Patricia Staunton
Encyclopedia
Patricia Jane Staunton, AO
(born 30 November 1946) is an Australia
n magistrate
and former politician. She was a Labor
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
from 1995 to 1997.
Born in Townsville, Queensland
, she began her career as a registered nurse, working at Townsville General Hospital and then the Royal Hospital for Women
at Paddington
in Sydney
. She then worked at St. Vincent's Hospital
from 1963 to 1969, before leaving for the United Kingdom
to study law at the University of London
. She was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales
as a barrister in 1976, and was in private practice 1976–80. In 1980 she was elected head of the Union of the New South Wales Nurses' Association, and served as Legal Officer (1980–85), Assistant General Secretary (1985–87) and General Secretary (1987–95). She had joined the Australian Labor Party
in 1982.
In 1989, Staunton was elected to Sydney City Council, where she served until 1991. In 1995 she was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
as a Labor member, but resigned to resume her legal career in 1997. In 1999 she was appointed Chief Magistrate
.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 30 November 1946) is an Australia
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 magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
and former politician. She was a 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 of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
from 1995 to 1997.
Born in Townsville, Queensland
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
, she began her career as a registered nurse, working at Townsville General Hospital and then the Royal Hospital for Women
Royal Hospital for Women
The Royal Hospital for Women is a specialist hospital for women and babies located in the suburb of Randwick in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.-History:The RHW began life in 1820 as a 'lying-in' hospital under auspices of the Benevolent Society...
at Paddington
Paddington, New South Wales
Paddington is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Paddington is located 3 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and lies across the local government areas of the City of Sydney and the Municipality of Woollahra...
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...
. She then worked at St. Vincent's Hospital
St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
St Vincent's Public Hospital, Sydney is located in the inner city suburb of Darlinghurst. Though part of the New South Wales state public health system it remains under the auspices of the Sisters of Charity.-History:...
from 1963 to 1969, before leaving for the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to study law at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. She was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
as a barrister in 1976, and was in private practice 1976–80. In 1980 she was elected head of the Union of the New South Wales Nurses' Association, and served as Legal Officer (1980–85), Assistant General Secretary (1985–87) and General Secretary (1987–95). She had 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 1982.
In 1989, Staunton was elected to Sydney City Council, where she served until 1991. In 1995 she was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
as a Labor member, but resigned to resume her legal career in 1997. In 1999 she was appointed Chief Magistrate
Chief Magistrate
Chief Magistrate is a generic designation for a public official whose office—individual or collegial—is the highest in his or her class, in either of the fundamental meanings of Magistrate : as a major political and administrative office , and/or as a judge Chief Magistrate is a generic designation...
.