Michelle Anne O'Byrne (born 6 March 1968) is Australian politician for the Australian Labor Party and since May 2024, the Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly.[1]
Michelle O'Byrne | |
|---|---|
| 35th Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly | |
| Assumed office 14 May 2024 | |
| Premier | Jeremy Rockliff |
| Preceded by | Mark Shelton |
| Deputy Leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party | |
| In office 31 March 2014 – 15 May 2021 | |
| Leader | Bryan Green Rebecca White |
| Preceded by | Bryan Green |
| Succeeded by | Anita Dow |
| Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Bass | |
| Assumed office 18 March 2006 | |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Bass | |
| In office 3 October 1998 – 9 October 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Warwick Smith |
| Succeeded by | Michael Ferguson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 March 1968 Launceston, Tasmania |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Labor |
| Spouse | Priam Arumugam |
| Relations | David O'Byrne (brother) |
| Alma mater | University of Tasmania |
| Occupation | Trade unionist, political adviser, Member of State Parliament |
| Website | https://taslabor.org.au/people/michelle-o-byrne/ |
O'Byrne was elected in the 2006 state election to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in the division of Bass.
In the 2024 Tasmanian state election, O'Byrne was the second most successful candidate across the state for the Labor Party, receiving 0.95 quotas in her own right in the first preferences alone, only outdone by then-leader, Rebecca White.[2]
Prior to her election to state parliament she was a member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1998 to 2004, representing the Division of Bass.
Early life
editO'Byrne was born in Launceston, Tasmania, a grand-niece of a former Labor senator and President of the Senate, Justin O'Byrne. She graduated from the University of Tasmania in 1992, with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies. She was an organiser for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union,[3] and electorate officer to Senator Kerry O'Brien before entering politics.
Federal MP for Bass
editShe won the federal seat of Bass in 1998, and again in 2001, but was defeated by her Liberal opponent Michael Ferguson in the 2004 election.[3]
Many put this down to concern about loss of forestry jobs under Labor's environment policy, which had the potential to adversely affect O'Byrne's electorate.[4]
State MP for Bass
editAfter more than a year out of politics, O'Byrne ran as a Labor candidate in the 2006 state election and was easily elected for the state seat of Bass, which covers the same territory as the federal seat. She topped the poll in the five-member electorate, receiving 23.3% of first preferences, helping ensure that Bass was the only seat to record a swing to Labor.
Until the defeat of the Labor government in the 2014 state election, she served in the Tasmanian cabinet as Minister for Health, Children and Sport & Recreation. She served in cabinet with her brother David O'Byrne, one of a very few pairs of siblings to have served in cabinet together anywhere in the world.[5]
Prior to the 2010 election, O'Byrne was Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts, Minister for Tourism and Minister for Sport and Recreation in the Bartlett government.[6]
Speaker of the House of Assembly
editO'Byrne was re-elected in Bass at the 2024 election and was elected unopposed to the position of Speaker of the House of Assembly on 14 May 2024, the new parliament's opening day. Her elevation to the position came despite the Labor Party winning only 10 seats at the election and remaining in opposition.[1][7]
Political interests
editA former National co convener of EMILY's List Australia,[8] O’Byrne had worked to increase the number of women in Parliament and been responsible for delivering significant legislative reform for women.
O'Byrne is currently the Australian Chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians[8] who work to increase women’s participation in political processes globally.
Personal life
editShe is a keen Parkrunner, taking part in Launceston runs when she can.
A proud product of the public education system O'Byrne and her partner, Priam Arumugam, live in Launceston with their two teenage daughters.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b "Tasmanian Parliament elects Michelle O'Byrne as new speaker in uncontested vote". Pulse Tasmania. 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Lyons - TAS Electorate, Candidates, Results". abc.net.au. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Ms Michelle O'Byrne MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Bass notes sounding mournful for incumbent". 8 October 2004.
- ^ "Michelle O'Byrne". Lara Giddings: Premier of Tasmania. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- ^ "OByrne, Michelle". Members of the Parliament of Tasmania. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ Kevin Bonham. "Michelle O'Byrne (ALP) elected unopposed as Speaker. First non-government Speaker (excluding Hickey briefly being an IND) since 1959". X.
- ^ a b Lyk Elect website, Michelle O’Byrne, retrieved 2024-06-06
- ^ "Tasmanian Labor website, Michelle O'Byrne".