Fran Bailey
Encyclopedia
Frances Esther "Fran" Bailey (born 21 May 1946) is an Australian
politician and Liberal
member of the
Australian House of Representatives
from 1990 to 1993 and again from 1996 to 2010, representing the electorate of McEwen
in Victoria.
and attended All Hallows' School
in that city. She later graduated from the University of Queensland
and Kelvin Grove Teachers' College
.
at the 1988 election.
Bailey was first elected to the House of Representatives at the 1990 election. She was the first woman from any political party to represent a rural electorate in the House of Representatives, and the first female Liberal elected to a Victorian seat.
She was promoted to Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs, and was heavily involved with the Liberals' 'Fightback!' campaign to re-enter power. She was defeated in the 1993 election. In 1996, she successfully contested the seat again. She served on the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 1998 to 2002.
In 2001, Bailey was promoted to Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence. In July 2004 she was promoted to Minister for Employment Services
and Assistant Minister for Defence. She became Minister for Small Business
and Tourism
in October 2004. In 2006, she flew to London with Lara Bingle
to lobby the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre
for the right to use the word "bloody" in advertisements promoting Australia (see So where the bloody hell are you?
). In November, 2007 she was named in a report of the Australian Auditor General, in connection with Government use and control of funds associated with the controversial "Regional Partnerships Program".
Her period as minister finished with the defeat of the Howard
government at the 2007 election. That election resulted in McEwen becoming the most marginal seat in the country. Fran Bailey led throughout most of the initial count, only be initially found to have lost to former Labor state MP Rob Mitchell by six votes. Bailey subsequently requested and was granted a full recount, which resulted in a change in the lead and a twelve-vote victory for her. The result was challenged in the High Court of Australia
in its capacity as the Court of Disputed Returns
, and was referred to the Federal Court of Australia
. Over seven months after the election and a review of 643 individual votes, the court altered the formal status of several dozen, eventually declaring Bailey the winner by 27 votes. Following the resolution of the long-running dispute, Bailey called for a total overhaul of the voting system.
Bailey announced in October 2009 that she would retire at the next Australian federal election.
politician and Liberal
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 1990 to 1993 and again from 1996 to 2010, representing the electorate of McEwen
Division of McEwen
The Division of McEwen is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the centre of the state, north of the capital city of Melbourne...
in Victoria.
Personal life
She was born in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and attended All Hallows' School
All Hallows' School
All Hallows' School is a Catholic day school for girls, located close to the central business district of Brisbane, Queensland.Founded in 1861, the school follows in the tradition of the Irish Sisters of Mercy, and caters for over 1,300 girls from years five to 12...
in that city. She later graduated from the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
and Kelvin Grove Teachers' College
Kelvin Grove Teachers College
Kelvin Grove Teachers' College established 1961 provides courses in primary and secondary teacher education. It established from its predecessor the Queensland Teachers' Training College....
.
Career
Bailey worked as a secondary school teacher, retailer and cashmere goat breeder before entering politics. She was secretary of the Yarra Glen branch of the Liberal Party from 1984 to 1988 and President of the branch from 1988 to 1989. She also worked as the campaign director for the Victorian state seat of EvelynElectoral district of Evelyn
The Electoral district of Evelyn is an electorate of the Victorian Legislative Assembly covering the urban fringe north east of Melbourne. It was first proclaimed in 1859.The seat has shrunk considerably in size as the eastern suburbs of Melbourne grew...
at the 1988 election.
Bailey was first elected to the House of Representatives at the 1990 election. She was the first woman from any political party to represent a rural electorate in the House of Representatives, and the first female Liberal elected to a Victorian seat.
She was promoted to Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs, and was heavily involved with the Liberals' 'Fightback!' campaign to re-enter power. She was defeated in the 1993 election. In 1996, she successfully contested the seat again. She served on the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 1998 to 2002.
In 2001, Bailey was promoted to Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence. In July 2004 she was promoted to Minister for Employment Services
Minister for Employment Participation (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Employment Participation and Childcare is Kate Ellis, appointed on 14 September 2010. The position is within the portfolio of the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Chris Evans and is administered through the Department of Education,...
and Assistant Minister for Defence. She became Minister for Small Business
Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Small Business is Nick Sherry, appointed on 14 September 2010. The Minister administers his portfolio through the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research...
and Tourism
Minister for Tourism (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Tourism is Martin Ferguson, appointed on 3 December 2007. The Minister administers his portfolio through the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.-List of Ministers for Tourism:...
in October 2004. In 2006, she flew to London with Lara Bingle
Lara Bingle
Lara Bingle is an Australian fashion model who is best known for appearing in the 2006 Tourism Australia advertising campaign So where the bloody hell are you? She is also known for being the former fiancee of Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke and girlfriend of AFL footballer Brendon...
to lobby the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre
Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre
The Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre was an NGO which until December 31, 2007 pre-approved most British television advertising. The work of the BACC has been taken over by Clearcast Ltd....
for the right to use the word "bloody" in advertisements promoting Australia (see So where the bloody hell are you?
So where the bloody hell are you?
So where the bloody hell are you? is a A$180 million advertising campaign launched in 2006 by Tourism Australia created by the Sydney office of the London advertising agency M&C Saatchi....
). In November, 2007 she was named in a report of the Australian Auditor General, in connection with Government use and control of funds associated with the controversial "Regional Partnerships Program".
Her period as minister finished with the defeat of the Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
government at the 2007 election. That election resulted in McEwen becoming the most marginal seat in the country. Fran Bailey led throughout most of the initial count, only be initially found to have lost to former Labor state MP Rob Mitchell by six votes. Bailey subsequently requested and was granted a full recount, which resulted in a change in the lead and a twelve-vote victory for her. The result was challenged in the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
in its capacity as the Court of Disputed Returns
Court of Disputed Returns (Australia)
The Court of Disputed Returns in Australia is a jurisdiction established by Part XXII of the Commonwealth Electoral Act. The jurisdiction is exercised by the High Court of Australia, which can refer cases to the Federal Court...
, and was referred to the Federal Court of Australia
Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law , along with some summary criminal matters. Cases are heard at first instance by single Judges...
. Over seven months after the election and a review of 643 individual votes, the court altered the formal status of several dozen, eventually declaring Bailey the winner by 27 votes. Following the resolution of the long-running dispute, Bailey called for a total overhaul of the voting system.
Bailey announced in October 2009 that she would retire at the next Australian federal election.