Gayle Tierney
Encyclopedia
Gayle Tierney is an Australia
n politician. She has been an Australian Labor Party
member of the Victorian Legislative Council
since November 2006, representing Western Victoria Region.
Tierney studied politics and Asian studies at Flinders University
, before entering the trade union movement. During the early 1980s she worked for Australia Asia Worker Links
, promoting research and study tours in South Korea, The Philippines,Japan and Hong Kong, focusing on union, human, indigenous and women's rights in those countries, and encouraging Australian companies active in Asia to maintain proper standards of care.
Following her period at AAWL Tierney was a Federal Industrial Officer with the Australian Public Service Association and held that position until joining the Vehicle Builders Union in 1989.
Tierney was the first woman to become State Secretary of the traditionally male-dominated Vehicle Division of the Automotive, Metals and Engineering Union (now part of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union
), serving in that role from 1993 to 2006, and serving as its Federal President from 2000 to 2006. Tierney also served on the executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
from 2000 to 2006.
Tierney entered politics ahead of the 2006 state election
, winning the second position on the Labor ticket for the reconstituted Western Victoria Region, thus ensuring her election to parliament.
Tierney was elected from the second position, and was appointed deputy chair of the Rural and Regional Committee in 2007.
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. She has been 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 Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
since November 2006, representing Western Victoria Region.
Tierney studied politics and Asian studies at Flinders University
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
, before entering the trade union movement. During the early 1980s she worked for Australia Asia Worker Links
Australia Asia Worker Links
Australia Asia Worker Links is an Australian non-government organisation active since 1979, established to forge international labour movement links in the Asia-Pacific region. Its office is in the Victorian Trades Hall Council building in Melbourne, Australia.AAWL supports workers' rights and...
, promoting research and study tours in South Korea, The Philippines,Japan and Hong Kong, focusing on union, human, indigenous and women's rights in those countries, and encouraging Australian companies active in Asia to maintain proper standards of care.
Following her period at AAWL Tierney was a Federal Industrial Officer with the Australian Public Service Association and held that position until joining the Vehicle Builders Union in 1989.
Tierney was the first woman to become State Secretary of the traditionally male-dominated Vehicle Division of the Automotive, Metals and Engineering Union (now part of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, or more fully, the Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union is an Australian trade union that is registered with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and is affiliated with the Australian Council of Trade...
), serving in that role from 1993 to 2006, and serving as its Federal President from 2000 to 2006. Tierney also served on the executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Council of Trade Unions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.-History:The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions"...
from 2000 to 2006.
Tierney entered politics ahead of the 2006 state election
Victorian state election, 2006
An election for the 56th Parliament of Victoria took place on Saturday, 25 November 2006. Just over 3 million Victorians registered to vote elected 88 members to the Legislative Assembly and, for the first time, 40 members to the Legislative Council under a proportional representation system...
, winning the second position on the Labor ticket for the reconstituted Western Victoria Region, thus ensuring her election to parliament.
Tierney was elected from the second position, and was appointed deputy chair of the Rural and Regional Committee in 2007.