Sue Napier
Encyclopedia
Sue Napier was an Australian politician. She was a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
for the Division of Bass. Napier was first elected in 1992 and was re-elected in 1996, 1998, 2002 and 2006.
She was born as Suzanne Deidre Braid on New Years Day, 1948, in Latrobe, Tasmania
, the daughter of Tasmanian Legislative Council
member Harry Braid.
She was leader of the Liberal Party from 2 July 1999 until 20 August 2001. She became the leader of the opposition when former Premier Tony Rundle
resigned and she defeated leadership aspirant Bob Cheek
in a party room ballot. Cheek was successful in a subsequent vote two years later, and took over the party leadership in 2001.
During her career Napier served in many portfolios including transport, youth affairs, education and opposition portfolios of business, tourism, health and infrastructure as well as Deputy Premier.
Napier was diagnosed with breast cancer
in late 2008, but responded well to treatment and recovered in 2009. In February 2010, she announced that she would retire from parliament and not contest the 2010 Tasmanian election
after it was discovered that the cancer had returned.
She died from breast cancer on 5 August 2010, aged 62.
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
for the Division of Bass. Napier was first elected in 1992 and was re-elected in 1996, 1998, 2002 and 2006.
She was born as Suzanne Deidre Braid on New Years Day, 1948, in Latrobe, Tasmania
Latrobe, Tasmania
Latrobe is a town in northern Tasmania, Australia, situated on the Mersey River. It lies 8 km south-east of Devonport on the Bass Highway. It is main centre of the Latrobe Council. At the 2006 census, Latrobe had a population of 2,843....
, the daughter of 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...
member Harry Braid.
She was leader of the Liberal Party from 2 July 1999 until 20 August 2001. She became the leader of the opposition when former Premier Tony Rundle
Tony Rundle
Anthony Maxwell Rundle AO was the Premier of the Australian State of Tasmania from 18 March 1996 to 14 September 1998. He succeeded Ray Groom and was succeeded himself by Jim Bacon. He is a Liberal who held the seat of Braddon between 1986 and 2002. A former journalist, he is married to...
resigned and she defeated leadership aspirant Bob Cheek
Bob Cheek
Robert Reginald 'Bob' Cheek was leader of the Opposition Tasmanian Liberal Party from 20 August 2001 until he lost his seat in the July 2002 election. It was the first time that a major party leader lost their seat in a Tasmanian election since 1903.Cheek was first elected to Tasmanian parliament...
in a party room ballot. Cheek was successful in a subsequent vote two years later, and took over the party leadership in 2001.
During her career Napier served in many portfolios including transport, youth affairs, education and opposition portfolios of business, tourism, health and infrastructure as well as Deputy Premier.
Napier was diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in late 2008, but responded well to treatment and recovered in 2009. In February 2010, she announced that she would retire from parliament and not contest the 2010 Tasmanian election
Tasmanian state election, 2010
The 2010 Tasmanian state election was held on 20 March 2010 to elect members to the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The 12-year incumbent Labor government, led by Premier of Tasmania David Bartlett, won a fourth consecutive term against the Liberal opposition, led by Will Hodgman, after Labor formed a...
after it was discovered that the cancer had returned.
She died from breast cancer on 5 August 2010, aged 62.
External links
- Tasmanian Parliament Biography
- Inaugural speech to Parliament, Parliament of Tasmania