Marlene Kairouz
Encyclopedia
Marlene Kairouz is an Australia
n politician. She has been a Labor
member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
since 2008.
Kairouz was born in Thornbury
, Victoria
. Her parents are Maronite
Christians from Lebanon and migrated to Australia two years prior to her birth.
Kairouz was educated at St Mary's Primary School in Thornbury from 1980 to 1986 and Santa Maria Girls College, Northcote from 1987 to 1992. She holds a Diploma of Health, Medical Laboratory Science from RMIT
and worked as a histologist prior to working at the Australian Workers Union and becoming active in politics.
Kairouz was first elected to the Legislative Assembly at the 2008 Kororoit by-election, triggered by the resignation of former minister Andre Haermeyer
. Kairouz polled over 15000 votes, with her nearest rival Les Twentyman receiving just over 6000 votes.
Prior to entering state politics she was elected to the City of Darebin
in 1998, serving as mayor from 2001 to 2002 and again from 2006 to 2007. Marlene was an official with the Victorian branch of the Shop Assistants Union from 2004 and was promoted to become an organiser in 2005 before her election to Parliament. Marlene has been a state and national Australian Labor Party
conference delegate and is the Junior Vice President of the Victorian ALP.
In Parliament, Kairouz voted against the Assisted Reproduction Bill saying "Bringing a child into the world without ever having the opportunity to meet both its parents shows disregard for its wellbeing, its needs and dignity." Kairouz was also active opposing abortion laws in Victoria, proposed a twenty week limit on abortions, which was rejected.
She was awarded the Centenary Medal for services to local government in 2001.
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 has been a Labor
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 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:...
since 2008.
Kairouz was born in Thornbury
Thornbury, Victoria
Thornbury originalSince the 1960s, the vast majority of Melburnians pronounce the name phonetically. The 'h' is no longer silent, and there is more stress placed upon the 'o'. pronunciation is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km north from Melbourne's central business district....
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. Her parents are Maronite
Maronite Church
The Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome . It traces its heritage back to the community founded by Maron, a 4th-century Syriac monk venerated as a saint. The first Maronite Patriarch, John Maron, was elected in the late 7th...
Christians from Lebanon and migrated to Australia two years prior to her birth.
Kairouz was educated at St Mary's Primary School in Thornbury from 1980 to 1986 and Santa Maria Girls College, Northcote from 1987 to 1992. She holds a Diploma of Health, Medical Laboratory Science from RMIT
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
and worked as a histologist prior to working at the Australian Workers Union and becoming active in politics.
Kairouz was first elected to the Legislative Assembly at the 2008 Kororoit by-election, triggered by the resignation of former minister Andre Haermeyer
Andre Haermeyer
Andre Haermeyer is an Australian politician. He was the Australian Labor Party member for Kororoit in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 2002, prior to that representing the Yan Yean electorate in Melbourne's north from 1992.Before being elected to Parliament, Haermeyer worked for the...
. Kairouz polled over 15000 votes, with her nearest rival Les Twentyman receiving just over 6000 votes.
Prior to entering state politics she was elected to the City of Darebin
City of Darebin
The City of Darebin is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of , and as of 2009, has a population of 139,608...
in 1998, serving as mayor from 2001 to 2002 and again from 2006 to 2007. Marlene was an official with the Victorian branch of the Shop Assistants Union from 2004 and was promoted to become an organiser in 2005 before her election to Parliament. Marlene has been a state and national Australian Labor Party
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...
conference delegate and is the Junior Vice President of the Victorian ALP.
In Parliament, Kairouz voted against the Assisted Reproduction Bill saying "Bringing a child into the world without ever having the opportunity to meet both its parents shows disregard for its wellbeing, its needs and dignity." Kairouz was also active opposing abortion laws in Victoria, proposed a twenty week limit on abortions, which was rejected.
She was awarded the Centenary Medal for services to local government in 2001.