Kate Doust

Catherine Esther Doust (born 27 May 1962) is an Australian politician who has been a Labor Party member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia since 2001, representing South Metropolitan Region. She has been President of the Legislative Council since 2017, the first woman to hold the position.

The Honourable

Kate Doust

MLC
President of the Legislative Council
of Western Australia
Assumed office
23 May 2017
Preceded byBarry House
Member of the Legislative Council
of Western Australia
Assumed office
22 May 2001
ConstituencySouth Metropolitan Region
Personal details
Born (1962-05-27) 27 May 1962
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Political partyLabor
Spouse(s)Bill Johnston
Alma materUniversity of Western Australia

Early life

Doust was born in Kalgoorlie and attended the University of Western Australia, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. From 1984, she worked as an official with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, including as a board member and treasurer for periods. She also served as a vice-president of UnionsWA.[1]

Political career

Doust entered parliament at the 2001 state election, standing in the second position on Labor's ticket in South Metropolitan Region. She was made deputy chairman of committees in the Legislative Council shortly after being elected, and after the 2005 state election was made a parliamentary secretary, holding that position in the ministries of Geoff Gallop and Alan Carpenter. Doust was elected deputy leader of the Labor Party in the Legislative Council after the 2008 state election. She has served in the shadow cabinet under both Eric Ripper and Mark McGowan.[2] Doust's husband, Bill Johnston, is also a member of parliament, although they were married years before either of them were elected.[1]

Doust was elected President of the Legislative Council on 23 May 2017, in doing so becoming the first female President of the Council in history.[3]

See also

References
  1. Catherine (Kate) Esther Doust, Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  2. Hon. Catherine (Kate) Esther Doust MLC, Parliament of Western AUstralia. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  3. "Labor MP Kate Doust becomes WA's first female Upper House president". ABC News. 23 May 2017.
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