Barbara Perry (politician)

Barbara Mazzel Anne Perry (born 6 April 1964) is a former Australian politician, representing Auburn for the Labor Party in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2015. Perry was the first woman of Lebanese origin to be elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Barbara Perry
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Auburn
In office
8 September 2001  6 March 2015
Preceded byPeter Nagle
Succeeded byLuke Foley
Personal details
Born
Barbara Mazzel Anne Abood

(1964-04-06) 6 April 1964
Auburn, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Political partyAustralian Labor Party
Spouse(s)Michael Perry
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
OccupationLawyer

Early years and background

One of five children, Perry is the daughter of Lebanese immigrants, Ralph and Susan Abood, and is married to Michael Perry with five sons. She was educated by the Sisters of Charity and the Marist Brothers before graduating in law from the University of Sydney, commencing work with the Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales in 1990.[1]

Political career

Perry was elected in a by-election on 8 September 2001 following the resignation of Labor Member Peter Nagle and re-elected at the 2003, 2007 and 2011 state elections.[2]

Following the 2007 state election, Perry was appointed Minister for Juvenile Justice, Minister for Western Sydney and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship in the second Iemma ministry, serving until December 2008. In December 2009, Perry was appointed to the Keneally ministry as Minister for Local Government and Minister Assisting the Minister for Mental Health, taking on the additional responsibilities of Minister for Juvenile Justice in June 2010.[3] Perry retained these portfolios until the 2011 state election when Labor was defeated at the polls. Subsequently, Perry was appointed Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services, Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Shadow Minister for Ageing and Disability Services.[2]

On 7 January 2015, after a bitter pre-selection contest,[4] Perry announced that she would not seek Labor endorsement for the 2015 state election. She stood down in order to make way for newly elected leader Luke Foley to have a clear run for her seat. Foley needed to contest a Legislative Assembly seat as he was a member of the Legislative Council.[5][6]

References

  1. "Perry, Barbara Mazzel Anne". Australian Women. Archived from the original on 11 February 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2007.
  2. "The Hon. Barbara Mazzel Perry (1964- )". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  3. Robins, Brian (4 June 2010). "Another Keneally minister quits". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  4. Nicholls, Sean (27 December 2014). "Auburn deal takes shape as Luke Foley firms as ALP leadership ballot favourite". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  5. Wood, Alicia (7 January 2015). "Auburn MP Barbara Perry retires from Labor seat to make way for 'future premier' Luke Foley". The Australian. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  6. "NSW Labor MP Barbara Perry withdraws from Auburn contest to make way for Opposition Leader Luke Foley". ABC News. Australia. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by
Peter Nagle
Member for Auburn
2001  2015
Succeeded by
Luke Foley
Political offices
Preceded by
Paul Lynch
Minister for Local Government
2008  2011
Succeeded by
Don Page
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