Jeannie Ferris
Encyclopedia
Jeannie Margaret Ferris (14 March 1941 – 2 April 2007) was an Australia
n politician, lobbyist, journalist, and Liberal
Senator
for South Australia
. She was educated at Monash University
, where she graduated in agricultural economics.
Ferris was born Jeanne Margaret Whitlow in Auckland
, New Zealand
. During the period between her endorsement as a candidate for the 1996 election and 1 July 1996, when she took her seat, Ferris was employed by Senator Nick Minchin
. It was suggested that this constituted holding "of office of profit under the Crown", which under section 44 of the Constitution could have rendered her election invalid. To avoid any possibility of this, she resigned from the Senate on 12 July 1996, and was immediately re-appointed by the Parliament of South Australia
to the vacancy caused by her own resignation.
In December 2003, Ferris was involved in the resignation of Senator Andrew Bartlett
as leader of the Australian Democrats
, after an incident at Parliament House
. Bartlett had earlier in the evening stolen five bottles of wine from a Liberal Party Christmas function, which Ferris had sent staff to retrieve. At around 10:30pm Ferris confronted Bartlett, who was drunk. Bartlett approached Ferris on the floor of the Senate chamber, allegedly grabbing her arm and calling her a "fucking bitch". He then supposedly followed her out of the chamber while verbally abusing her. The next morning Bartlett apologised in writing to Ferris, although she considered the inclusion of a bottle of wine with Bartlett's letter of apology "quite inappropriate ... as an apology for drunken behaviour involving abuse and a physical attack."
Ferris was Deputy Government Whip in the Senate from 2001 to 2002 and was Government Whip in the Senate from August 2003 until her death. A year after her diagnosis with ovarian cancer
in October 2005, Ferris formed a parliamentary inquiry into gynaecological cancers with Senators Lyn Allison
and Claire Moore
, which led to a unanimous report across party lines calling for increased research and awareness of the cancers. The Commonwealth Government later agreed to the report's recommendations.
Ferris succumbed to the disease in Canberra
, on 2 April 2007. Her former husband, Bob Ferris, with whom she maintained a close friendship since their divorce in the 1980s, was killed in a road accident three days later on 5 April 2007. Ferris is survived by two sons, Robert and Jeremy.
Following Jeannie's death, a DVD produced by Kay Stammers with support from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing was dedicated in her memory.
Simon Birmingham
was appointed on 3 May 2007 to fill the casual vacancy
created by Jeannie Ferris's death. He had already been selected to replace Ferris as a candidate at the 2007 federal election.
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, lobbyist, journalist, and Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
Senator
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
for South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. She was educated 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....
, where she graduated in agricultural economics.
Ferris was born Jeanne Margaret Whitlow in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. During the period between her endorsement as a candidate for the 1996 election and 1 July 1996, when she took her seat, Ferris was employed by Senator Nick Minchin
Nick Minchin
Nicholas Hugh "Nick" Minchin is a former Australian politician, serving as a Liberal member of the Australian Senate representing South Australia from July 1993 to June 2011, and a former cabinet minister in the Howard Government....
. It was suggested that this constituted holding "of office of profit under the Crown", which under section 44 of the Constitution could have rendered her election invalid. To avoid any possibility of this, she resigned from the Senate on 12 July 1996, and was immediately re-appointed by the Parliament of South Australia
Parliament of South Australia
The Parliament of South Australia is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of South Australia. It consists of the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly. It follows a Westminster system of parliamentary government....
to the vacancy caused by her own resignation.
In December 2003, Ferris was involved in the resignation of Senator Andrew Bartlett
Andrew Bartlett
Andrew John Julian Bartlett is an Australian politician. He was formerly an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate from 1997 to 2008, representing the state of Queensland. He was the leader of the Democrats from 2002 to 2004, and deputy leader from 2004 to 2008.-Early life and...
as leader of the Australian Democrats
Australian Democrats
The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...
, after an incident at Parliament House
Parliament House, Canberra
Parliament House is the meeting facility of the Parliament of Australia located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. The building was designed by Mitchell/Giurgola Architects and opened on 1988 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia...
. Bartlett had earlier in the evening stolen five bottles of wine from a Liberal Party Christmas function, which Ferris had sent staff to retrieve. At around 10:30pm Ferris confronted Bartlett, who was drunk. Bartlett approached Ferris on the floor of the Senate chamber, allegedly grabbing her arm and calling her a "fucking bitch". He then supposedly followed her out of the chamber while verbally abusing her. The next morning Bartlett apologised in writing to Ferris, although she considered the inclusion of a bottle of wine with Bartlett's letter of apology "quite inappropriate ... as an apology for drunken behaviour involving abuse and a physical attack."
Ferris was Deputy Government Whip in the Senate from 2001 to 2002 and was Government Whip in the Senate from August 2003 until her death. A year after her diagnosis with ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....
in October 2005, Ferris formed a parliamentary inquiry into gynaecological cancers with Senators Lyn Allison
Lyn Allison
Lynette Fay "Lyn" Allison is an Australian politician. She was a member of the Australian Senate from 1996 to 2008, representing the state of Victoria. She was the last federal parliamentary leader of the Australian Democrats....
and Claire Moore
Claire Moore
Claire Mary Moore is an Australian politician. Moore was elected to the Australian Senate from Queensland in July 2001, representing the Australian Labor Party. Her term began on 1 July 2002....
, which led to a unanimous report across party lines calling for increased research and awareness of the cancers. The Commonwealth Government later agreed to the report's recommendations.
Ferris succumbed to the disease in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, on 2 April 2007. Her former husband, Bob Ferris, with whom she maintained a close friendship since their divorce in the 1980s, was killed in a road accident three days later on 5 April 2007. Ferris is survived by two sons, Robert and Jeremy.
Following Jeannie's death, a DVD produced by Kay Stammers with support from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing was dedicated in her memory.
Simon Birmingham
Simon Birmingham
Simon John Birmingham is an Australian politician and Liberal Party member of the Australian Senate since 2007, representing South Australia.-Early life and career:...
was appointed on 3 May 2007 to fill the casual vacancy
Casual vacancy
In the Parliament of Australia, a casual vacancy is caused when a member of either house :* dies* resigns mid-term * is expelled from Parliament and their seat is declared vacant, or...
created by Jeannie Ferris's death. He had already been selected to replace Ferris as a candidate at the 2007 federal election.