Joan Sheldon
Encyclopedia
Joan Mary Sheldon is an Australia
n politician. She was a Liberal Party of Australia
member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
from 1990 to 2004, representing the electorates of Landsborough
and then Caloundra
. She was the state Liberal leader from 1991 to 1998, and served as Deputy Premier
in the Borbidge
government from 1996 to 1998.
, and attended St Bernadette's Primary School and Soutirous College. She studied physiotherapy at the University of Queensland
and subsequently studied for a time at Trinity College London
. Sheldon operated a physiotherapy practice in Brisbane
from 1978 to 1984, when she moved to Caloundra.
A long-time member of the Liberal Party, she contested and won preselection for the National-held seat of Landsborough
upon the 1990 resignation of former Premier Mike Ahern. She won an upset victory after Labor declined to stand a candidate, winning a 15% swing in her favour. In November 1991, she defeated Denver Beanland
for the Liberal leadership, becoming the first female party leader in Queensland. An ally of Liberal state president Paul Everingham
, she was seen as less hostile to the National Party than her predecessor.
Sheldon led the party to a resounding defeat in the 1992 state election, losing a seat to Labor amidst high-profile tensions with the National Party. She supported proposals for a merger or coalition in the wake of the loss, and subsequently led the Liberal Party back into coalition with the National Party in November 1992, after nine years apart. She subsequently served as Shadow Treasurer under Borbidge in the leadup to the 1995 state election, which resulted in a one-seat victory for Labor. The result was reversed in February 1996 when a court-ordered by-election
resulted in a Liberal victory, and the Liberal-National Coalition gained office with the support of an independent. Sheldon was thus sworn in as Deputy Premier and Treasurer under Borbidge.
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. She was a Liberal Party of Australia
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...
member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
from 1990 to 2004, representing the electorates of Landsborough
Electoral district of Landsborough
Landsborough was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland from 1950 to 1992. The district was based on the Sunshine Coast....
and then Caloundra
Electoral district of Caloundra
The district of Caloundra is a Queensland Legislative Assembly electoral district on the Sunshine Coast in the Australian state of Queensland. The electorate is centred on the city of Caloundra and stretches north to Wurtulla, south to Pelican Waters and west to the Bruce Highway.The seat is...
. She was the state Liberal leader from 1991 to 1998, and served as Deputy Premier
Deputy Premier of Queensland
The Deputy Premier of Queensland is a role in the Government of Queensland assigned to a responsible Minister in the Australian state of Queensland. It has second ranking behind the Premier of Queensland in Cabinet, and its holder serves as Acting Premier during absence or incapacity of the Premier...
in the Borbidge
Rob Borbidge
Robert Edward Borbidge AO , Australian politician, was the 35th Premier of Queensland, and leader of the Queensland branch of the National Party...
government from 1996 to 1998.
Early career
Sheldon was born in Bundaberg, QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, and attended St Bernadette's Primary School and Soutirous College. She studied physiotherapy at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
and subsequently studied for a time at Trinity College London
Trinity College London
Trinity College London is an international examinations board based in London, England. TCL offers qualifications across a range of disciplines in the performing arts and arts education and English language learning and teaching...
. Sheldon operated a physiotherapy practice in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
from 1978 to 1984, when she moved to Caloundra.
A long-time member of the Liberal Party, she contested and won preselection for the National-held seat of Landsborough
Electoral district of Landsborough
Landsborough was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland from 1950 to 1992. The district was based on the Sunshine Coast....
upon the 1990 resignation of former Premier Mike Ahern. She won an upset victory after Labor declined to stand a candidate, winning a 15% swing in her favour. In November 1991, she defeated Denver Beanland
Denver Beanland
Denver Edward Beanland , Australian state politician. Denver was elected as an Alderman of the Brisbane City Council in 1976 and served on that Council, including a period as Deputy Lord Mayor of Brisbane until 1986. Denver was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly, in 1986, as the member...
for the Liberal leadership, becoming the first female party leader in Queensland. An ally of Liberal state president Paul Everingham
Paul Everingham
Paul Anthony Edward Everingham AO was the first Chief Minister of the Northern Territory of Australia when it was granted self-government in 1978....
, she was seen as less hostile to the National Party than her predecessor.
Sheldon led the party to a resounding defeat in the 1992 state election, losing a seat to Labor amidst high-profile tensions with the National Party. She supported proposals for a merger or coalition in the wake of the loss, and subsequently led the Liberal Party back into coalition with the National Party in November 1992, after nine years apart. She subsequently served as Shadow Treasurer under Borbidge in the leadup to the 1995 state election, which resulted in a one-seat victory for Labor. The result was reversed in February 1996 when a court-ordered by-election
Mundingburra state by-election, 1996
The Mundingburra state by-election, 1996 was a by-election held on 3 February 1996 for the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Mundingburra, located in the southern suburbs of Townsville...
resulted in a Liberal victory, and the Liberal-National Coalition gained office with the support of an independent. Sheldon was thus sworn in as Deputy Premier and Treasurer under Borbidge.