Summary
Kelly Megan O'Dwyer (born 31 March 1977) is a former Australian politician. She served in the House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019, representing the Liberal Party, and held senior ministerial office from 2015 to 2019.
Kelly O'Dwyer | |
|---|---|
 Kelly O'Dwyer in 2017 | |
| Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations | |
| In office 24 August 2018 – 11 April 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Michaelia Cash |
| Succeeded by | Christian Porter (Industrial Relations) Michaelia Cash (Jobs) |
| Minister for Women | |
| In office 20 December 2017 – 11 April 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Michaelia Cash |
| Succeeded by | Marise Payne |
| Minister for Revenue and Financial Services | |
| In office 19 July 2016 – 24 August 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Herself (as Assistant Treasurer) |
| Succeeded by | Stuart Robert (as Assistant Treasurer) |
| Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service | |
| In office 20 December 2017 – 24 August 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Michaelia Cash |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Minister for Small Business | |
| In office 21 September 2015 – 19 July 2016 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Bruce Billson |
| Succeeded by | Michael McCormack |
| Assistant Treasurer | |
| In office 21 September 2015 – 19 July 2016 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Josh Frydenberg |
| Succeeded by | Herself (as Minister for Revenue and Financial Services) |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Higgins | |
| In office 5 December 2009 – 11 April 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Costello |
| Succeeded by | Katie Allen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kelly Megan O'Dwyer 31 March 1977 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Jon Mant |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Website | Official website |
O'Dwyer was a solicitor, political adviser, and National Australia Bank (NAB) executive before entering politics. She was elected to parliament at the 2009 Higgins by-election, aged 31, replacing Peter Costello.[1] In 2014, she was made a parliamentary secretary in the Abbott government. O'Dwyer was promoted to cabinet when Malcolm Turnbull became prime minister in 2015. She served as Minister for Small Business (2015–2016), Assistant Treasurer (2015–2016), Minister for Revenue and Financial Services (2016–2018), and Minister for Women (2017–2019). In 2017, she became the first Australian cabinet minister to give birth while in office. O'Dwyer ended her political career as Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations in the Morrison government,[2] retiring prior to the 2019 federal election.[3]
Early career edit
O'Dwyer was born in Box Hill and was educated at Presbyterian Ladies' College and the University of Melbourne, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws.[4] After working as a solicitor for Freehills in Melbourne,[4] O'Dwyer spent four years as a senior advisor to Peter Costello,[5] then the member for the federal division of Higgins and the Federal Treasurer, later becoming an executive at the National Australia Bank.[6]
Political career edit
Entry to federal politics edit
Costello decided in 2009 not to seek another term of office at the next federal election.[7] On 17 September 2009, O'Dwyer was pre-selected to stand as the Liberal Party candidate for Higgins at the next election.[8] Peter Costello then announced his resignation from Parliament in October 2009.[9] He stated that he chose to retire ahead of the next federal election as a contribution to renewal of the Liberal Party and that O'Dwyer would contribute to this process.[10] A by-election was held on 5 December 2009. O'Dwyer was considered a "shoo-in",[11] especially since the Labor Party did not contest the seat.
