Elaine Carbines
Encyclopedia
Elaine Cafferty Carbines (born Elaine Cafferty, 4 February 1957) is an Australian politician. She was an Australian Labor Party
member of the Victorian Legislative Council
from September 1999 to November 2006, representing Geelong Province. A former teacher and community campaigner, Carbines was a prominent backbench member of the government, often raising issues of local concern. She was a member of the Labor Right
faction.
, England
, but moved to Australia
in 1968 after completing her elementary schooling. She received her secondary education at Mitcham
High School, and studied teaching (BA 1978, Dip Ed 1979) at Monash University
.
It was at university where she joined the Labor Party, in response to the controversial dismissal of Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
by Governor-General John Kerr. She worked as a secondary school teacher, mostly in underprivileged areas for the next twenty years.
In 1988 she gained a Dip Hum from La Trobe University
.
She is married to Shane Carbines, a former umpire and senior official with the Geelong Football Umpires League. They have two children, Hannah, b1989 and Scott, b1991. Elaine is also stepmother to Anthony and Nick.
branch in 1994, and of the Portarlington
branch from 1995 to 1997. In 1996, she made an unsuccessful bid for the seat of Bellarine
in the Legislative Assembly
. She was a delegate to the party's state conference, representing the federal electorate of Corangamite
, from 1995 to 2009.
Carbines was also actively involved in several environmental campaigns, most notably the attempt to stop the move of the Coode Island
chemical plant to the environmentally sensitive Point Lillias
, and a proposal to build a rowing course on the site of the Belmont Common, another environmentally sensitive area on the outskirts of Geelong. When Carbines won Labor pre-selection to make a second run for office - this time for the Legislative Council
seat of Geelong Province in the lead-up to the 1999 state election, the campaign against both developments became a key part of her platform. On election day, she received a swing of nearly five percent, and defeated sitting Liberal member Bill Hartigan on preferences.
Carbines was a member of the Road Safety and Library Committees in her first three years in office, but was initially overlooked for ministerial duties. She also led the Live Music Taskforce, which attempted to solve issues related to the future of the live music scene in Melbourne, which many perceived to be under threat as a result of venues closing due to noise complaints and development. In March 2002, in the leadup to the election due later that year, she was made Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Training. In December that year, after Labor's election victory, she was instead made Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment.
Carbines was by far the most visible of the four Geelong MPs, and is regularly seen in the media engaging with local issues. A popular local member, she campaigned for improved roads in the region, improved facilities in some of its smaller towns and repeatedly voice concerns about environmental issues, including the fate of Corio Bay
and the Otway Ranges. She also actively tried to engage with the community, frequently attending public meetings and raising community concerns in parliament. This earned her some prominent supporters in the Geelong community; despite her often left-wing views, the head of the city's Chamber of Commerce, in noting that the state's second-largest city had no members of the ministry, prominently singled out Carbines as the city's best hope of obtaining one.
Carbines also been vocal on issues of broader social significance, such as the treatment of refguees, recognition of the Australian Aboriginal flag
and the issue of Tibet
an independence. As a member of the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet Group, Carbines was among those who put their names to an advertisement taken out by the Australia-Tibet Council during a visit to Australia by Chinese President Hu Jintao
during 2003. There was some controversy when it became public that the Chinese Consul-General, Junting Tian, had raised the matter of her involvement in the campaign with Premier Steve Bracks
and had sent Carbines a letter warning her against becoming involved in Tibet-related issues, which she later described as "intimidatory".
Despite Carbines' local popularity, rumors began circulating as early as 2004 that she would face a challenge to her preselection for the 2006 state election
due to factional issues. The situation has been further complicated by major changes to the format of the Legislative Council due to be introduced at the election, which will see Carbines' two-member electorate be merged into a significantly larger five-member electorate. Local media reported in October 2005 that two factionally connected Melbourne unionists were being tipped for the first two easily winnable positions on the party's ticket, with Carbines likely to be faced with the choice of taking the third potentially winnable "death seat" or contesting Legislative Assembly
preselection against lower-profile, but better-connected colleagues Ian Trezise
or Michael Crutchfield
. Carbines was apparently saved when Bracks personally intervened on her behalf in January 2006, asking factional chiefs to find her and four upper house MPs a safe seat. This did not happen and Cabines lost her seat to Peter Kavanagh
of the Democratic Labor Party
after a recount.
