Cassy O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Cassandra Stanwell O'Connor (born 1 April 1967 in Canberra
, ACT
) is an Australia
n politician, who has been a Tasmanian Greens
member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
since 2008, representing the electorate of Division of Denison
.
One of two Greens in the eight member cabinet, O'Connor is currently Minister for Human Services, Community Development, Climate Change and Aboriginal Affairs.
As an elected member of the Tasmanian Greens, O'Connor also carries shadow portfolio responsibility for the Environment, Parks & Heritage, Animal Welfare and the Arts.
and later for Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and Tasmanian Senator Christine Milne
.
She also became well known in Tasmania as the face of the "Save Ralphs Bay" campaign. This community campaign began in March 2004, when Sydney-based developer Walker Corporation announced its intention to construct Tasmania's first canal housing estate in the Ralphs Bay
Conservation Area east of Hobart. In June 2010 the legal confirmation of the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area as being 171 hectares came into effect, therefore preventing Walker Corporations proposed canal housing estates.
resigned earlier in the month.
Cassy O'Connor was re-elected at the 2010 election
, receiving the highest number of first preference votes in Denison with 16.2%.
On 19 April 2010, Labor Premier David Bartlett
appointed Ms O'Connor as Secretary to Cabinet
. In November 2010 she was promoted within the Bartlett cabinet, holding two portfolios. O'Connor and Nick McKim are the first Greens in Australia to hold Cabinet positions.
In 2011 O’Connor was given full Ministerial responsibility for Human Services, Community Development, Aboriginal Affairs and Climate Change. Elements of Community Development include Multicultural Affairs, Seniors, Women, Youth and Gambling. Her colleague Tasmanian Greens Leader Nick McKim MP is now Minister for Education, Sustainable Transport, and Corrections and Consumer Affairs.
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, ACT
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
) is an Australia
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, who has been a Tasmanian Greens
Tasmanian Greens
The Tasmanian Greens are a political party in Australia which developed from numerous environmental campaigns in Tasmania, including the flooding of Lake Pedder and the Franklin Dam campaign...
member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
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...
since 2008, representing the electorate of Division of Denison
Division of Denison (state)
The Electoral Division of Denison is one of the 5 electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir William Denison, who was Lieutenant Governor of Van_Diemen's Land 1847-55, and Governor of New South Wales 1855-61. The division shares its name and boundaries with the...
.
One of two Greens in the eight member cabinet, O'Connor is currently Minister for Human Services, Community Development, Climate Change and Aboriginal Affairs.
As an elected member of the Tasmanian Greens, O'Connor also carries shadow portfolio responsibility for the Environment, Parks & Heritage, Animal Welfare and the Arts.
Background
The daughter of a former ABC foreign correspondent, O’Connor spent her childhood in India, Singapore, Japan, Canberra, Brisbane and Stradbroke Island, Queensland, before moving to Tasmania in 1989.Early career
Prior to entering Parliament, O'Connor worked as a television news journalist and a political staffer in the Keating Government for former Justice Minister and Federal ALP member for Denison Duncan KerrDuncan Kerr
Duncan James Colquhoun Kerr SC is an Australian Senior Counsel and former politician.Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Kerr was educated at the University of Tasmania, where at one stage he was President of the Tasmania University Union and has degrees in both law and social work...
and later for Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and Tasmanian Senator Christine Milne
Christine Milne
Christine Anne Milne is an Australian Senator and deputy leader of the Australian Greens.Christine Milne first came to public attention for her role in opposing the building of the Wesley Vale pulp mill near Bass Strait in North Western Tasmania on the basis of its allegedly harmful environmental...
.
She also became well known in Tasmania as the face of the "Save Ralphs Bay" campaign. This community campaign began in March 2004, when Sydney-based developer Walker Corporation announced its intention to construct Tasmania's first canal housing estate in the Ralphs Bay
Ralphs Bay
Ralphs Bay is a body of water in south east Tasmania, Australia. It is surrounded by the Tranmere and South Arm peninsulas. Sea access to the bay is from the Derwent River....
Conservation Area east of Hobart. In June 2010 the legal confirmation of the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area as being 171 hectares came into effect, therefore preventing Walker Corporations proposed canal housing estates.
Political career
O'Connor finished second on the Tasmanian Greens Denison ticket in 2006 with 3.6% of the primary vote. She received 70% of Tasmanian Greens Leader Peg Putt's preferences and eventually reached almost half a quota before being excluded. She first won the seat of Denison on a countback of votes on 21 July 2008 after the sitting member and leader of the Tasmanian Greens Peg PuttPeg Putt
Margaret Ann Putt is a former Australian politician and parliamentary leader of the Tasmanian Greens. She first entered the Tasmanian House of Assembly in 1993 after Bob Brown resigned and votes in the Hobart electorate of Denison were recounted...
resigned earlier in the month.
Cassy O'Connor was re-elected at the 2010 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...
, receiving the highest number of first preference votes in Denison with 16.2%.
On 19 April 2010, Labor Premier David Bartlett
David Bartlett
David John Bartlett is an Australian former politician in the state of Tasmania, serving as the 43rd Premier of Tasmania from May 2008 until January 2011. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Denison from 2004 to 2011.-Early life:He has been a resident...
appointed Ms O'Connor as Secretary to Cabinet
Cabinet Secretary
A Cabinet Secretary is almost always a senior official who provides services and advice to a Cabinet of Ministers. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powers, including general responsibility for the entire civil service...
. In November 2010 she was promoted within the Bartlett cabinet, holding two portfolios. O'Connor and Nick McKim are the first Greens in Australia to hold Cabinet positions.
In 2011 O’Connor was given full Ministerial responsibility for Human Services, Community Development, Aboriginal Affairs and Climate Change. Elements of Community Development include Multicultural Affairs, Seniors, Women, Youth and Gambling. Her colleague Tasmanian Greens Leader Nick McKim MP is now Minister for Education, Sustainable Transport, and Corrections and Consumer Affairs.