Judy Jackson
Encyclopedia
The Honourable Judith Louise Jackson (born 31 August 1947) was an Australian Labor Party
politician, in Tasmania
from 1986 to 2006. She was the Attorney-General and Minister for Environment
in the Tasmanian Government
. During her time in parliament she was a member of the Hobart
based seat of Denison. She was first elected to parliament
in 1986.
) couples to register a union and obtain similar rights as married couples.
Also in 2005; the Family Violence Act she drafted was criticised by judges as one of the provisions in the legislation prevented courts from granting bail to alleged domestic violence offenders, as well as the points system used discriminating against people of different ethnic or lower socio-economic backgrounds. However Jackson remained firm about the issue and the legislation was introduced, unchanged.
In 2005 the government also drafted the Sex Regulation Act which sought to further legalise and regulate prostitution
. Under the legislation, brothels would be legal and could be owned by any individual except convicted criminals, patrons of prostitution would be required by law to wear a condom
. However Jackson was unable to convince the community and members of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
rejected her bill. As a result she made a back flip; abandoning her legislation and banning brothels in Tasmania
. Jackson got criticism from both sides; sex workers and supporters fearing that prostitution
will go underground and others for supporting prostitution
in the first place. Jackson, in a statement told how she still felt Regulation of the industry was better than banning it altogether.
As Environment
Minister she has been highly criticised by the Tasmanian Greens
for inaction over the Devil facial tumour disease
, a transmissible cancer that occurs in Tasmanian Devil
s.
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...
politician, in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
from 1986 to 2006. She was the Attorney-General and Minister for Environment
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
in the Tasmanian Government
Government of Tasmania
The form of the Government of Tasmania is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
. During her time in parliament she was a member of the Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
based seat of Denison. She was first elected to parliament
Parliament of Tasmania
The Parliament of Tasmania consists of the Tasmanian Legislative Council, Tasmanian House of Assembly and the Monarch represented by the Governor of Tasmania....
in 1986.
Political career
Prior to her entry into parliament, Jackson worked as a school teacher. She entered state politics in 1986, despite not coming from a union or political family. She held a number of portfolios including; Minister for Community services (1989), Minister for Roads and Transport (1991), Shadow Attorney-General (1996-1998) and Minister for Health and Human services. Jackson is a committed feminism|feminist and has worked tirelessly to bring equal opportunity to women in Tasmania. Since 2002 when Jackson took over the Attorney-General portfolio she has drafted several laws including; The Family Violence Act which outlaws domestic violence in Tasmania and the Relationships Act which has made it possible for non married (including homosexualHomosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
) couples to register a union and obtain similar rights as married couples.
Criticism
Jackson had many critics; the Risdon prison siege in 2005 caused much controversy and she was widely blamed as not handling the situation.Also in 2005; the Family Violence Act she drafted was criticised by judges as one of the provisions in the legislation prevented courts from granting bail to alleged domestic violence offenders, as well as the points system used discriminating against people of different ethnic or lower socio-economic backgrounds. However Jackson remained firm about the issue and the legislation was introduced, unchanged.
In 2005 the government also drafted the Sex Regulation Act which sought to further legalise and regulate prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
. Under the legislation, brothels would be legal and could be owned by any individual except convicted criminals, patrons of prostitution would be required by law to wear a condom
Condom
A condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
. However Jackson was unable to convince the community and members of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
Tasmanian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the House of Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Hobart...
rejected her bill. As a result she made a back flip; abandoning her legislation and banning brothels in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. Jackson got criticism from both sides; sex workers and supporters fearing that prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
will go underground and others for supporting prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
in the first place. Jackson, in a statement told how she still felt Regulation of the industry was better than banning it altogether.
As Environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
Minister she has been highly criticised by the Tasmanian Greens
Tasmanian Greens
The Tasmanian Greens are a political party in Australia which developed from numerous environmental campaigns in Tasmania, including the flooding of Lake Pedder and the Franklin Dam campaign...
for inaction over the Devil facial tumour disease
Devil facial tumour disease
Devil facial tumour disease is an aggressive non-viral transmissible parasitic cancer—which likely originated in Schwann cells—that affects Tasmanian devils. The first "official case" was described in 1996, in Australia...
, a transmissible cancer that occurs in Tasmanian Devil
Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian devil is a carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae, now found in the wild only on the Australian island state of Tasmania. The size of a small dog, it became the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world following the extinction of the thylacine in 1936...
s.