Danna Vale
Encyclopedia
Danna Sue Vale Australian politician, was a Liberal
member of the Australian House of Representatives
from March 1996 to July 2010, representing the Division of Hughes
, New South Wales. She did not re-contest her seat at the 2010 federal election.
From 1984 until 1988, Vale was a full-time wife, mother and student, studying arts and law at Sydney University. In 1988, she began practising as a solicitor and held this position until entering parliament.
Vale was first elected to the House of Representatives for Hughes, New South Wales in March 1996, re-elected in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007. Following re-election in 2001, she was appointed Minister for Veterans' Affairs
(26 November 2001 to 22 October 2004) and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence (26 November 2001 to 29 September 2003).
Vale notably opposed several of the Howard Government
's policies and proposals, often on local issues, in particular the proposed construction of a second Sydney airport
at Holsworthy
and a nuclear waste processing plant at Lucas Heights
, both of which would have been located in her electorate. In the government's second term, she spoke against mandatory sentencing
of juveniles in the Northern Territory
. In June 2009, Vale was one of four Liberal MPs to support a Labor
move to abolish the practice of charging asylum seekers the cost of their detention.
She was a member of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Science and Innovation established to look at the technology of geosequestration
of carbon dioxide. The committee reported in August 2007. However, Vale was one of four MPs issuing a dissenting report in which they stated, "We do not believe the evidence unequivocally supports the hypothesis of anthropogenic global warming
". Among the evidence cited in the dissenting report were claims of global warming on other planets including Mars, Jupiter, Pluto, Neptune and Triton (a moon of Neptune). Vale was ridiculed in The Sydney Morning Herald
and the local media for her views.
In 2004, Vale unwittingly became involved in the "cash for comment affair
" when she mistakently faxed a letter of support, meant for radio talkback host Alan Jones
of 2GB
, to Jones' former station 2UE
. At the time, questions were being raised about the impartiality of David Flint
, the head of the Australian Broadcasting Authority
, when a letter of praise from Flint to Jones was revealed after the ABA had cleared Jones of wrongdoing. Vale's letter, urging Jones to "stay brave and true", was lampooned by the ABC TV program Media Watch, which adopted "Stay Brave and True" as its unofficial motto.
In 2006, Vale suggested that Australia is going to become a Muslim nation, as a result of Australians "aborting themselves out of existence" She made these comments in supporting a Coalition-backed amendment to a bill on the abortion
drug RU486, and expressing concern at the rate of abortion by Australian women.
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
from March 1996 to July 2010, representing the Division of Hughes
Division of Hughes
The Division of Hughes is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1955 and is named for Billy Hughes, who was Prime Minister of Australia 1915-23...
, New South Wales. She did not re-contest her seat at the 2010 federal election.
From 1984 until 1988, Vale was a full-time wife, mother and student, studying arts and law at Sydney University. In 1988, she began practising as a solicitor and held this position until entering parliament.
Vale was first elected to the House of Representatives for Hughes, New South Wales in March 1996, re-elected in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007. Following re-election in 2001, she was appointed Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Minister for Veterans' Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Veterans' Affairs oversees income support, compensation, care and commemoration programs for more than 400,000 veterans and their widows, widowers and dependants....
(26 November 2001 to 22 October 2004) and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence (26 November 2001 to 29 September 2003).
Vale notably opposed several of the Howard Government
Howard Government
The Howard Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia led by Prime Minister John Howard. It was made up of members of the Liberal–National Coalition, which won a majority of seats in the Australian House of Representatives at four successive elections. The Howard Government...
's policies and proposals, often on local issues, in particular the proposed construction of a second Sydney airport
Second Sydney Airport
The Second Sydney Airport is an ongoing proposition for another airport to supplement or replace the existing Kingsford Smith Airport in Sydney, Australia...
at Holsworthy
Holsworthy, New South Wales
Holsworthy is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Holsworthy is located 31 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Liverpool and partly in the Sutherland Shire.Holsworthy is most notable for...
and a nuclear waste processing plant at Lucas Heights
Lucas Heights, New South Wales
Lucas Heights is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Lucas Heights is located 31 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Sutherland Shire....
, both of which would have been located in her electorate. In the government's second term, she spoke against 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...
of juveniles in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. In June 2009, Vale was one of four Liberal MPs to support a 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...
move to abolish the practice of charging asylum seekers the cost of their detention.
She was a member of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Science and Innovation established to look at the technology of geosequestration
CO2 sequestration
Carbon sequestration is the capture of carbon dioxide and may refer specifically to:* "The process of removing carbon from the atmosphere and depositing it in a reservoir." When carried out deliberately, this may also be referred to as carbon dioxide removal, which is a form of geoengineering.*...
of carbon dioxide. The committee reported in August 2007. However, Vale was one of four MPs issuing a dissenting report in which they stated, "We do not believe the evidence unequivocally supports the hypothesis of anthropogenic global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
". Among the evidence cited in the dissenting report were claims of global warming on other planets including Mars, Jupiter, Pluto, Neptune and Triton (a moon of Neptune). Vale was ridiculed in The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
and the local media for her views.
In 2004, Vale unwittingly became involved in the "cash for comment affair
Cash for comment affair
The cash for comment affair was an Australian scandal that broke in 1999, concerning paid advertising in radio that is presented to the audience in such a way as to sound like editorial commentary. John Laws, a shock jock radio presenter for Sydney talk back, was accused of misusing his authority...
" when she mistakently faxed a letter of support, meant for radio talkback host Alan Jones
Alan Jones (radio broadcaster)
Alan Belford Jones AO is an Australian radio broadcaster, former rugby union and rugby league coach and administrator.Jones hosts Sydney's most popular breakfast radio program, on radio station 2GB...
of 2GB
2GB
2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. It is one of Australia's most popular talk-back radio stations, and is the number one station in Sydney.-History:The station commenced broadcasting in August 1926...
, to Jones' former station 2UE
2UE
2UE is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia owned by Fairfax Media. It is Sydney's and Australia's oldest commercial radio station, first broadcasting on 26 January 1925 on 1025 kHz AM before moving to 950 kHz in 1935 when virtually all Australian radio stations were assigned new...
. At the time, questions were being raised about the impartiality of David Flint
David Flint
Professor David Flint, AM, LLM , BSc , DSU is an Australian legal academic, known for his leadership of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy and for his tenure as head of the Australian Broadcasting Authority.-Background:...
, the head of the Australian Broadcasting Authority
Australian Broadcasting Authority
The Australian Broadcasting Authority was an Australian government agency whose main roles were to regulate broadcasting, radiocommunications and telecommunications....
, when a letter of praise from Flint to Jones was revealed after the ABA had cleared Jones of wrongdoing. Vale's letter, urging Jones to "stay brave and true", was lampooned by the ABC TV program Media Watch, which adopted "Stay Brave and True" as its unofficial motto.
In 2006, Vale suggested that Australia is going to become a Muslim nation, as a result of Australians "aborting themselves out of existence" She made these comments in supporting a Coalition-backed amendment to a bill on the abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
drug RU486, and expressing concern at the rate of abortion by Australian women.