Jodeen Carney
Encyclopedia
Jodeen Terese Carney is an Australia
n politician. She was a Country Liberal Party
member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
from September 2001 to September 2010, representing the Alice Springs-based electorate of Araluen
. She was the Shadow Attorney-General, and Shadow Minister for Justice, Health, Family and Community Services, Business and Industry, Women's Policy, Territory Development, the AustralAsia Railway, Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Central Australia and Defence Support. Until 29 January 2008 she was also the Opposition Leader.
Carney announced her resignation from parliament on 19 August 2010, effective 3 September. She cited health reasons as the primary cause of her resignation.
, Victoria
, and studied at Bendigo High School before commencing a law degree at the University of Melbourne
. She graduated in 1989, and moved to Alice Springs the following year in order to do her articles. In 1990, she was admitted to legal practice, and worked as a solicitor for the next seven years. In 1997, she opened her own local practice, which she operated until deciding to contest pre-selection for the Legislative Assembly seat of Araluen at the 2001 election
.
, a sitting MP who had lost his preselection, complained to the party's Central Council, making claims of branch-stacking. The fallout from the letter was immense—on 25 November 2000, in what was dubbed by the local media as "The Night of the Long Knives", all the preselections of the Alice Springs branch were overturned, and the Central Council instead dictated who would run as a CLP candidate. Elferink was reinstated, Carney gained preselection for Araluen, and sitting MP and Minister Loraine Braham
was axed to make way for Peter Harvey, who had previously been chosen over Carney in Araluen. While the controversial and largely unprecedented decision from head office would almost ensure her a seat in parliament, it earned her many enemies in the local branch of the party.
While Araluen had been a reasonably safe seat for the Country Liberal Party, Carney faced a significant challenge from the Australian Labor Party
candidate and two well-known independents. The CLP's vote dropped 27 percentage points from the 1997 election—contested by her long-running predecessor, Eric Poole
—although she eventually achieved victory by 134 votes.
As a new opposition MLA, Carney immediately took on responsibility for several portfolios, including tourism, correctional services and communications. While she often acted as a conservative voice in the assembly on many issues, advocating a particularly hard line on issues of law and order (including mandatory sentencing
) and drug policy, this was not always the case, as she also clashed with her own party on several issues—most notably in 2003, when she crossed the floor to vote with the ALP in supporting legislation decreasing the age of consent for gay males.
In mid-2003, Deputy Opposition Leader Mike Reed
resigned, and Carney was widely tipped as the favourite to succeed him. However, in a surprise result—widely put down to both her poor relationship with the influential Alice Springs branch and her support, against their wishes, for Denis Burke's leadership, she was defeated by Dr. Richard Lim
. However, she soon changed sides and decided to support Mills after Burke refused to allow a conscience vote on the age of consent legislation. She was subsequently promoted, being made Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for Justice, and then again in late 2004, being made Shadow Minister for Health.
Carney faced her first re-election bid at the 2005 election
. While commentators were generally divided on whether she would hold her seat, as it was the CLP's most marginal, almost no one expected the final result. On election day, there were massive and unprecedented swings to the Australian Labor Party
in every seat in the Territory—except Araluen. While Burke, who had not long before regained the leadership, lost his seat of Brennan
, which was the safest CLP seat in the Territory, Carney easily held her seat with a swing in her favour in the vicinity of 5%.
Burke had already announced that he would stand down as leader if he lost the election, and as it became clear that he would lose his seat, making this moot, speculation turned to who would replace him. With Mills unlikely to take up the leadership again after having resigned as leader not long before on the grounds that he had been ineffective, and potential aspirants John Elferink
and Sue Carter
having been defeated, Carney emerged as the leading candidate, and was ultimately chosen as Burke's replacement.
Though she had not been Opposition Leader for long, Carney oversaw a change in Country Liberal Party policy, shifting it notably to the left—such as attacking the government's law and order policies from a humanitarian, rather than hardline perspective—a position more traditionally aligned with the current government. She adopted a somewhat more congenial attitude towards Chief Minister
Clare Martin
than her predecessor and tended to be more subtle in her means of attacking Martin.
On 29 January 2008, Terry Mills
replaced Carney as opposition leader after a tied party-room ballot. Carney resigned as leader to break the deadlock.
