Australian Capital Territory election, Saturday 17 October 2020
Maddy Northam for Kurrajong
Judy Anderson for Kurrajong
Marisa Paterson for Murrumbidgee
Georgia Phillips for Yerrabi
Sue Ducker for Ginninderra
Cathy Day for Brindabella
Tara Cheyne for Ginninderra
Yvette Berry for Ginninderra
Rachel Stephen-Smith for Kurrajong
Bec Cody for Murrumbidgee
Suzanne Orr for Yerrabi
Maddy Northam for Kurrajong
“The representation of queer people and women in the Assembly has empowered me to run so that I can contribute to the important work already underway in our Canberra community.”
Maddy is a union leader and member of the queer community running to fight for a jobs we can count on and an empowered community. The daughter of two teachers, she grew up in Newcastle and stood up for vulnerable workers from the very start of her working life. At just 18, she took action to stop sexual harassment against young women, herself included, at the local fruit and vegetable shop she worked at. At 27, Maddy became the youngest Regional Secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union and has worked with union members to win thousands of secure jobs and stand up for the essential public services that we all rely on. Maddy fights every day for equality and diversity in her roles as ACT Regional Secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union and President of UnionsACT.
Maddy is being mentored by former Senator Claire Moore, QLD.
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Judy Anderson for Kurrajong
“My passion for equal rights for women is in all aspects of work, family and life. It drives me to listen to and work with women in my community to make sure they have equal access to the services they need and opportunities to fulfil their ambitions”
Judy has lived in Kurrajong for nearly 30 years, raising her family and working in leadership positions in business, for Optus and IBM, and government, including as a ministerial advisor. When her family was young, she advocated on behalf of parents and children for better community based child-care, while leading the board of the local community child-care centre. She started her working life as a nurse, fighting for better pay and conditions and professionalising nursing, introducing workplace changes still present today.
With a strong policy background across a wide range of sectors, Judy believes that her wide range of experiences will be important in representing the community of Kurrajong as they face challenges coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Judy is being mentored by Anita Dow, Member for Braddon, Tasmanian Parliament.
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Marisa Paterson for Murrumbidgee
"I recognise the importance and great need for affordable and accessible early childhood education and care."
Dr Marisa Paterson has lived in Murrumbidgee 15 years, making her passionate about issues that impact local residents. Marisa is currently the Director of the Centre for Gambling Research at the Australian National University. Marisa's mental health expertise is sought after by Governments across Australia and she works closely with leading community sector organizations, particularly in remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. Marisa is passionate about mental health issues, as well as the provision of quality education for kids in our suburbs and about training and education pathways for young adults. As a busy working mother of three young children (Bill 11, Estelle 9 and Josie 5)
Marisa is being mentored by Sarah Lovell Member for Rumney in the Tasmanian Legislative Council.
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Georgia Phillips for Yerrabi
“I am passionate about gender equality and want to make sure women are inspired and encouraged to be leaders for their community – whether that be in politics or following their interests through other community organisations.”
Born and raised in Adelaide, Georgia moved to Canberra in 2008 to commence a career in the Australian Public Service. She quickly fell in love with the city, establishing roots across the community.Georgia has always been a strong advocate for women's participation across all facets of life, inspired by the very first rally she attended in the year 2000, protesting the unfair and unequal GST on women's hygiene products. Organised by the Students' Association of the University of Adelaide, Georgia went on to hold the elected offices of Women's Officer and Union Vice-President while completing her undergraduate studies. Working in hospitality while studying, followed by a couple of journeys to the USA to work at a summer camp in California, Georgia commenced a graduate program in the Australian Public Service in 2008. Twelve years on, Georgia has continued a career path as a health policy professional, including a time as a Senior Advisor to former ACT Minister for Health, Meegan Fitzharris. Georgia has always had a passion for women's participation in sport, being a keen field hockey player and coach. She has served in leadership positions in her local clubs (both in South Australia and the ACT) as well as in representative roles in the local associations. She has coached women and girls of all levels – from Under 11 juniors to ACT Womens' Masters teams (women aged 35 years and over), encouraged by the amazing support networks these teams create for women across their life journeys.
Georgia is being mentored by Mary-Anne Thomas Member for Macedon, VIC.
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Sue Ducker for Ginninderra
"A woman's right to reproductive choice and freedom is not only essential to a woman's health and dignity, it is essential to the women's rights movement as it encompasses fundamental recognition of women as completely equal adult citizens, fully capable and responsible for the decisions they make about their own bodies which they alone possess."
Sue is a librarian who is passionate about the quality of information and literacy, and is a busy working mother to her eleven year old son Joe. She has lived in Charnwood, in the heart West Belconnen area for over a decade and loves the sense of community in this part of Canberra. Sue has always been an active union member and joined the Labor Party shortly after Labor's 1996 federal defeat. Since then she has held many leadership roles in the local ALP and contributed to party and the community, developing policy that has been the basis for subsequent legislation including women's safety policy, access to local reproductive health facilities and the implementation of the harassment exclusion zone to allow women to safely access women's health facilities. Sue has worked many jobs over the years including food service and retail before becoming a public servant and studying part time to gain university qualifications.
Sue is being mentored by Jen Butler Member for Lyons, TAS.
Cathy Day for Brindabella
"My motto for cooking, and indeed for life, is 'just because it's different doesn't mean it's wrong.' Diversity makes us stronger."
