Elaine Nile
Encyclopedia
Elaine Blanche Nile was an Australia
n politician who represented the Christian Democratic Party
in the New South Wales Legislative Council
between 1998 and 2002. Nile was married to Fred Nile
from 1958 until her death.
in Sydney
the daughter of a glass blower and a factory worker, she was a comptometrist
from 1951 to 1958 and a police matron at Darlinghurst
Court from 1977 to 1981. From 1981 to 1986 she was manager of the Australian Christian Solidarity Paper. She was also an organiser and lecturer at Gardiner's Road High School in Mascot
.
, leader of the Call to Australia
group (later the Christian Democratic Party) in the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1981. Mrs Nile was elected to the Legislative Council for Call to Australia in 1988, and served until her retirement due to ill health in 2002.
Her parliamentary career was marked by conservative Christian values. She was a supporter of the constitutional monarchy
and the Australians for Constitutional Monarchy
. Nile introduced legislation to close abortion clinics and spoke on issues including the Gay Mardi Gras
, adoptions by homosexuals, drug abuse among youth, sexual abuse by clergy, family planning, condom vending machines in schools, age of consent for homosexuals, pornography, land valuations, hormone treatment for blood disorders, the M5 motorway exhaust stack, level crossing signposting, Homebush Bay green and gold frogs and Narara Valley
high school counselling. Nile introduced a Sexual Offence Damages Bill and a Nudity (Indecent Exposure) in Public Places Prohibition Bill. Despite opposition from the homosexual community, Nile's most controversial legislative proposal was the Medically Acquired AIDS Victims Compensation Bill, seeking compensation for people who had acquired AIDS
through blood transfusions. Nile and her husband successfully opposed amendments to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act
to create offences of homosexual vilification.
The subject of ridicule by feminists because of her traditional views on the role of women, the Elaine award was created for the person who made public statements that were considered the most unhelpful to the sisterhood
.
Nile initially announced her decision to retire from the Legislative Council on the grounds of ill health in 2000 and John Bradford
was endorsed by the Christian Democratic Party as her successor. However, as a result of an internal party dispute due to Bradford's residency, Nile delayed her retirement until 2002 and Gordon Moyes
was ultimately appointed to the Council, ahead of Bradford.
At the 2007 Federal election, Nile was endorsed in second position of the Christian Democratic Party for the Senate
; but was not successful in winning a sufficient quota
. Nile was listed as the fifth candidate on the Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) ticket at the 2011 state election
, with only Paul Green
as the first candidate, gaining a quota.
Diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma of the liver in 2008 and given only six days to live, Nile died at Calvary Hospital, Sydney from the effects of liver cancer, for which she had previously been treated, but which re-occurred.
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 represented the Christian Democratic Party
Christian Democratic Party (Australia)
The Christian Democratic Party is a right-wing political party in Australia. Its leader is Fred Nile, a Congregational Church minister and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.-Formation:...
in the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
between 1998 and 2002. Nile was married to Fred Nile
Fred Nile
Frederick John "Fred" Nile is an Australian politician and clergyman. Nile has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 1981, except for a period in 2004 when he resigned to contest the Australian Senate at the 2004 federal election...
from 1958 until her death.
Early years and background
Born in WaterlooWaterloo, New South Wales
Waterloo is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Waterloo is located 4 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney.-History:...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
the daughter of a glass blower and a factory worker, she was a comptometrist
Comptometer
The comptometer was the first commercially successful key-driven mechanical calculator, patented in the USA by Dorr E. Felt in 1887.A key-driven calculator is extremely fast because each key adds or subtracts its value to the accumulator as soon as it is pressed and a skilled operator can enter all...
from 1951 to 1958 and a police matron at Darlinghurst
Darlinghurst, New South Wales
Darlinghurst is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Darlinghurst is located immediately east of the Sydney central business district and Hyde Park, within the local government area of the City of Sydney...
Court from 1977 to 1981. From 1981 to 1986 she was manager of the Australian Christian Solidarity Paper. She was also an organiser and lecturer at Gardiner's Road High School in Mascot
Mascot, New South Wales
Mascot is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mascot is located 7 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the City of Botany Bay...
.
Political career
In 1958, she married Fred NileFred Nile
Frederick John "Fred" Nile is an Australian politician and clergyman. Nile has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 1981, except for a period in 2004 when he resigned to contest the Australian Senate at the 2004 federal election...