Carney announced her resignation from parliament on 19 August 2010, effective 3 September. She cited health reasons as the primary cause of her resignation. Robyn Lambley
, a former deputy mayor of Alice Springs was elected in her place in a by-election
.
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 was a Country Liberal Party
Country Liberal Party
The Northern Territory Country Liberal Party is a Northern Territory political party affiliated with both the National and Liberal parties...
member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory is the unicameral parliament of the Northern Territory in Australia. It sits in Parliament House, located on State Square, close to the centre of the city of Darwin.-History:...
from September 2001 to September 2010, representing the Alice Springs-based electorate of Araluen
Electoral division of Araluen
Araluen is an electoral division of the Legislative Assembly in Australia's Northern Territory. It was first created in 1983, replacing the electorate of Alice Springs, which had been abolished as part of the enlargement of the Assembly...
. She was the Shadow Attorney-General, and Shadow Minister for Justice, Health, Family and Community Services, Business and Industry, Women's Policy, Territory Development, the AustralAsia Railway, Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Central Australia and Defence Support. Until 29 January 2008 she was also the Opposition Leader.
Carney announced her resignation from parliament on 19 August 2010, effective 3 September. She cited health reasons as the primary cause of her resignation.
Early life
Carney was born in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, and studied at Bendigo High School before commencing a law degree at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. She graduated in 1989, and moved to Alice Springs the following year in order to do her articles. In 1990, she was admitted to legal practice, and worked as a solicitor for the next seven years. In 1997, she opened her own local practice, which she operated until deciding to contest pre-selection for the Legislative Assembly seat of Araluen at the 2001 election
Northern Territory legislative election, 2001
A general election was held in the Northern Territory, Australia, on 18 August 2001. The centre-left Australian Labor Party , led by Clare Martin, won a surprising victory over the then-majority Country Liberal Party . Before this, the CLP had held 18 out the 25 seats in theNorthern Territory...
.
Career
Carney's bid for the pre-selection gained some media attention, as she was a reasonably high-profile candidate, but she was ultimately overlooked by the Alice Springs branch. However, John ElferinkJohn Elferink
Johan Wessel Elferink is an Australian politician.He was a Country Liberal Party member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 1997 to 2005, representing the rural electorate of MacDonnell...
, a sitting MP who had lost his preselection, complained to the party's Central Council, making claims of branch-stacking. The fallout from the letter was immense—on 25 November 2000, in what was dubbed by the local media as "The Night of the Long Knives", all the preselections of the Alice Springs branch were overturned, and the Central Council instead dictated who would run as a CLP candidate. Elferink was reinstated, Carney gained preselection for Araluen, and sitting MP and Minister Loraine Braham
Loraine Braham
Loraine Margaret Braham is an Australian politician. She was a member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 1994 to 2008, representing the electorate of Braitling...
was axed to make way for Peter Harvey, who had previously been chosen over Carney in Araluen. While the controversial and largely unprecedented decision from head office would almost ensure her a seat in parliament, it earned her many enemies in the local branch of the party.
While Araluen had been a reasonably safe seat for the Country Liberal Party, Carney faced a significant challenge from 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...
candidate and two well-known independents. The CLP's vote dropped 27 percentage points from the 1997 election—contested by her long-running predecessor, Eric Poole
Eric Poole (Australian politician)
Eric Houguet Poole is a former Australian politician. He was the Country Liberal Party member for Araluen in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 1986 to 2001.-References:...
—although she eventually achieved victory by 134 votes.
As a new opposition MLA, Carney immediately took on responsibility for several portfolios, including tourism, correctional services and communications. While she often acted as a conservative voice in the assembly on many issues, advocating a particularly hard line on issues of law and order (including mandatory sentencing
Mandatory sentencing
A mandatory sentence is a court decision setting where judicial discretion is limited by law. Typically, people convicted of certain crimes must be punished with at least a minimum number of years in prison...
) and drug policy, this was not always the case, as she also clashed with her own party on several issues—most notably in 2003, when she crossed the floor to vote with the ALP in supporting legislation decreasing the age of consent for gay males.
