Caroline Le Couteur
Encyclopedia
Caroline Le Couteur an Australia
n politician, was elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
representing the electorate of Molonglo
for the ACT Greens
at the 2008 election
and was educated at Telopea Park High School
and the Australian National University
where she studied economics. She moved to Nimbin
after the holding of the Aquarius Festival
there in 1973 and stayed there for 11 years. While in Nimbin she was instrumental in forming a pre-school and primary school and became a solar (photovoltaic) panel retailer and installer. She subsequently moved back to Canberra and worked for the federal and territorial governments firstly in Information technology and later in renewable energy policy. She later became an Executive Director of locally based, now ASX listed, company Australian Ethical Investment
as well as their information technology manager.
Le Couteur was active in the local environment community. She was at the time of her election one of the two national councillors of the Australian Conservation Foundation
(ACF) and had been previously been on the ACF's board. She was a keen supporter of groups such as the Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, Pedal Power, Oxfam, Anglicare and the Conservation Council.
in 1998 supporting the Green incumbent Kerrie Tucker
. She remained active in the Greens and stood again in Molonglo in 2008. Before the 2008 election the Greens, had one member, Deb Foskey
. Prior to the 2008 election polling conducted by Patterson Market Research and published in The Canberra Times
suggested the Green vote had significantly increased since the last election at the expense of Labor, with the Liberal vote remaining relatively unchanged. Commentators predicted the Greens would hold the balance of power
and decide who forms government. The Greens stated they were willing to court both major parties. At the close of counting on election night, with 82.1 per cent of the vote counted, Labor had obtained 37.6 per cent of the vote across the ACT, with the Liberals at 31.1 per cent and the Greens at 15.8 per cent. Swings were recorded against both the Labor (-9.3 per cent) and Liberal (-3.7 per cent) parties with a +6.6 per cent swing towards the Greens. This resulted in the election of Amanda Bresnan
, Meredith Hunter
, Shane Rattenbury
and Caroline Le Couteur.
Le Couteur is the chair of the Committee on Public Accounts and Deputy Chair of the Committee on Planning, Public Works and Territory and Municipal Services.
Le Couteur has been described as having "made a significant impact in this place because of her commitment to core Greens’ socialist ideology.." by Alistair Coe
of the Canberra Liberal party>.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician, was elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory...
representing the electorate of Molonglo
Molonglo electorate
The Molonglo electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has seven seats, and is the largest of the electorates in terms of population.-History:...
for the ACT Greens
ACT Greens
The ACT Greens is a green political party located in the Australian Capital Territory, and a member of the federation of the Australian Greens....
at the 2008 election
Australian Capital Territory general election, 2008
Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 18 October 2008. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Jon Stanhope, was challenged by the Liberal Party, led by Zed Seselja. Candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single...
Life before election
Le Couteur grew up in the Canberra suburb of YarralumlaYarralumla, Australian Capital Territory
Yarralumla is a large inner south suburb of Canberra, the capital city of Australia. Located approximately south-west of the city, Yarralumla extends along the south-west bank of Lake Burley Griffin...
and was educated at Telopea Park High School
Telopea Park School
Telopea Park School is a public school in Canberra, Australia. It is named after the adjacent Telopea Park. It was founded in 1923, making it the oldest operating school in Canberra...
and the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
where she studied economics. She moved to Nimbin
Nimbin, New South Wales
Nimbin is a village in the Northern Rivers area of the Australian state of New South Wales, approximately 30 km north of Lismore, 33 km southeast of Kyogle, and 70 km west of Byron Bay....
after the holding of the Aquarius Festival
Aquarius Festival
The Aquarius Festival was a counter-cultural arts and music festival organised by the Australian Union of Students and sponsored by Peter Stuyvesant and held at Nimbin...
there in 1973 and stayed there for 11 years. While in Nimbin she was instrumental in forming a pre-school and primary school and became a solar (photovoltaic) panel retailer and installer. She subsequently moved back to Canberra and worked for the federal and territorial governments firstly in Information technology and later in renewable energy policy. She later became an Executive Director of locally based, now ASX listed, company Australian Ethical Investment
Australian Ethical Investment
Australian Ethical Investment Limited is an Australian owned company established in 1986 for the purpose of environmental and socially responsible investing...
as well as their information technology manager.
