Sue Carter
Encyclopedia
Susan Jill Carter is an Australia
n politician. She was a Country Liberal Party
member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
from 2000 to 2005, representing the central Darwin
electorate of Port Darwin
. After winning a by-election upon the resignation of former Chief Minister
Shane Stone
, Carter served as Opposition Whip and Shadow Minister for Health, and was briefly touted as a leadership aspirant before being unexpectedly defeated at the 2005 election
.
Carter spent her childhood living in a number of locations across Australia, due to her father's position in the Royal Australian Air Force
. She studied nursing, and subsequently moved to Darwin in 1979, gaining a position at the hospital there. She studied teaching at the Northern Territory University some years later, and went on to work as an adult educator, teaching in health-related areas in both Darwin and Katherine
. Carter later served as Convenor of the Northern Territory Women's Advisory Council to the Chief Minister
, Marshall Perron
from 1993 to 1995, before going on to work as an investigator for the Health and Community Services Complaints Commission.
In February 2000, former Chief Minister
Shane Stone
resigned from parliament, causing a by-election in his safe CLP seat of Port Darwin. Carter won preselection to contest the seat for the CLP, and was easily elected after a quiet campaign where Stone's mandatory sentencing
policies were the major issue. She was appointed Deputy Chairman of Committees upon entering parliament, which saw her serve in the Speaker's absence.
Carter was easily re-elected at the 2001 election, despite the decision of CLP stalwart and former territory minister Nick Dondas
to contest the seat as an independent. She was promoted to Opposition Whip upon her re-election, and was again promoted in December 2002, when she was appointed Shadow Minister for Health, Senior Territorians, Arts, and Museums. This left her handling the opposition's response in one of the most difficult portfolios in the Northern Territory, with health being a serious and ongoing issue for the territory government.
Carter supported Terry Mills
in both his unsuccessful challenge to Opposition Leader Denis Burke in June 2003, and his successful challenge that November. However, in October 2004 she was demoted, with Mills assigning her health portfolio to Jodeen Carney
. She was regarded as an outside chance for the CLP leadership when Mills resigned in February 2005, but she allowed Burke to regain the leadership uncontested.
Carter faced re-election again in 2005, and was widely expected to win a third term in office. However, an unexpectedly large victory by the Labor government saw an extremely close result in Port Darwin, with Labor candidate Kerry Sacilotto
emerging the victor by 73 votes.
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 Country Liberal Party
Country Liberal Party
The Northern Territory Country Liberal Party is a Northern Territory political party affiliated with both the National and Liberal parties...
member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory is the unicameral parliament of the Northern Territory in Australia. It sits in Parliament House, located on State Square, close to the centre of the city of Darwin.-History:...
from 2000 to 2005, representing the central Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
electorate of Port Darwin
Electoral division of Port Darwin
Port Darwin is an electoral division of the Legislative Assembly in Australia's Northern Territory. It was first created in 1974, and is an entirely urban electorate, covering only 13.65 km² and taking in the Darwin central business district, as well as the suburb of Larrakeyah and part of Stuart...
. After winning a by-election upon the resignation of former Chief Minister
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory is appointed by the Administrator, who in normal circumstances will appoint the head of whatever party holds the majority of seats in the legislature of the territory...
Shane Stone
Shane Stone
Shane Leslie Stone AC, QC is an Australian political figure. From 26 May 1995 to 8 February 1999 he was Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, representing the Country Liberal Party.-Biography:Stone was born in Bendigo, Victoria...
, Carter served as Opposition Whip and Shadow Minister for Health, and was briefly touted as a leadership aspirant before being unexpectedly defeated at the 2005 election
Northern Territory legislative election, 2005
A general election was held in the Northern Territory, Australia, on 18 June 2005. The centre-left Australian Labor Party, led by Chief Minister Clare Martin, won a second term with a landslide victory, winning six of the ten seats held by the opposition Country Liberal Party in the 25-member...
.
Carter spent her childhood living in a number of locations across Australia, due to her father's position in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
. She studied nursing, and subsequently moved to Darwin in 1979, gaining a position at the hospital there. She studied teaching at the Northern Territory University some years later, and went on to work as an adult educator, teaching in health-related areas in both Darwin and Katherine
Katherine, Northern Territory
Katherine is a town situated southeast of Darwin in the "Top End" of Australia in the Northern Territory. It is the fourth largest settlement in the Territory after the capital Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs...
. Carter later served as Convenor of the Northern Territory Women's Advisory Council to the Chief Minister
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory is appointed by the Administrator, who in normal circumstances will appoint the head of whatever party holds the majority of seats in the legislature of the territory...
, Marshall Perron
Marshall Perron
Marshall Bruce Perron is a former Australian politician, who was a Country Liberal Party member of the Legislative Assembly in the Northern Territory from the formation of the Assembly in 1974 until his resignation in 1995. From 1988 to 1995, Perron was the Chief Minister of the Northern...
from 1993 to 1995, before going on to work as an investigator for the Health and Community Services Complaints Commission.
In February 2000, former Chief Minister
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory is appointed by the Administrator, who in normal circumstances will appoint the head of whatever party holds the majority of seats in the legislature of the territory...
Shane Stone
Shane Stone
Shane Leslie Stone AC, QC is an Australian political figure. From 26 May 1995 to 8 February 1999 he was Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, representing the Country Liberal Party.-Biography:Stone was born in Bendigo, Victoria...
resigned from parliament, causing a by-election in his safe CLP seat of Port Darwin. Carter won preselection to contest the seat for the CLP, and was easily elected after a quiet campaign where Stone's mandatory sentencing
Mandatory sentencing
A mandatory sentence is a court decision setting where judicial discretion is limited by law. Typically, people convicted of certain crimes must be punished with at least a minimum number of years in prison...
policies were the major issue. She was appointed Deputy Chairman of Committees upon entering parliament, which saw her serve in the Speaker's absence.
Carter was easily re-elected at the 2001 election, despite the decision of CLP stalwart and former territory minister Nick Dondas
Nick Dondas
Nicholas Manuel "Nick" Dondas AM is a former Country Liberal politician in the Northern Territory, Australia, representing the seat of Casuarina in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 1974 to 1996, and the Division of Northern Territory in the Australian House of Representatives from...
to contest the seat as an independent. She was promoted to Opposition Whip upon her re-election, and was again promoted in December 2002, when she was appointed Shadow Minister for Health, Senior Territorians, Arts, and Museums. This left her handling the opposition's response in one of the most difficult portfolios in the Northern Territory, with health being a serious and ongoing issue for the territory government.
Carter supported Terry Mills
Terry Mills (politician)
Terrence Kennedy Mills is the current Country Liberal Party leader and opposition leader in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly since 29 January 2008...
in both his unsuccessful challenge to Opposition Leader Denis Burke in June 2003, and his successful challenge that November. However, in October 2004 she was demoted, with Mills assigning her health portfolio to Jodeen Carney
Jodeen Carney
Jodeen Terese Carney is an Australian politician. She was a Country Liberal Party member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from September 2001 to September 2010, representing the Alice Springs-based electorate of Araluen...
. She was regarded as an outside chance for the CLP leadership when Mills resigned in February 2005, but she allowed Burke to regain the leadership uncontested.
Carter faced re-election again in 2005, and was widely expected to win a third term in office. However, an unexpectedly large victory by the Labor government saw an extremely close result in Port Darwin, with Labor candidate Kerry Sacilotto
Kerry Sacilotto
Kerry Denise Sacilotto is a former Australian politician. She was the Labor member for Port Darwin in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 2005 to 2008....
emerging the victor by 73 votes.