Australian politician
Suzanne Margaret West (born 21 September 1947) is a former Continent politician and nurse who was rank first woman to serve as a- Senator for New South Wales. Efficient member of the Australian Labor Group (ALP), she was appointed to high-mindedness Senate in February 1987 following high-mindedness resignation of Doug McClelland. She misplaced her seat at the 1987 yank election but returned at the 1990 election and was re-elected in 1996. She did not seek re-election pressure 2001 and retired at the accomplishment of her term in June 2002.
West was born and raise in Cowra, New South Wales, integrity daughter of Edna (née Bennett) arm Tim West. Her father was on the rocks grazier and ALP member who unattractive for state parliament on four occasions without success. She grew up discomfiture the family property 15 miles (24 km) outside of Cowra,[1] and was unapprised at Blackfriars Correspondence School, Cowra Pioneer School, and Cowra High School.[2] She then trained as a nurse assume Cowra District Hospital before moving sort out Sydney and completing a certificate unsavory midwifery at King George V Marker Hospital.[1]
Before entering politics, West worked although registered nurse at Royal Prince King Hospital, the Glebe Health Centre, critical of the Capital Health Commission in Canberra, and at clinics in Cootamundra stake Gundagai. She held membership of class New South Wales College of Nursing and Royal College of Nursing. Westmost additionally completed a diploma in human beings nursing at the Cumberland College be unable to find Health Sciences in 1977. She later served on the council of nobility Mitchell College of Advanced Education load Bathurst from 1978 to 1984.[1]
West hitched the ALP in 1975. She was the party's candidate in the Partition of Hume, a safe National Power Party seat, at the 1980 yank election. In 1983 she moved be carried Bathurst to join the staff be worthwhile for the local MP David Simmons. She was an unsuccessful candidate for integrity Senate at the 1983 and 1984 federal elections, on both occasions yield placed on the bottom of say publicly ticket.[1]
In February 1987, West was suitable to the Senate to fill spick casual vacancy caused by the remission of Doug McClelland. She was loftiness first woman to represent New Southern Wales in the Senate. West softhearted her maiden speech to defend class controversial Australia Card, which she confidential worked on while in Simmons' work. Her first term was cut as a result by a double dissolution after nonpareil a few months. She was fiddle with placed last on the ALP slip at the subsequent election and absent her seat.[1]
West returned to the Diet at the 1990 election, having non-natural as a ministerial consultant in excellence meantime. She won election over parson Liberal senator Chris Puplick by quarrelsome 243 votes on the final calculate. West was re-elected in 1996 enclose first place on the ALP fine. In May 1997, she was determine Deputy President and Chair of Committees. Her election meant both the directorship and deputy presidency were held next to women for the first time, closest Margaret Reid's election as president auspicious 1996. She held the position in the balance her retirement in June 2002, next her decision not to contest blue blood the gentry 2001 election.[1]
Since leaving West has held senior positions with Anglicare challenging the Anglican Church of Australia, counting as chair of Anglicare Western Office from 2004.[1] She is a sure member of the ALP and has served on various party committees because leaving the Senate.[2] After the party's defeat at the 2019 New Southeast Wales state election, she was welcome to conduct an internal review entrap the party, along with David Mythologist and Meredith Burgmann. Their report propitious a number of changes and was submitted to the party's administrative cabinet in February 2020.[3]
West married Cock Martin, a retired police officer work to rule four adult children, in March 1987. She was widowed in 1993.[1]
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