In winning preselection, O'Dwyer became the first woman to win Liberal Party preselection for a safe seat in metropolitan Melbourne.[12] During the preselection process federal Liberal politicians Sophie Mirabella, Fran Bailey and Helen Coonan claimed that there had been a sexist campaign against O'Dwyer's candidacy, with some preselectors being told that a "leadership seat" such as Higgins was unsuited to a woman and that being elected to a federal seat might endanger her marriage.[13][14]
2016 federal election edit
At the 2016 federal election, O'Dwyer was re-elected with a two-candidate preferred vote of 57.99% (a swing against her of 2%) and a 52.5% primary vote (a swing against her of 2.4%).[15][16]
A Greens-funded Lonergan seat-level opinion poll conducted from a sample of 1,100 voters in Higgins took place a month out from the 2016 election on 3−4 June. It suggested the Liberal primary vote may have decreased substantially. However, the poll proved inaccurate, with O'Dwyer winning comfortably.[17]
Minister edit
O'Dwyer had been serving as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer in the Abbott government from December 2014, until the leadership spill of the Liberal Party occurred in September 2015. Malcolm Turnbull won the spill and was sworn in as Prime Minister on 15 September 2015. Turnbull introduced an overhaul of the cabinet, which saw O'Dwyer appointed to Cabinet as Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer in the First Turnbull Ministry.[18][19] Following the re-election of the Turnbull government in 2016, the O'Dwyer was appointed as the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, a name change.[20] O'Dwyer was assigned two additional responsibilities, as the Minister for Women and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, in December 2017.[21] Following the commencement of the Morrison government, O'Dwyer became the Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations, in addition to her ongoing role as Minister for Women.[2]
In 2018 O'Dwyer was listed as one of BBC's 100 Women.[22]
On 19 January 2019, O'Dwyer announced that she would not be contesting the upcoming election as her two children would be approaching primary school age and she wanted to give her and her husband the best opportunity for a third child.[3]
Personal life edit
She is married to Jon Mant, a business executive, and has two sisters and one brother.[23][24] Her daughter was born in 2015.[25][26]
In 2017, O'Dwyer gave birth to her second child, making her the first Cabinet Minister to give birth while in office.[22]
In April 2022, O'Dwyer joined Barrenjoey Capital Partners as a non-executive director.[27]
References edit
- ^ "House of Representatives Division First Preferences". Archived from the original on 8 December 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
- ^ a b "MORRISON MINISTRY" (PDF). www.pmc.gov.au. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ a b Conifer, Dan (19 January 2019). "Minister for Women Kelly O'Dwyer quitting federal politics in shock resignation". ABC News. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
- ^ a b Lawyers Weekly (2009). Former Freehills lawyer wins pre-selection.
- ^ "Hon Kelly O'Dwyer MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ Grattan, Michelle (4 July 2009). "Costello to endorse Liberal activist as Higgins candidate". Melbourne: The Age. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
- ^ "Peter Costello's retirement draws praise". AAP. 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 18 June 2009.
- ^ Harvey, Michael (17 September 2009). "Kelly O'Dwyer secures preselection for Peter Costello's seat of Higgins". Herald Sun.
- ^ "Malcolm in the muddle". Sydney Morning Herald. 10 October 2009.
- ^ Rogers, Emma (7 October 2009). "Costello quits politics". ABC News. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
- ^ "Anarchy set for Costello's old seat". AAP. 12 November 2009.
- ^ "Costello staffer wins Higgins preselection". AAP. 17 September 2009.
- ^ Schubert, Misha (15 September 2009). "Sexism claims in race for Costello's seat". Melbourne: The Age. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
- ^ Schubert, Misha (16 September 2009). "Ex-Liberal minister joins sexism outcry". Melbourne: The Age. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
- ^ "Higgins, Vic". psephos.adam-carr.net. Adam Carr. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Higgins". psephos.adam-carr.net. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "House of Representatives division information". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ^ "Tony Abbott's revamped Ministry sworn in at Government House". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. 23 December 2014. Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ Taylor, Lenore (21 December 2014). "Tony Abbott cabinet reshuffle moves Scott Morrison out of immigration". Guardian Australia. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ Anderson, Stephanie (20 July 2016). "Election 2016: Malcolm Turnbull unveils ministry with Christopher Pyne, Greg Hunt on the move". ABC News. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Current Ministry List". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- ^ a b "BBC 100 Women 2018: Who is on the list?". BBC News. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ Fyfe, Melissa (6 December 2009). "O'Dwyer straight out of Liberal central casting". The Age. Melbourne.
- ^ "About Kelly". Kelly O'Dwyer MP. Archived from the original on 17 February 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "Kelly O'Dwyer - She's arrived 👶 Welcome to the world Olivia! - Facebook". facebook.com.
- ^ "Kelly O'Dwyer on Twitter". Twitter.
- ^ Yeates, Clancy (12 April 2021). "Barrenjoey looks to lift women on board after O'Dwyer appointment". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
External links edit
- Official website
- Search or browse Hansard for Kelly O'Dwyer at OpenAustralia.org