Grace Portolesi
Encyclopedia
Grace Portolesi is a South Australia
n politician and Labor
member for the electoral district of Hartley
, having won the seat at the 2006 state election
. Previously the parliamentary secretary assisting the Attorney-General, Portolesi is now Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Multicultural Affairs, Youth and Volunteers.
Portolesi was born in Adelaide
to a migrant Italian family. She studied public policy and government at Flinders University
, where she became involved in student politics, serving as president of the Flinders University Student Association. She worked as an equal opportunities officer at the University of South Australia
after graduating from university.
to take up a position as an advisor to then-Premier of Queensland Wayne Goss
. She returned to Adelaide some years later to work as a policy advisor to then-Opposition Leader Mike Rann
, and when Labor won government in 2002, took up a position as chief of staff for Minister for Families and Community Services Jay Weatherill
, a position she held until her election to parliament in 2006.
Portolesi decided to enter politics in advance of the 2006 state election
, and nominated unopposed for preselection in the highly marginal Liberal seat of Hartley
. The traditionally Labor seat had been won by Joe Scalzi
at the Liberal landslide of 1993, and as a popular local member, went against predictions to retain the seat in 1997 and 2002. Her status as an Italian-Australian broadened her support in the ethnically diverse community and helped neutralise a factor that Scalzi had used to his advantage in the past.
Although Labor was widely expected to win several seats at the election, Hartley was expected to be a particularly close race, due to Scalzi's incumbency, personal support, and record of bucking wider electoral trends. The campaign in the seat was heavily presidential, with Premier Mike Rann
strongly supporting Portolesi and doorknocking homes for her several times. Some local issues were raised, however, mostly in the form of policing and the fate of Lochiel Park, which had been threatened with development. Early polls placed Scalzi as the favourite, but Portolesi slowly narrowed the gap, and was leading the polls by January. She seemed to suffer a major setback when polls in the week before the election returned to predicting a win for Scalzi, but ultimately achieved a 6% swing. The result was closer than in other similarly marginal seats, with Scalzi initially refusing to concede defeat, but the result had become clear by the end of the night, and he did so the following day. Three days later, it was announced that Portolesi would be appointed as a parliamentary secretary (assisting the Attorney-General) in the new government, the only one of the party's new recruits to gain such a position.
As of the 2010 state election, Portolesi holds Hartley
with a margin of 2.3 percent.
She also introduced a private member's bill to protect patients' medical records after she was made aware that a landlord in her electorate was withholding 10,000 confidential records as part of a tenancy dispute. The legislation has passed both Houses of the South Australian parliament.
Portolesi is in the left-wing of the Labor Party, and has shown support for same-sex unions and is a member of the pro-choice organization for Australian women parliamentarians, Emily's List. She is an opponent of the Family First Party
, and expressed relief at the conclusion of the 2006 campaign that she had been able to win the seat without their preferences.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n politician and 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...
member for the electoral district of Hartley
Electoral district of Hartley
Hartley is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after John Hartley, a public servant responsible for creating much of South Australia's public education system...
, having won the seat at the 2006 state election
South Australian legislative election, 2006
The state election for the 51st Parliament of South Australia was held in the Australian state of South Australia on 18 March 2006, and was conducted by the independent State Electoral Office.-House of Assembly:...
. Previously the parliamentary secretary assisting the Attorney-General, Portolesi is now Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Multicultural Affairs, Youth and Volunteers.
Portolesi was born in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
to a migrant Italian family. She studied public policy and government 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...
, where she became involved in student politics, serving as president of the Flinders University Student Association. She worked as an equal opportunities officer at the University of South Australia
University of South Australia
The University of South Australia is a public university in the Australian state of South Australia. It was formed in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology and Colleges of Advanced Education. It is the largest university in South Australia, with more than 36,000...
after graduating from university.
Political career
In the early 1990s, moved to QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
to take up a position as an advisor to then-Premier of Queensland Wayne Goss
Wayne Goss
Wayne Keith Goss was Premier of Queensland from 7 December 1989 until 19 February 1996.-Early life:He was born at Mundubbera, Queensland and educated at Inala High School and the University of Queensland...