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member of the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
from September 1999 to November 2006, representing Geelong Province. A former teacher and community campaigner, Carbines was a prominent backbench member of the government, often raising issues of local concern. She was a member of the Labor Right
Labor Right
The Labor Right, or Labor Unity in some State branches, or Centre Unity in NSW, is the organised faction of the Australian Labor Party that tends to be more economically liberal and socially conservative than Labor Left....
faction.
Early life
Carbines was born in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, but moved to Australia
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...
in 1968 after completing her elementary schooling. She received her secondary education at Mitcham
Mitcham, Victoria
Mitcham is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whitehorse. At the 2006 Census, Mitcham had a population of 14,211.-History:...
High School, and studied teaching (BA 1978, Dip Ed 1979) at Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
.
It was at university where she joined the Labor Party, in response to the controversial dismissal of Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
by Governor-General John Kerr. She worked as a secondary school teacher, mostly in underprivileged areas for the next twenty years.
In 1988 she gained a Dip Hum from La Trobe University
La Trobe University
La Trobe University is a multi-campus university in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament to become the third oldest university in the state of Victoria. The main campus of La Trobe is located in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora; two other major campuses are...
.
She is married to Shane Carbines, a former umpire and senior official with the Geelong Football Umpires League. They have two children, Hannah, b1989 and Scott, b1991. Elaine is also stepmother to Anthony and Nick.
Political life
Throughout her working life, Carbines remained active in politics, having been a party member since university. She was the secretary of Labor's BelmontBelmont, Victoria
Belmont is a southern suburb of Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The name means "beautiful hill". Belmont is geographically separated from the Geelong central business district by the Barwon River. The suburb is primarily residential, with some light industry along Barwon Heads Road...
branch in 1994, and of the Portarlington
Portarlington, Victoria
Portarlington is a historic coastal township located on the Bellarine Peninsula, 27km from the city of Geelong, in the state of Victoria, Australia. The gently rising hills behind the town feature vineyards and olive groves, overlooking Port Phillip Bay. Portarlington is a popular family holiday...
branch from 1995 to 1997. In 1996, she made an unsuccessful bid for the seat of Bellarine
Electoral district of Bellarine
The Electoral district of Bellarine is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. The electorate contains some of the eastern suburbs of Geelong and much of the Bellarine Peninsula after which the electorate is named....
in the Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
. She was a delegate to the party's state conference, representing the federal electorate of Corangamite
Division of Corangamite
The Division of Corangamite is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election...
, from 1995 to 2009.
Carbines was also actively involved in several environmental campaigns, most notably the attempt to stop the move of the Coode Island
Coode Island
Coode Island, was an island at the convergence of the Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers, 4km west of central Melbourne, Australia. Today the low-lying land is part of the Port of Melbourne, site of Swanson and Appleton Docks and their associated container storage and rail yards, as well as a number of...
chemical plant to the environmentally sensitive Point Lillias
Point Lillias
Point Lillias is a narrow peninsula jutting southwards from the northern coast of Corio Bay, near the city of Geelong, in Victoria, Australia. It was formed by a southward trending tongue of lava from the volcanic flows of the Werribee Plains. The seaward end of the peninsula forms a low cliff...
, and a proposal to build a rowing course on the site of the Belmont Common, another environmentally sensitive area on the outskirts of Geelong. When Carbines won Labor pre-selection to make a second run for office - this time for the Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
seat of Geelong Province in the lead-up to the 1999 state election, the campaign against both developments became a key part of her platform. On election day, she received a swing of nearly five percent, and defeated sitting Liberal member Bill Hartigan on preferences.