, leader of the Call to Australia
Christian Democratic Party (Australia)
The Christian Democratic Party is a right-wing political party in Australia. Its leader is Fred Nile, a Congregational Church minister and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.-Formation:...
group (later the Christian Democratic Party) in the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1981. Mrs Nile was elected to the Legislative Council for Call to Australia in 1988, and served until her retirement due to ill health in 2002.
Her parliamentary career was marked by conservative Christian values. She was a supporter of the constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
and the Australians for Constitutional Monarchy
Australians for Constitutional Monarchy
Australians for Constitutional Monarchy is a group that aims to preserve Australia's current constitutional monarchy, with Elizabeth II as Queen of Australia...
. Nile introduced legislation to close abortion clinics and spoke on issues including the Gay Mardi Gras
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
The Sydney Mardi Gras is an annual LGBTQI pride parade and festival in Sydney, Australia, and draws in thousands of visitors from around Australia and overseas...
, adoptions by homosexuals, drug abuse among youth, sexual abuse by clergy, family planning, condom vending machines in schools, age of consent for homosexuals, pornography, land valuations, hormone treatment for blood disorders, the M5 motorway exhaust stack, level crossing signposting, Homebush Bay green and gold frogs and Narara Valley
Narara, New South Wales
Narara is a suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located north of Gosford's central business district. It is part of the City of Gosford local government area....
high school counselling. Nile introduced a Sexual Offence Damages Bill and a Nudity (Indecent Exposure) in Public Places Prohibition Bill. Despite opposition from the homosexual community, Nile's most controversial legislative proposal was the Medically Acquired AIDS Victims Compensation Bill, seeking compensation for people who had acquired AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
through blood transfusions. Nile and her husband successfully opposed amendments to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act
Anti-Discrimination Act 1977
The Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 is an Act of the NSW Parliament, relating to discrimination in employment, the public education system, delivery of goods and services, and other services such as banking, health care, property and night clubs....
to create offences of homosexual vilification.
The subject of ridicule by feminists because of her traditional views on the role of women, the Elaine award was created for the person who made public statements that were considered the most unhelpful to the sisterhood
Sisterhood
Sisterhood may refer to:* Sibling, sisters and brothers* Sorority, a social organization for undergraduate students* Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, a novel by Rebecca Wells* The Sisterhood, a short-lived English goth band...
.
Nile initially announced her decision to retire from the Legislative Council on the grounds of ill health in 2000 and John Bradford
John Bradford (Australian politician)
John Walter Bradford is a former Australian politician.Born in Sydney, he was educated at the University of Sydney and then Sydney College of Advanced Education, becoming a teacher. He served in the military 1968-1970, returning to become a retail industry executive...
was endorsed by the Christian Democratic Party as her successor. However, as a result of an internal party dispute due to Bradford's residency, Nile delayed her retirement until 2002 and Gordon Moyes
Gordon Moyes
Gordon Keith Mackenzie Moyes AC is an Australian Christian evangelist, broadcaster and former politician.-Early life and career:...
was ultimately appointed to the Council, ahead of Bradford.
At the 2007 Federal election, Nile was endorsed in second position of the Christian Democratic Party for the Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
; but was not successful in winning a sufficient quota
Electoral quota
An electoral quota is a election threshold.Types of electoral quotas:* Hare quota* Droop Quota* Imperiali quota* Hagenbach-Bischoff quota...
. Nile was listed as the fifth candidate on the Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) ticket at the 2011 state election
New South Wales state election, 2011
Elections to the 55th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 26 March 2011. The 16-year incumbent Australian Labor Party government led by Premier Kristina Keneally was defeated in a landslide by the Liberal-National coalition opposition led by Barry O'Farrell.New South Wales has...
, with only Paul Green
Paul Green (Australian politician)
Paul Green , an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council representing the Christian Democratic Party since the 2011 election.-Political career:...
as the first candidate, gaining a quota.
Diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma of the liver in 2008 and given only six days to live, Nile died at Calvary Hospital, Sydney from the effects of liver cancer, for which she had previously been treated, but which re-occurred.
External links
- First Speech by the Hon. Elaine Nile MLC - New South Wales Legislative Council. 8 June 1988.