Monica Gould
Encyclopedia
Monica Mary Gould is a former Australia
n politician. She was an Australian Labor Party
member of the Victorian Legislative Council
between September 1993 and November 2006, representing Doutta Galla Province.
Gould was born in Melbourne
, and finished her secondary studies at a technical college in the suburb of Macleod
. She became involved in the Manufacturing Grocers Association trade union
, which later merged with the National Union of Workers
. In 1980, she became its General Vice-President - a position which she held until her election to parliament. She was also a member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
executive between 1991 and 1993.
In 1993, Gould decided to make a move into politics, and succeeded in securing Labor pre-selection for a by-election in the seat of Doutta Galla Province
. In her first term, which was only three years, because of the circumstances of her election, she was a member of the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee. She was re-elected in 1996, and was subsequently appointed Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and Shadow Minister for Aged Care. Gould also became a member of both the Law Reform and Legislative Council Privileges Committees.
In the months leading up to the 1999 election, Gould was again promoted - this time to the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council. She also was also made responsible for the Housing portfolio. In late 1999, the Labor Party won government, defeating Premier Jeff Kennett
's Liberal
government. Gould continued on as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, and continued her rise, becoming the Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister Assisting the Minister for WorkCover.
However, it was in this role that Gould was to run into difficulties. She struggled to mediate a high-profile dispute between power company Yallourn Energy and its staff, forcing Premier Steve Bracks
to intervene, and became caught up in a bitter demarcation dispute
between her old union, the National Union of Workers
, and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union
. She also caused concern in the business community when she raised the idea of automatically deducting union dues from public sector payrolls - a prospect which was quickly quashed by Bracks. By February 2002, Bracks had had enough, and Gould was demoted, along with fellow controversial ministers Christine Campbell
and Mary Delahunty
. At that she was appointed to the new position of Minister for Education Services and Youth Affairs.
During the remainder of the year, Gould continued in this position, though she became embroiled in a serious factional dispute through her membership of the party's federal executive, caused by her allegiance to Labor Party powerbroker Greg Sword. However, after the 2002 election, both Gould and Campbell were dumped from the ministry altogether, and Gould also lost her position as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, being replaced by John Lenders
. She was subsequently appointed as the first ever woman President of the Legislative Council, though as it is a somewhat ceremonial position, this marked a significant demotion. She retired from Parliament at the 2006 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 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...
between September 1993 and November 2006, representing Doutta Galla Province.
Gould was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
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...
, and finished her secondary studies at a technical college in the suburb of Macleod
Macleod, Victoria
Macleod is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the cities of Banyule and Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Macleod had a population of 8083...
. She became involved in the Manufacturing Grocers Association trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
, which later merged with the National Union of Workers
National Union of Workers
The National Union of Workers is a large Australian trade union formed in 1989.-History:The National Union of Workers of Australia was formed by a progressive amalgamation of unions from 1989 onwards in a time when all Australian unions were merging, with varying degrees of success...
. In 1980, she became its General Vice-President - a position which she held until her election to parliament. She was also a member 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"...
executive between 1991 and 1993.
In 1993, Gould decided to make a move into politics, and succeeded in securing Labor pre-selection for a by-election in the seat of Doutta Galla Province
Doutta Galla Province
Doutta Galla Province was an electorate of the Victorian Legislative Council until 2006. It was abolished from the 2006 state election in the wake of the Bracks Labor government's reform of the Legislative Council.-Members for Doutta Galla Province:...
. In her first term, which was only three years, because of the circumstances of her election, she was a member of the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee. She was re-elected in 1996, and was subsequently appointed Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and Shadow Minister for Aged Care. Gould also became a member of both the Law Reform and Legislative Council Privileges Committees.
In the months leading up to the 1999 election, Gould was again promoted - this time to the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council. She also was also made responsible for the Housing portfolio. In late 1999, the Labor Party won government, defeating Premier Jeff Kennett
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
's 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...
government. Gould continued on as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, and continued her rise, becoming the Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister Assisting the Minister for WorkCover.
However, it was in this role that Gould was to run into difficulties. She struggled to mediate a high-profile dispute between power company Yallourn Energy and its staff, forcing Premier Steve Bracks
Steve Bracks
Stephen Philip Bracks AC is a former Australian politician and the 44th Premier of Victoria. He first won the electoral district of Williamstown in 1994 for the Australian Labor Party, and was party leader and Premier from 1999 to 2007....
to intervene, and became caught up in a bitter demarcation dispute
Demarcation dispute
A demarcation dispute occurs when two labour unions claim the right to represent the same class or group of workers. This is particularly important in compulsory arbitration systems of industrial relations, as in Australia; where only one union may be the registered representative of a particular...
between her old union, the National Union of Workers
National Union of Workers
The National Union of Workers is a large Australian trade union formed in 1989.-History:The National Union of Workers of Australia was formed by a progressive amalgamation of unions from 1989 onwards in a time when all Australian unions were merging, with varying degrees of success...
, and 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...
. She also caused concern in the business community when she raised the idea of automatically deducting union dues from public sector payrolls - a prospect which was quickly quashed by Bracks. By February 2002, Bracks had had enough, and Gould was demoted, along with fellow controversial ministers Christine Campbell
Christine Campbell (politician)
Christine Mary Campbell is an Australian politician.Born in Melbourne, Campbell graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education from La Trobe University . She later was Head of the National Women's Bureau in the Shop Distributive Association from 1974–80...
and Mary Delahunty
Mary Delahunty
Mary Delahunty is an Australian journalist and retired politician with the Australian Labor Party.-Early life:Delahunty was born in Victoria, Australia and educated at Loreto College, in Victoria. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Latrobe University.-Media career:Delahunty...
. At that she was appointed to the new position of Minister for Education Services and Youth Affairs.
During the remainder of the year, Gould continued in this position, though she became embroiled in a serious factional dispute through her membership of the party's federal executive, caused by her allegiance to Labor Party powerbroker Greg Sword. However, after the 2002 election, both Gould and Campbell were dumped from the ministry altogether, and Gould also lost her position as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, being replaced by John Lenders
John Lenders
John Lenders is an Australian Labor Party politician representing the Southern Metropolitan Region in the Victorian Legislative Council. He was most notably the Minister for Education in the Bracks Government and Treasurer of Victoria in the Brumby Government....
. She was subsequently appointed as the first ever woman President of the Legislative Council, though as it is a somewhat ceremonial position, this marked a significant demotion. She retired from Parliament at the 2006 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...
.