Gabrielle Harrison
Encyclopedia
Gabrielle Mary Harrison was an Australian politician
. She served as an Australian Labor Party
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1994 until 2003, representing the electorate of Parramatta
. Harrison successed her first husband, Andrew Ziolkowski
, who died in office.
, in Sydney
. At university she became heavily involved in student politics, and was chairman of the university Students' Union. It was at university that she met her future husband Ziolkowski, who was on the Students' Council and editor of the university newspaper, Arena. She joined the Australian Labor Party
in 1984, and was active in Young Labor
. After university, she became secretary of the Parramatta
branch of the ALP. She married Ziolkowski on 30 November 1985.
, that he had been diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer of the oesophagus.
When her husband died in 1994, Harrison was endorsed by the Labor Party as candidate for a by-election for the seat of Parramatta
. She was criticised by her opponent, Liberal
candidate, Wendy Jones, for running for office instead of staying at home and looking after her son Tristan, then aged 7. Harrison won the 1994 Parramatta by-election
without being forced to preferences, earning a swing of nine percent towards her party. Harrison was re-elected at the 1995
and 1999
State elections. With strong interests in netball, running and fishing, Harrison was appointed Minister for Sport and Recreation in 1995; however, lost her portfolio following the 1999 State election.
During 2002, Harrison (along with NSW Speaker John Murray
) was sued before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission
for A$
800,000 by former staffer Anne Stonham, who claimed that her contract was "unfair" and she had been overworked. The court subsequently found in favour of Harrison. Another staffer, John Cairn, accused Harrison of keeping photographs of her enemies in a locket around her neck.
In the lead-up to the 2003 State Election, it was reported that,
Harrison conceded that she had lost support among her branch members and subsequently announced on 20 December 2002 that she would not be seeking re-endorsement as the Labor candidate in the 2003
State election.
Gadiel was endorsed as Labor candidate for Parramatta in a bitter pre-selection.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She served as an Australian Labor Party
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...
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1994 until 2003, representing the electorate of Parramatta
Electoral district of Parramatta
Parramatta is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Geoff Lee of the Liberal Party of Australia....
. Harrison successed her first husband, Andrew Ziolkowski
Andrew Ziolkowski
Andrew Charles Frederick Ziolkowski was an Australian politician. He served as an Australian Labor Party Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1991 until his death in 1994, representing the electoral district of Parramatta...
, who died in office.
Private life
Harrison is the daughter of Edwin Harrison and Faye Ware. Harrison's brother, Steve, was a union official and joint secretary of the Australian Workers Union. Harrison has a sister, Jennifer. The death of her first husband came at a very difficult time for her and her brother, who also suffered the loss of their grandparents in the same week.Early years
Harrison studied law at Macquarie UniversityMacquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
, 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...
. At university she became heavily involved in student politics, and was chairman of the university Students' Union. It was at university that she met her future husband Ziolkowski, who was on the Students' Council and editor of the university newspaper, Arena. She joined the Australian Labor Party
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...
in 1984, and was active in Young Labor
Australian Young Labor
Australian Young Labor is the youth wing of the Australian Labor Party. All ALP members aged under 26 are automatically members. Australian Young Labor is the peak youth body within the ALP. It represents about 9500 members in every state and territory in Australia...
. After university, she became secretary of the Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
branch of the ALP. She married Ziolkowski on 30 November 1985.
New South Wales state politics
In July 1993, Ziolkowski advised Leader of the Opposition, Bob CarrBob Carr
Robert John "Bob" Carr , Australian statesman, was Premier of New South Wales from 4 April 1995 to 3 August 2005. He holds the record for the longest continuous service as premier of NSW...
, that he had been diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer of the oesophagus.
When her husband died in 1994, Harrison was endorsed by the Labor Party as candidate for a by-election for the seat of Parramatta
Electoral district of Parramatta
Parramatta is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Geoff Lee of the Liberal Party of Australia....
. She was criticised by her opponent, 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...
candidate, Wendy Jones, for running for office instead of staying at home and looking after her son Tristan, then aged 7. Harrison won the 1994 Parramatta by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
without being forced to preferences, earning a swing of nine percent towards her party. Harrison was re-elected at the 1995
New South Wales state election, 1995
Elections to the 51st Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday 25 March 1995. All seats in the Legislative Assembly and half the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election. The minority Liberal Party of Australia-led Coalition government of Premier John Fahey was defeated by...
and 1999
New South Wales state election, 1999
Elections to the 52nd Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 27 March 1999. All seats in the Legislative Assembly and half the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election...
State elections. With strong interests in netball, running and fishing, Harrison was appointed Minister for Sport and Recreation in 1995; however, lost her portfolio following the 1999 State election.
During 2002, Harrison (along with NSW Speaker John Murray
John Murray (New South Wales politician)
John Henry Murray is an Australian politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1982 to 2003, representing the electorate of Drummoyne...
) was sued before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission
Australian Industrial Relations Commission
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission, or AIRC , was a tribunal with powers under the Workplace Relations Act 1996. It was the central institution of Australian labour law...
for A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
800,000 by former staffer Anne Stonham, who claimed that her contract was "unfair" and she had been overworked. The court subsequently found in favour of Harrison. Another staffer, John Cairn, accused Harrison of keeping photographs of her enemies in a locket around her neck.
In the lead-up to the 2003 State Election, it was reported that,
- Right-wing party bosses want to replace former sports minister Gabrielle Harrison in Parramatta with Tanya GadielTanya GadielTanya Rachelle Gadiel, née Barber , a former Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 2003–2011, representing the electorate of Parramatta for the Australian Labor Party...
, a member of the staff of Police Minister Michael CostaMichael CostaMichael Costa is a former Australian Labor politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 2001 until 2008, and Treasurer of New South Wales from 2006 to 2008.- Early life and career :...
. ..... Mrs Gadiel [does not] have the support to win local rank-and-file preselection ballots.
Harrison conceded that she had lost support among her branch members and subsequently announced on 20 December 2002 that she would not be seeking re-endorsement as the Labor candidate in the 2003
New South Wales state election, 2003
Elections to the 53rd Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday 22 March 2003. All seats in the Legislative Assembly and half the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election...
State election.
Gadiel was endorsed as Labor candidate for Parramatta in a bitter pre-selection.