Beverley McArthur (née Murch; born 10 September 1949) is an Australian politician. She has been a Liberal Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council since 2018, representing Western Victoria Region.[1][2]
Bev McArthur | |
|---|---|
 McArthur in 2024 at a "Women Will Speak" rally at Victorian Parliament House | |
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Western Victoria Region | |
| Assumed office 24 November 2018 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Beverley Murch 10 September 1949 Terang, Victoria |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Spouse | Stewart McArthur |
| Website | https://www.bevmcarthur.com/ |
Early life and education
editMcArthur was born in Terang and raised on a rural property near Tylden, attending Tylden Primary School and Clyde School at Mount Macedon. She moved to London for five years after finishing high school, before returning to Australia and commencing a social science degree at the Bendigo College of Advanced Education. She was a staffer for federal MP Stewart McArthur following his 1983 election, and married McArthur in 1985. They later operated a beef farm near Camperdown for many years.[2][3][4]
She joined the Liberal Party in her early twenties. She was the Bendigo federal electorate chairperson and was elected to the party's state administrative committee c. 1982. She unsuccessfully stood for the state presidency in 1992 after Michael Kroger's resignation, but was defeated by Ted Baillieu. She later served as a long-time country female state vice-president of the Liberal Party.
Parliamentary career
editBev McArthur won Liberal preselection for the 2018 state election as a late replacement for Simon Ramsay, who abruptly retired due to drink-driving charges. She had previously been touted as a likely preselection candidate for the Australian Senate in 2019.[5][6][7][2]
During her time in the Victorian Parliament, Bev McArthur has strongly advocated for increased hazard reduction burning on public land, in accordance with recommendations from the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.[8] She is a proponent of the meat industry, fishing, hunting, duck shooting and horse racing.[9][10]
In 2019, she warned against labelling climate change an 'emergency', likening the push to the boy who cried wolf and asking, "What happens when there is a genuine emergency like a terrorist attack, raging bush or urban fire, extreme weather events like cyclones and floods and power blackouts which threaten lives? Will anyone take notice of these emergencies?"[11]
Bev McArthur has called for testing of the driving ability of foreign tourists, due to their involvement in 20% of crashes along the Great Ocean Road. In response, Premier Daniel Andrews labelled her comments "culturally inappropriate".[12]
In 2021, she crossed the floor to vote against the Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill 2020, which banned practices that intended to change individuals' sexual or gender identity.[13] In her speech on the legislation, Mrs McArthur said:
- This is not about electric shocks. This is about free individuals seeking advice on deeply personal matters that have irreversible and life-changing consequences. Individuals should be free to seek counselling, advice or care on any matter that they see fit without the interference of government.[14]
She is opposed to the Voice to Parliament.[15][16]
In May 2023 McArthur said Indigenous people should be grateful for the “wonderful things that have been enabled via colonisation” such as hospitals, running water and electricity.[17]
References
edit- ^ "Western Victoria". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ a b c "Beverley McArthur interviewed by Rob Linn in the Old Parliament House political and parliamentary oral history project [sound recording]". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ "Heavy wedding". The Age. 30 September 1985. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ "About Bev". Liberal Party of Australia. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ "Corangamite Shire councillor Bev McArthur pre-selected for Upper House Western Victoria seat". Warrnambool Standard. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ "Bev McArthur likely to replace Simon Ramsay on Western Victoria Liberal ticket". Weekly Times. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ "About Bev". Liberal Party of Australia. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ Jefferson, Andrew (28 November 2019). "Bellarine Labor MP Lisa Neville, Liberal MP Bev McArthur trade barbs over bushfire readiness". Geelong Advertiser. Geelong. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ Jefferson, Andrew (11 November 2019). "Western Victoria MPs Andy Meddick and Bev McArthur face off over several political issues". Geelong Advertiser. Geelong. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ Jefferson, Andrew (3 November 2019). "Meddick told to stop meddling in others' Melbourne Cup fun by angry Liberal MP Bev McArthur". Geelong Advertiser. Geelong. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ Tippet, Harrison (26 September 2019). "Liberal MP Bev McArthur says climate change not a genuine emergency, says MP". Geelong Advertiser. Geelong. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ Jefferson, Andrew (26 August 2019). "Daniel Andrews refuses to test international drivers at airport despite public support for idea". Geelong Advertiser. Geelong. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ Ilanbey, Sumeyya (4 February 2021). "Gay conversion therapy banned in Victoria after marathon debate". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ Bev McArthur, Member for Western Victoria (4 February 2021). "Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Parliament of Victoria: Legislative Council. p. 251.
- ^ Carmody, Broede (14 April 2023). "'South Africa must be scratching its brow': Victorian Liberal MP pens anti-Voice opinion". The Age.
- ^ "We are all Indigenous somewhere". The Spectator Australia. 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Victorian Liberal MP says Indigenous people should be grateful for 'wonderful things' brought by colonisation". MSN.