith called a leadership and deputy leadership spill. Hamilton-Smith retained the leadership, with Redmond replacing Vickie Chapman as deputy leader.[10] Hamilton-Smith called a second leadership spill after a close 11 to 10 vote, and a few days later did not nominate himself for the leadership position. On 8 July 2009, Redmond was elected leader against Chapman by 13 votes to 9. Steven Griffiths was elected deputy leader, 8 votes to 6 against Mitch Williams.[4] He stepped down from the deputy leadership after the 2010 election to be replaced by Hamilton-Smith.
The dodgy documents affair, known as "Dodgy-gate", which ultimately saw the downfall of Hamilton-Smith, resurfaced with revelations that Redmond was "a central figure in a strategy meeting in Mr. Hamilton-Smith's office the day the documents were used against the government", and that she was shown the documents and the accompanying questions, and was asked for and subsequently gave approval, based on being told the documents came from a Labor source, which Hamilton-Smith later admitted not to be true.[11]
In the 47-member South Australian House of Assembly, the 2010 election saw the Redmond Liberals win only 18 of 47 seats despite winning the two party preferred vote, compared to 15 seats under the leadership of Rob Kerin at the 2006 election.
Redmond on behalf of the SA Liberals backed Mike Rann's support for same-sex marriage in October 2011.[12][13] She joined all state Labor leaders and, later on a personal basis only, the LNP's Campbell Newman, in support of marriage equality.[14][15][16]
Redmond has come under mounting internal party and media pressure over issues such as her performance during the 2010 election, dwindling approval polling during the Weatherill government, and Redmond's confirmations that she: answered a question that the best way to deal with workplace gender discrimination was to ignore it, backed unsuccessful candidate and SA Liberal Party director Bev Barber to replace Senator Mary Jo Fisher, considered replacing Fisher herself in the Senate, threatened to sue the Liberal Party in 2006 over a five percent levy on Liberal MP salaries introduced by Iain Evans to fund election campaigns, announced the cutting of a quarter of the public service which she subsequently said was not Liberal Party policy, and refusing to confirm speculation that Redmond was willing to offer the state Liberal leadership to former federal Liberal leader Alexander Downer.[17]
On 19 October 2012, predecessor Martin Hamilton-Smith announced he would be challenging Redmond for the parliamentary leadership of the South Australian Liberal Party. Deputy leader Mitch Williams was challenged by Steven Marshall. The leadership ballot was called for 23 October,[18] Redmond retained the leadership by one vote, however Marshall was elected to the deputy leadership.[19]
Redmond resigned as the leader of the Liberal Party on 31 January 2013, citing the need to end "ongoing leadership speculation and disunity" as the primary factor in her decision.[1] The Liberal Party chose Steven Marshall as her replacement.
Personal life
Redmond is married to American teacher Jim Redmond with whom she raised three children, now all adults. She resides in the town of Stirling in the Adelaide Hills.
References
- ^ a b Martin, Sarah. (31 January 2013). "Isobel Redmond quits as South Australian opposition leader". The Australian. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ Redmond, Isobel. "About Isobel". Isobel Redmond. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
- ^ Wills, Daniel (9 February 2011). "SA Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond former Labor Party member". Adelaide Now.
- ^ a b Kelton, Greg (9 July 2009). "Isobel Redmond wins South Australia Liberals leadership". The Advertiser.
- ^ Crouch, Brad. (25 July 2009). Isobel Redmond who?". The Sunday Mail, Adelaide, South Australia. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ "Presidents of the Rotary Club of Stirling and their respective years of office". Rotary Club of Stirling, South Australia. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
- ^ Gout, Hendrik (9 April 2010). "Saga of the Hatfields and McCoys". The Independent Weekly.
- ^ Owen, Michael (10 April 2010). "Redmond takes a step to the right in party wrangle". The Australian.
- ^ Crouch, Brad (11 April 2010). "It's the Rocky Horror Liberal Show". The Sunday Mail. pp. Insight section, pp. 73, 80.
- ^ Emmerson, Russell (8 July 2009). "Second Liberal Party vote narrows". The Advertiser.
