Melinda Pavey
Encyclopedia
Melinda Jane Pavey MLC is an Australia
n politician. She has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
since 2002, representing the National Party of Australia
. A former party staffer, the Coffs Harbour
businesswoman attracted attention when she became the party's youngest New South Wales MP at the age of 33. This also marked an apparent attempt to shift the image of the party, as Pavey's "beach girl" image was markedly different from the common perceptions of the National Party..
Pavey initially worked as a radio journalist with 2UW in Sydney
, but soon became involved in the National Party, and in 1988 took up a position as a media officer for Matt Singleton
, the then-Minister for Administrative Services. Over the next decade, she worked for a number of MPs, including Deputy Premier Wal Murray (1990–1993), Minister for Consumer Affairs Wendy Machin
(1993–1994) and National Party leader Ian Armstrong
(1994–1997).
In 1997, having recently married, Pavey and her husband moved to Coffs Harbour, where they operated a cafe for some years. She had her first child, Jack (named for former federal party leader John "Black Jack" McEwen
) in 1999, and soon sold the cafe, buying a local bookstore instead. While not actively employed by the party, she remained politically involved and was a member of the party's central council.
Pavey did not attempt to enter politics herself until July 2002, when long-serving Legislative Council member Doug Moppett
died suddenly. In the subsequent weeks, Pavey announced her intention to nominate for the resulting casual vacancy. At the time, the party was recovering from a significant defeat at the 2001 election, and the party was keen to look for younger and more appealing candidates. Despite being nine months pregnant at the time, Pavey was ultimately successful in obtaining preselection, and was sworn in as an MLC in September 2002, three weeks after the birth of her daughter, Emily.
Pavey has been a reasonably high-profile member of parliament, frequently being chosen to attack the government on key accountability issues. She has dedicated much of her time to advocating for the people of the Queanbeyan
region, in her role as the National Party's duty member for the Labor
-held Legislative Assembly
electorate of Monaro
. She has also served on the Parliamentary Committee on Children and Young People since 2003.
On 3 April 2011, it was announced by the new Premier O'Farrell that Pavey would not enter his Coalition Cabinet in New South Wales; she had previously held the role of Shadow Emergency services Spokeswoman.
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 member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
since 2002, representing the National Party of Australia
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
. A former party staffer, the Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
-History:By the early 1900s, the Coffs Harbour area had become an important timber production centre. Before the opening of the North Coast Railway Line, the only way to transport large items of heavy but low value, such as timber, was by coastal shipping. This meant sawmillers on the North Coast...
businesswoman attracted attention when she became the party's youngest New South Wales MP at the age of 33. This also marked an apparent attempt to shift the image of the party, as Pavey's "beach girl" image was markedly different from the common perceptions of the National Party..
Pavey initially worked as a radio journalist with 2UW in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, but soon became involved in the National Party, and in 1988 took up a position as a media officer for Matt Singleton
Matt Singleton
Matthew "Matt" Singleton is a former Australian politician. He was the Country then National Party member for Clarence from 1971 to 1981 and for Coffs Harbour from 1981 to 1990 in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. He was also Minister for Administritive Services and Assistant Minister for...
, the then-Minister for Administrative Services. Over the next decade, she worked for a number of MPs, including Deputy Premier Wal Murray (1990–1993), Minister for Consumer Affairs Wendy Machin
Wendy Machin
Wendy Machin , is the president of the National Roads and Motorists' Association . She was the first woman member of the National Party of Australia elected to the New South Wales Parliament and was Minister for Consumer Affairs and Minister Assisting the Minister for Roads and Assisting the...
(1993–1994) and National Party leader Ian Armstrong
Ian Armstrong (Australian politician)
Ian Morton Armstrong, AM, OBE is a former Deputy Premier of New South Wales.-Parliametary career:Armstrong was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Lachlan from 19 September 1981 to March 2007. He was Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs from 1988 to 1993...
(1994–1997).
In 1997, having recently married, Pavey and her husband moved to Coffs Harbour, where they operated a cafe for some years. She had her first child, Jack (named for former federal party leader John "Black Jack" McEwen
John McEwen
Sir John "Black Jack" McEwen, GCMG, CH , was an Australian politician and the 18th Prime Minister of Australia...
) in 1999, and soon sold the cafe, buying a local bookstore instead. While not actively employed by the party, she remained politically involved and was a member of the party's central council.
Pavey did not attempt to enter politics herself until July 2002, when long-serving Legislative Council member Doug Moppett
Doug Moppett
Douglas Frederick "Doug" Moppett is a former Australian politician. He was a Country Party, later National Party, member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1976 to 1978 and again from 1991 up until 2002...
died suddenly. In the subsequent weeks, Pavey announced her intention to nominate for the resulting casual vacancy. At the time, the party was recovering from a significant defeat at the 2001 election, and the party was keen to look for younger and more appealing candidates. Despite being nine months pregnant at the time, Pavey was ultimately successful in obtaining preselection, and was sworn in as an MLC in September 2002, three weeks after the birth of her daughter, Emily.
Pavey has been a reasonably high-profile member of parliament, frequently being chosen to attack the government on key accountability issues. She has dedicated much of her time to advocating for the people of the Queanbeyan
Queanbeyan, New South Wales
Queanbeyan is a regional centre in the Southern Tablelands in south-eastern New South Wales adjacent to the Australian Capital Territory. The city's mixed economy is based on light construction, high technology, manufacturing, service, retail and agriculture. It is the council seat of the...
region, in her role as the National Party's duty member for the 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...
-held Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
electorate of Monaro
Electoral district of Monaro
Monaro is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by John Barilaro of the National Party of Australia....
. She has also served on the Parliamentary Committee on Children and Young People since 2003.
On 3 April 2011, it was announced by the new Premier O'Farrell that Pavey would not enter his Coalition Cabinet in New South Wales; she had previously held the role of Shadow Emergency services Spokeswoman.