In mid-2003, Deputy Opposition Leader Mike Reed
Mike Reed (politician)
Michael Anthony "Mike" Reed is a former Australian politician. He was the Country Liberal Party member for Katherine in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 1987 to 2003. He was Deputy Chief Minister in the governments of Shane Stone and Denis Burke; following the CLP's election loss...
resigned, and Carney was widely tipped as the favourite to succeed him. However, in a surprise result—widely put down to both her poor relationship with the influential Alice Springs branch and her support, against their wishes, for Denis Burke's leadership, she was defeated by Dr. Richard Lim
Richard Lim
Richard Soon Huat Lim is a former Australian politician. He was the Country Liberal Party member for Greatorex in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 1994 until his resignation in 2007....
. However, she soon changed sides and decided to support Mills after Burke refused to allow a conscience vote on the age of consent legislation. She was subsequently promoted, being made Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for Justice, and then again in late 2004, being made Shadow Minister for Health.
Carney faced her first re-election bid at the 2005 election
Northern Territory legislative election, 2005
A general election was held in the Northern Territory, Australia, on 18 June 2005. The centre-left Australian Labor Party, led by Chief Minister Clare Martin, won a second term with a landslide victory, winning six of the ten seats held by the opposition Country Liberal Party in the 25-member...
. While commentators were generally divided on whether she would hold her seat, as it was the CLP's most marginal, almost no one expected the final result. On election day, there were massive and unprecedented swings to 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 every seat in the Territory—except Araluen. While Burke, who had not long before regained the leadership, lost his seat of Brennan
Electoral division of Brennan
Brennan is an electoral division of the Legislative Assembly in Australia's Northern Territory. It was first created in 1990, and derives its name from Harold "Tiger" Brennan, a former member of the Legislative Council and Mayor of Darwin...
, which was the safest CLP seat in the Territory, Carney easily held her seat with a swing in her favour in the vicinity of 5%.
Burke had already announced that he would stand down as leader if he lost the election, and as it became clear that he would lose his seat, making this moot, speculation turned to who would replace him. With Mills unlikely to take up the leadership again after having resigned as leader not long before on the grounds that he had been ineffective, and potential aspirants John Elferink
John Elferink
Johan Wessel Elferink is an Australian politician.He was a Country Liberal Party member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 1997 to 2005, representing the rural electorate of MacDonnell...
and Sue Carter
Sue Carter
Susan Jill Carter is an Australian politician. She was a Country Liberal Party member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 2000 to 2005, representing the central Darwin electorate of Port Darwin...
having been defeated, Carney emerged as the leading candidate, and was ultimately chosen as Burke's replacement.
Though she had not been Opposition Leader for long, Carney oversaw a change in Country Liberal Party policy, shifting it notably to the left—such as attacking the government's law and order policies from a humanitarian, rather than hardline perspective—a position more traditionally aligned with the current government. She adopted a somewhat more congenial attitude towards Chief Minister
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory is appointed by the Administrator, who in normal circumstances will appoint the head of whatever party holds the majority of seats in the legislature of the territory...
Clare Martin
Clare Martin
Clare Majella Martin is a former Australian politician. She is the current CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service . A former journalist, she was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in a shock by-election win in 1995...
than her predecessor and tended to be more subtle in her means of attacking Martin.
On 29 January 2008, Terry Mills
Terry Mills (politician)
Terrence Kennedy Mills is the current Country Liberal Party leader and opposition leader in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly since 29 January 2008...
replaced Carney as opposition leader after a tied party-room ballot. Carney resigned as leader to break the deadlock.
Carney announced her resignation from parliament on 19 August 2010, effective 3 September. She cited health reasons as the primary cause of her resignation. Robyn Lambley
Robyn Lambley
Robyn Jane Lambley is an Australian politician. She was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly representing the division of Araluen for the Country Liberal Party in a 2010 by-election following the resignation of Jodeen Carney.Lambley was born in Grafton, New South Wales, and moved...
, a former deputy mayor of Alice Springs was elected in her place in a by-election
Araluen by-election, 2010
A by-election for the seat of Araluen in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly was held on 9 October 2010. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Country Liberal Party member Jodeen Carney on 3 September 2010 due to ill health. The seat has been held by the CLP since the seat's...
.