Penny Sharpe

Sharpe's official appointment to the Legislative Council was announced in late September 2005, which immediately caused substantial media attention due to her status as a lesbian mother—particularly as she would now be sitting alongside the likes of conservative Liberal David Clarke and Christian Democratic Party firebrand Fred Nile.[11] She largely refused to comment on her private life in the subsequent fracas, but announced her policy goals as improving access to education and eliminating discrimination against gay parents. She has also made clear her intention to confront Clarke and Nile on gay rights issues; a stance that was heavily reflected in her maiden speech to parliament.[12]

In March 2015, Sharpe resigned from the Legislative Council to contest the lower house seat of Newtown at the 2015 state election. She was unsuccessful, with Jenny Leong of the Greens winning the seat, and subsequently announced her intention to contest preselection to be re-appointed to the vacancy caused by her own resignation.[13]

Sharpe played an instrumental role in achieving marriage equality for LGBTI Australians.[14] She was a leading figure in the internal Labor Party push to shift the ALP's position to one of supporting marriage equality. As a member of the NSW Legislative Council, she moved motions and put state-based bills to the NSW Parliament.[15] Sharpe was active in the ultimate Australian Marriage Law Survey and subsequent parliamentary reform process, campaigning publicly and has been noted as a key supporter and adviser to the likes of Campaign Director, Tim Gartrell and Labor Senate Leader, Senator Penny Wong. Senator Wong has said of the achievement of marriage equality in Australia that "change happened because of champions like Penny Sharpe, who has worked to build momentum for change in our party."[16]

In 2018, Sharpe successfully led a cross-party process to amend the Public Health Act to legislate for 'safe-access zones', making the practice of harassing women entering clinics and hospitals providing terminations illegal. Some commentary noted that this was the first time a Bill introduced by a Labor MP had successfully passed the NSW Parliament since the ALP had lost government seven years earlier.[17]

After the resignation of NSW Labor leader Luke Foley over sexual assault allegations, and the election of Michael Daley as his successor, Sharpe was unanimously elected Deputy Leader of the party.[18]

In addition to carrying out her duties as Deputy Leader, Sharpe campaigned strongly on environmental issues during the 2019 New South Wales state election. She talked of building on the environmental reforms of the Wran and Carr governments, claiming, when she launched Labor's environment policy manifesto, that "NSW doesn't have another four years to waste to take real action on climate change and to arrest the biodiversity crisis in the state".[19]

After Labor's defeat in the election, Daley announced his resignation. Sharpe succeeded him as interim leader. The leadership election was scheduled for after the 2019 federal election so as not to conflict with Labor's federal campaign. It was ultimately held in June, with Jodi McKay defeating Chris Minns to win the leadership. Sharpe was set to recontest the deputy leadership, challenged by McKay's ally Yasmin Catley, but agreed to step aside and was appointed deputy leader in the Legislative Council and given the portfolios of Shadow Minister for Family & Community Services and Shadow Minister for Disability Inclusion.[2][20]