. She returned to Adelaide some years later to work as a policy advisor to then-Opposition Leader Mike Rann
Mike Rann
Michael David Rann MHA, CNZM , Australian politician, served as the 44th Premier of South Australia. He led the South Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party to minority government at the 2002 election, before attaining a landslide win at the 2006 election...
, and when Labor won government in 2002, took up a position as chief of staff for Minister for Families and Community Services Jay Weatherill
Jay Weatherill
Jay Wilson Weatherill is an Australian politician and current Premier of South Australia. He has represented the electoral district of Cheltenham in the South Australian House of Assembly as a member of the Australian Labor Party since the 2002 election.-Early life:Born in the western suburbs of...
, a position she held until her election to parliament in 2006.
Portolesi decided to enter politics in advance of the 2006 state election
South Australian legislative election, 2006
The state election for the 51st Parliament of South Australia was held in the Australian state of South Australia on 18 March 2006, and was conducted by the independent State Electoral Office.-House of Assembly:...
, and nominated unopposed for preselection in the highly marginal Liberal seat of Hartley
Electoral district of Hartley
Hartley is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after John Hartley, a public servant responsible for creating much of South Australia's public education system...
. The traditionally Labor seat had been won by Joe Scalzi
Joe Scalzi
Giuseppe "Joe" Scalzi is a former Australian politician. He was a Liberal Party of Australia member of the South Australian House of Assembly between 1993 and 2006, representing the electorate of Hartley....
at the Liberal landslide of 1993, and as a popular local member, went against predictions to retain the seat in 1997 and 2002. Her status as an Italian-Australian broadened her support in the ethnically diverse community and helped neutralise a factor that Scalzi had used to his advantage in the past.
Although Labor was widely expected to win several seats at the election, Hartley was expected to be a particularly close race, due to Scalzi's incumbency, personal support, and record of bucking wider electoral trends. The campaign in the seat was heavily presidential, with Premier Mike Rann
Mike Rann
Michael David Rann MHA, CNZM , Australian politician, served as the 44th Premier of South Australia. He led the South Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party to minority government at the 2002 election, before attaining a landslide win at the 2006 election...
strongly supporting Portolesi and doorknocking homes for her several times. Some local issues were raised, however, mostly in the form of policing and the fate of Lochiel Park, which had been threatened with development. Early polls placed Scalzi as the favourite, but Portolesi slowly narrowed the gap, and was leading the polls by January. She seemed to suffer a major setback when polls in the week before the election returned to predicting a win for Scalzi, but ultimately achieved a 6% swing. The result was closer than in other similarly marginal seats, with Scalzi initially refusing to concede defeat, but the result had become clear by the end of the night, and he did so the following day. Three days later, it was announced that Portolesi would be appointed as a parliamentary secretary (assisting the Attorney-General) in the new government, the only one of the party's new recruits to gain such a position.
As of the 2010 state election, Portolesi holds Hartley
Electoral district of Hartley
Hartley is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after John Hartley, a public servant responsible for creating much of South Australia's public education system...
with a margin of 2.3 percent.
Political persuasion
Portolesi has been a vocal supporter of paid maternity leave, and established a select committee on work/life balance in her first year as the Member for Hartley. She dedicated her election to 'working mums', and spoke in her maiden speech of the 'struggle to juggle' – the work/life balance.She also introduced a private member's bill to protect patients' medical records after she was made aware that a landlord in her electorate was withholding 10,000 confidential records as part of a tenancy dispute. The legislation has passed both Houses of the South Australian parliament.
Portolesi is in the left-wing of the Labor Party, and has shown support for same-sex unions and is a member of the pro-choice organization for Australian women parliamentarians, Emily's List. She is an opponent of the Family First Party
Family First Party
The Family First Party is a socially conservative minor political party in Australia. It has two members in the South Australian Legislative Council...
, and expressed relief at the conclusion of the 2006 campaign that she had been able to win the seat without their preferences.