Cathy believes that progressive voters share social values, including working to support and protect the disadvantaged and powerless. She has spent her life living those values: teaching in a slum in New Delhi, working to reduce maternal mortality in East Timor, and being an unarmed peace monitor during the civil war in Bougainville, to name a few. Cathy now work at the Australian National University, leading a team supporting research on social inequality and health outcomes. She's also the Secretary of the ACT Division of the National Tertiary Education Union, working together to improve conditions for all employees of universities, standing up for the tertiary education sector and taking action on social justice issues. Wherever Cathy has lived, she has always come back to Tuggeranong, which has been her permanent home for over 30 years. Cathy loves living in Tuggeranong, her kids went to school here and she's connected to the Tuggeranong community. Cathy is part of the Salvation Army in Tuggeranong, a founding member of two Tuggeranong community groups and a member of Tuggeranong branch of the ALP.
Cathy is being mentored by Ella Haddad Member for Denison, TAS.
Tara Cheyne for Ginninderra
"I'm proud to be part of an ACT Labor Government which is firmly pro-choice and committed to ensuring abortions are conducted in a way which is safe, legal and accessible. But against the most conservative Liberal party in Australia, we not only need to remain vigilant – we need pro-choice women to be elected."
Tara Cheyne is the Member for Ginninderra and a Labor candidate in the 2020 ACT election. Tara is the Special Secretary to the Chief Minister and Government Whip. Tara was elected to the Assembly in October 2016 aged 29. Before entering the Assembly, Tara worked in the Australian public service and was active in her local community, including serving as Secretary of the Belconnen Arts Centre Board and Chair of the Belconnen Community Council. She was also well known for her popular blog In The Taratory promoting all things related to the Australian Capital Territory.
Tara is being mentored by Liddy Clark, Former Member for Clayfield, QLD.
Yvette Berry for Ginninderra
"Since my time working for the union before I was elected, I have fought for equality and equity. In my roles now as a Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence I have fought hard for and advocated for equity, diversity, choice and equal pay. As Sports Minister, I have increased women's representation on sporting organisations boards and established a diversity register to make it easier for all businesses and organisations to identify women and other people from diverse backgrounds to sit on their boards. Equity is at the heart of every decision I make and I want to make a Canberra a better and brighter place for every person, especially women and girls."
Yvette Berry is the Member for Ginninderra and a Labor candidate in the 2020 ACT election. Yvette is a full-time working mum with two teenage children. She lives with her family in West Belconnen. Having lived in the electorate of Ginninderra all her life she understands the pressures parents are under, and the importance of having access to quality education, healthcare and early childhood education. Yvette commenced her working life in the hospitality industry where she stayed for 8 years before beginning her employment with United Voice (previously the LHMU). For more than 15 years now Yvette has worked as a community organiser, representing workers and their families to win fairer wages and better conditions. Prior to being elected, Yvette was coordinating BIG STEPS in Early Childhood Education and Childcare which is the campaign to win recognition through professional wages for Early childhood Educators. Yvette Berry is currently the Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister for Women, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence.
Rachel Stephen-Smith for Kurrajong
"Labor members - and especially Labor women - understand that inclusive communities don't just happen. They are built by people and governments with a vision for a better future. It is also true that equality and respect for women don't just happen - generations of women have fought and argued every step of the way. I am thankful for the strong women who have come before me and I know there is more to do. It is a privilege to serve the ACT community and I look forward to continuing the fight for a fairer future."
Rachel Stephen-Smith is the Member for Kurrajong and a Labor candidate in the 2020 ACT Election. Rachel is the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Children Youth and Families, Minister for Health and Minister for Urban Renewal. Rachel has previously worked as a policy adviser and senior executive in the Federal and ACT Governments and with non-government organisations. She has also been a waitress and a diplomat; a horse riding coach and a Cabinet Minister's Chief of Staff.
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Bec Cody for Murrumbidgee
"We've done so much to break the glass ceiling, the biggest challenge is to bring up the floor. No woman should be paid less, valued less, or left behind."
Bec Cody is the Member for Murrumbidgee and a Labor candidate in the 2020 ACT election. Bec grew up on the Southside of Canberra, and left school at fifteen to do a hairdressing apprenticeship. She knows how hard it is for young women on low wages, and later as a salon owner saw the damage that wage theft does to the industry. As a young mother, she saw the wrong side of domestic abuse, and knows how important strong communities are to support single mothers. She knows the support that participation in community sport, like Park Runs and Triathlons has provided her, and wants to make sure everyone can benefit. Bec Cody is an advocate, happy to take up the fight for outsiders, and say it like it is.
Suzanne Orr for Yerrabi
“We are stronger as a community when we celebrate and embrace diversity. As a Member of a majority women Parliament, and with the support of EMILY's List, I am proud to have the platform to advance the rights of all women in the ACT and ensure our voices are represented in government.”
Suzanne Orr is the Member for Yerrabi and is a Labor candidate for the 2020 ACT election. She serves as a Minister in the ACT Government.I believe politics should be about people working together to make a difference. She was born in Canberra, she grew up in Giralang and now lives in Franklin. While growing up, Suzanne's family fostered more than 200 children. The experience made her aware from a young age that government has a big role to play in helping people when they need extra support. Before being elected as the Labor Member for Yerrabi, Suzanne worked in the hospitality and tourism industries, and then began a career as an urban planner with the Australian Public Service. She joined the Australian Labor Party in 2013 and soon after being involved in Labor, Suzanne organised a successful campaign along with 350.org to encourage the ACT Government to divest from fossil fuel companies. She is passionate about supporting her local community, protecting our environment and ensuring Yerrabi continues to grow as an enjoyable and inclusive place to live.
EARLY MONEY FUND FOR ENDORSED CANDIDATES
EMILY is an acronym which stands for Early Money Is Like Yeast – it makes the dough rise. Donating to progressive Labor women candidates early in their election campaigns provides them with the foundation on which to build their success. The Early Money Fund is distributed by National Committee to endorsed candidates.