Melanie Gibbons
Melanie Gibbons | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Holsworthy | |
| Assumed office 28 March 2015 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Menai | |
| In office 26 March 2011 – 28 March 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Alison Megarrity |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 September 1978 Woronora, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Occupation | Real estate agent |
| Website | Parliamentary webpage |
Melanie Rhonda Gibbons (born 18 September 1978), an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Holsworthy for the Liberal Party since 2015, and Menai from 2011 to 2015.
Early years and background
Gibbons was born and raised in Woronora in the Sutherland Shire and worked as a real estate agent before becoming a development manager for Technical Aid to the Disabled.[1] She also formerly worked for various state and federal politicians.[2]
Political career
Elected to the Sutherland Shire Council in 2004 as an independent candidate, Gibbons was, at one stage, deputy mayor.[3]
Having previously sought endorsement in 2007, Gibbons was endorsed as a candidate for the Liberal Party in 2010. At the March 2011 elections, Gibbons was elected and received a swing of 27.1 points, winning 74.4 per cent of the two-party vote. She won 61 percent of the primary vote, enough to win the seat without the need for preferences.[4] Alison Megarrity, the incumbent Labor member, did not seek re-election. Gibbons' main competitor was Peter Scaysbrook. Menai was among the first seats claimed as won by the Coalition on election night; according to Gibbons, it was the very first seat the Coalition took off Labor in its landslide victory.[5]
For the 2015 NSW Election, the New South Wales Electoral Commission undertook the process of redistributing electoral boundaries. In this process, Gibbons' seat of Menai was abolished, and replaced with the redrawn seat of Holsworthy, encompassing more of the City of Liverpool than previously. Gibbons won the new seat with a reduced margin of 6.7%, despite a 4% swing to Labor.[6]
When first elected in 2011, Melanie served as a Temporary Speaker in the Legislative Assembly. After the 2015 election, in addition to her Temporary Speaker position, Melanie also was appointed the Chair of the Committee for Children and Young People and as the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the Office of the Valuer-General.[7]
In 2017, Melanie was appointed the Deputy Government Whip in the Legislative Assembly, working alongside the Government Whip. She continued to serve as the Chair of the Committee for Children and Young People.
Melanie has been a strong campaigner for disability services, youth, community services and emergency services within the Sutherland Shire and Liverpool City Council. Additionally, Melanie has been an opponent to development proposals that will have a negative impact of the Liverpool region, such as the federally proposed Moorebank Intermodal.
References
- ^ Tarasov, Anne (19 May 2010). "A challenge for Lib in Menai". Liverpool Champion. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Menai Liberal candidate – Melanie Gibbons". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. Fairfax Media. 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Clr Melanie Gibbons". Councillors. Sutherland Shire Council. Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Green. Antony (5 April 2011). "Menai". NSW Votes 2011. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
- ^ Roberts, Simone (30 March 2011). "Gibbons misses her call but wins Menai in a landslide". Liverpool Leader. News Limited. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Thomas, Stacy (28 March 2015). "NSW Election 2015: Liberal Melanie Gibbons holds the seat of Holsworthy". Liverpool Leader. News Limited. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ^ "Ms Melanie Rhonda Gibbons MP". Holsworthy Electorate MP. Parliament of NSW. Retrieved 23 December 2015.