Carbines was a member of the Road Safety and Library Committees in her first three years in office, but was initially overlooked for ministerial duties. She also led the Live Music Taskforce, which attempted to solve issues related to the future of the live music scene in Melbourne, which many perceived to be under threat as a result of venues closing due to noise complaints and development. In March 2002, in the leadup to the election due later that year, she was made Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Training. In December that year, after Labor's election victory, she was instead made Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment.
Carbines was by far the most visible of the four Geelong MPs, and is regularly seen in the media engaging with local issues. A popular local member, she campaigned for improved roads in the region, improved facilities in some of its smaller towns and repeatedly voice concerns about environmental issues, including the fate of Corio Bay
Corio Bay
Corio Bay is one of numerous bays in the southwest corner of Australia's Port Phillip, and is the bay on which abuts the City of Geelong. The nearby suburb of Corio takes its name from Corio Bay.-Name:...
and the Otway Ranges. She also actively tried to engage with the community, frequently attending public meetings and raising community concerns in parliament. This earned her some prominent supporters in the Geelong community; despite her often left-wing views, the head of the city's Chamber of Commerce, in noting that the state's second-largest city had no members of the ministry, prominently singled out Carbines as the city's best hope of obtaining one.
Carbines also been vocal on issues of broader social significance, such as the treatment of refguees, recognition of the Australian Aboriginal flag
Australian Aboriginal Flag
The Australian Aboriginal Flag is a flag that represents Indigenous Australians. It is one of the official "Flags of Australia", and holds special legal and political status, but it is not the "Australian National Flag"...
and the issue of Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
an independence. As a member of the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet Group, Carbines was among those who put their names to an advertisement taken out by the Australia-Tibet Council during a visit to Australia by Chinese President Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...
during 2003. There was some controversy when it became public that the Chinese Consul-General, Junting Tian, had raised the matter of her involvement in the campaign with Premier Steve Bracks
Steve Bracks
Stephen Philip Bracks AC is a former Australian politician and the 44th Premier of Victoria. He first won the electoral district of Williamstown in 1994 for the Australian Labor Party, and was party leader and Premier from 1999 to 2007....
and had sent Carbines a letter warning her against becoming involved in Tibet-related issues, which she later described as "intimidatory".
Despite Carbines' local popularity, rumors began circulating as early as 2004 that she would face a challenge to her preselection for the 2006 state election
Victorian state election, 2006
An election for the 56th Parliament of Victoria took place on Saturday, 25 November 2006. Just over 3 million Victorians registered to vote elected 88 members to the Legislative Assembly and, for the first time, 40 members to the Legislative Council under a proportional representation system...
due to factional issues. The situation has been further complicated by major changes to the format of the Legislative Council due to be introduced at the election, which will see Carbines' two-member electorate be merged into a significantly larger five-member electorate. Local media reported in October 2005 that two factionally connected Melbourne unionists were being tipped for the first two easily winnable positions on the party's ticket, with Carbines likely to be faced with the choice of taking the third potentially winnable "death seat" or contesting Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
preselection against lower-profile, but better-connected colleagues Ian Trezise
Ian Trezise
Ian Douglas Trezise is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since September 1999, representing the seat of Geelong.- Background :...
or Michael Crutchfield
Michael Crutchfield
Michael Crutchfield is an Australian politician. He was formerly the member for South Barwon in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.-Early life:...
. Carbines was apparently saved when Bracks personally intervened on her behalf in January 2006, asking factional chiefs to find her and four upper house MPs a safe seat. This did not happen and Cabines lost her seat to Peter Kavanagh
Peter Kavanagh (Australian politician)
Peter Kavanagh , Australian politician, is a former member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing the Democratic Labor Party .Kavanagh was born into a family with a long connection with the DLP...
of the Democratic Labor Party
Democratic Labor Party
The Democratic Labor Party is a political party in Australia that espouses social conservatism and opposes neo-liberalism. The first "DLP" Senator in decades, party vice-president John Madigan was elected to the Australian Senate with 2.3 percent of the primary vote in Victoria at the 2010 federal...
after a recount.