- ^ Owen, Michael (8 July 2009). "South Australian Liberal leadership contenders tarred by brush with fake papers". The Australian.
- ^ Malik, Sarah (9 October 2011). "SA Libs Back Rann's Call For Gay Marriage". AAP.
- ^ Kelton, Greg (13 October 2011). "Conflict as MPs talk gay unions". The Advertiser.
- ^ Sheldrick, Drew (10 October 2011). "SA leaders back marriage equality". Star Observer.
- ^ "Gay Marriage Advocates to Meet MPs in Canberra". International Business Times. 11 October 2011.
- ^ "Gillard to announce marriage vote?". Same Same. 14 October 2011.
- ^ Owens, Michael (5 July 2012). "Liberal leader signs herself in to Senate row". The Australian.
Wills, Daniel (6 July 2012). "Liberals lack that 'vision thing'". The Advertiser.
McGuire, Michael (20 July 2012). "Thwarted ambition will drive Liberals". The Advertiser.
Owen, Michael (1 August 2012). "Liberal anger puts more heat on Isobel Redmond". The Australian.
Martin, Sarah (1 August 2012). "Redmond under pressure after Senate job admission". The Australian.
"Redmond refuses to go". Stock journal. 1 August 2012.
Wills, Daniel (1 August 2012). "Liberal Leader Isobel Redmond considering a winter break as rivals close in". Adelaide Now.
"Redmond embarrassed by recording". Stock journal. 2 August 2012.
Martin, Sarah (2 August 2012). "Lib poll report blames Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond for failure". The Australian.
Crouch, Brad (4 August 2012). "Liberal leader Isobel Redmond in election fund threat to Liberals". Sunday Mail (SA).
Smithson, Mike (4 August 2012). "Sharks circling and set to attack Redmond". Sunday Mail (SA).
Wills, Daniel (7 August 2012). "Liberal MP Steven Marshall backs Isobel Redmond to stay as leader". Adelaide Now.
Martin, Sarah (7 August 2012). "Isobel Redmond dares detractors to call spill". The Australian.
Martin, Sarah (10 August 2012). "Under-fire Redmond 'in retreat'". The Australian.
Wills, Daniel (13 August 2012). "Liberal media adviser Nic Nolan loses job after David Pisoni's media release gaffe". Adelaide Now.
Owen, Michael (14 August 2012). "Federal Liberal MP Jamie Briggs enters push to replace SA opposition leader Isobel Redmond". The Australian.
Kelton, Greg (14 August 2012). "Liberal leader Isobel Redmond is in it for the long haul, with no sign of a ballot". Adelaide Now.
"Redmond vows to remain as leader - Adelaide Airport media conference audio in full". ABC News. 14 August 2012.
Brice, Rebecca (14 August 2012). "Liberal leader stands ground as Stott-Despoja's husband rules out challenge". ABC PM.
Martin, Sarah (15 August 2012). "What crisis, asks deluded Redmond". The Australian.
Royal, Simon (17 August 2012). "An insider's view of SA Liberal's failings". ABC News.
Wills, Daniel (22 August 2012). "SA at risk of becoming an economic minnow like Tasmania, says Tony Abbott". Adelaide Now.
Wills, Daniel (14 September 2012). "Liberals all at sea in election rip tide as evidenced by Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond's gaffe". The Advertiser.
Martin, Sarah (15 September 2012). "Redmond says plan to axe public jobs a mistake". The Australian.
Wills, Daniel (21 September 2012). "Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond facing a coup". The Advertiser.
Owen, Michael (22 September 2012). "Party proxies in place for leadership spill". The Australian.
Couch(sic), Brad (23 September 2012). "Time running out for Isobel Redmond to secure support from MPs". Sunday Mail (SA).
Debell, Penelope (13 October 2012). "Claims Isobel Redmond would step aside in favour of Alexander Downer". Sunday Mail (SA). - ^ "Ex SA Liberal leader wants top job back". ABC News. 19 October 2012.
- ^ Wills, Daniel (23 October 2012). "Daniel Wills analysis - Isobel Redmond wins battle against Martin Hamilton-Smith, but at what price?". Adelaide Now.