Le Couteur was active in the local environment community. She was at the time of her election one of the two national councillors of the Australian Conservation Foundation
Australian Conservation Foundation
The Australian Conservation Foundation is an Australian non-profit, community-based environmental organisation focused on advocacy, policy research and community outreach.-History:...
(ACF) and had been previously been on the ACF's board. She was a keen supporter of groups such as the Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, Pedal Power, Oxfam, Anglicare and the Conservation Council.
Political career
Le Couteur stood for the ACT Greens in the electorate of MolongloMolonglo electorate
The Molonglo electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has seven seats, and is the largest of the electorates in terms of population.-History:...
in 1998 supporting the Green incumbent Kerrie Tucker
Kerrie Tucker
Kerrie Robyn Tucker , former Australian politician, environmental and human rights activist, was a member of the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the multi-member electorate of Molonglo for the ACT Greens between 1995 and 2001...
. She remained active in the Greens and stood again in Molonglo in 2008. Before the 2008 election the Greens, had one member, Deb Foskey
Deb Foskey
Deb Foskey is a former Australian politician with the ACT Greens. She was elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the 2004 election for the electorate of Molonglo, in which she served until her retirement in 2008.-Early life:Foskey was born in rural East Gippsland,...
. Prior to the 2008 election polling conducted by Patterson Market Research and published in The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times newspaper was founded in 1926 in Canberra, Australia by Arthur Shakespeare.It was the second paper to be printed in the city, the first being The Federal Capital Pioneer. The paper was sold to the Fairfax group in the 1960s by Arthur Shakespeare on the condition that it continue...
suggested the Green vote had significantly increased since the last election at the expense of Labor, with the Liberal vote remaining relatively unchanged. Commentators predicted the Greens would hold the balance of power
Balance of power (parliament)
In parliamentary politics, the term balance of power sometimes describes the pragmatic mechanism exercised by a minor political party or other grouping whose guaranteed support may enable an otherwise minority government to obtain and hold office...
and decide who forms government. The Greens stated they were willing to court both major parties. At the close of counting on election night, with 82.1 per cent of the vote counted, Labor had obtained 37.6 per cent of the vote across the ACT, with the Liberals at 31.1 per cent and the Greens at 15.8 per cent. Swings were recorded against both the Labor (-9.3 per cent) and Liberal (-3.7 per cent) parties with a +6.6 per cent swing towards the Greens. This resulted in the election of Amanda Bresnan
Amanda Bresnan
Amanda Bresnan is an Australian politician and a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. Bresnan was elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Brindabella for the ACT Greens at the 2008 election-Early life and education:Amanda Bresnan was...
, Meredith Hunter
Meredith Hunter (Australian politician)
Meredith Hunter , Australian politician, is a member of the multi-member unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra for the ACT Greens since 2008...
, Shane Rattenbury
Shane Rattenbury
Shane Rattenbury , Australian politician and Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly, is a member of the multi-member unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Molonglo for the ACT Greens since 2008...
and Caroline Le Couteur.
Parliamentary career
She is the Greens spokesperson for- Planning
- Territory & Municipal Services
- Business & Economic Development
- Arts & Heritage
Le Couteur is the chair of the Committee on Public Accounts and Deputy Chair of the Committee on Planning, Public Works and Territory and Municipal Services.
Le Couteur has been described as having "made a significant impact in this place because of her commitment to core Greens’ socialist ideology.." by Alistair Coe
Alistair Coe
Alistair Bruce Coe is an Australian politician with the Liberal Party of Australia, elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the Ginninderra electorate at the 2008 election.His portfolio responsibilities are:...
of the Canberra Liberal party>.