Paula Wriedt
Encyclopedia
Paula Catherine Wriedt is a former Australia
n politician. She was an Australian Labor Party
member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
, representing the outer suburban Hobart
seat of Franklin
. She was first elected to parliament in the 1996 election. Wriedt is the daughter of former state Labor leader and Whitlam
Government Minister for Agriculture Ken Wriedt
.
Wriedt was appointed Minister for Education in 1998, becoming the youngest ever female member of Cabinet in Tasmania. As Education Minister, in December 2000, she launched "Learning Together", a major policy on education, training and information provision for the state of Tasmania. Learning Together promised a complete overhaul of the state's education system, introducing the Essential Learnings Curriculum as a trial way to assess and teach students. Wriedt also funded the establishment of a number of child care centres co-located with government primary schools, and saw the raising of Tasmania's school leaving age from 16 to 17 years.
In 2002 she also became Minister for Women. In 2005, Wriedt initiated the Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women to recognise the significant contribution that women have made to Tasmania throughout history.
In the 2006 Tasmanian state election Wriedt suffered a decline in her primary vote, almost losing her seat to Liberal challenger Vanessa Goodwin
, after criticism of the government over the Essential Learnings Curriculum. After the election, she became Minister for Tourism, Arts and the Environment, while David Bartlett assumed her Education portfolio. Following a cabinet reshuffle in January 2008, Wriedt was appointed Minister for Economic Development and Tourism.
on the Nine Network
's AFL Footy Show
. Wriedt appeared on the show to announce a A$4 million sponsorship deal for a Tasmanian AFL team bid
. Wriedt described the remark as "stupid and inappropriate", and Newman apologised the following day.
The following week, on 4 August 2008, Wriedt was admitted to hospital after an apparent suicide attempt. Premier David Bartlett
announced that she would require a period of treatment and recuperation, and that he would be temporarily handling Wriedt's ministerial duties.
On 6 August 2008, Wriedt released a statement acknowledging that she had been suffering from depression following the breakdown of her marriage to Dale Rahmanovic in February 2008 as a consequence of an affair she had with former chauffeur Ben Chaffey, which had commenced a year earlier. Chaffey commenced legal proceedings seeking an ex-gratia
payment of about $150,000, claiming the fall-out from the affair had left him unable to resume his work duties. Chaffey was subsequently awarded $40 000 on 24 November 2008.
On 12 September 2008 Premier Bartlett asked the Governor of Tasmania to withdraw Wriedt's commission, ending her appointment as a minister.
On 18 January 2009 Wriedt announced her retirement from the Tasmanian parliament, citing her ongoing battle with depression.
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 Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
, representing the outer suburban Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
seat of Franklin
Division of Franklin (state)
The Electoral Division of Franklin is one of the five electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir John Franklin, the arctic explorer who was Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land 1837-43...
. She was first elected to parliament in the 1996 election. Wriedt is the daughter of former state Labor leader and Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
Government Minister for Agriculture Ken Wriedt
Ken Wriedt
Kenneth Shaw "Ken" Wriedt was an Australian politician and minister in the Whitlam government.Wriedt was born in Melbourne, of Danish ancestry. His early life included time spent as a seaman...
.
Wriedt was appointed Minister for Education in 1998, becoming the youngest ever female member of Cabinet in Tasmania. As Education Minister, in December 2000, she launched "Learning Together", a major policy on education, training and information provision for the state of Tasmania. Learning Together promised a complete overhaul of the state's education system, introducing the Essential Learnings Curriculum as a trial way to assess and teach students. Wriedt also funded the establishment of a number of child care centres co-located with government primary schools, and saw the raising of Tasmania's school leaving age from 16 to 17 years.
In 2002 she also became Minister for Women. In 2005, Wriedt initiated the Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women to recognise the significant contribution that women have made to Tasmania throughout history.
In the 2006 Tasmanian state election Wriedt suffered a decline in her primary vote, almost losing her seat to Liberal challenger Vanessa Goodwin
Vanessa Goodwin
Vanessa Goodwin is an Australian politician. She has been the Liberal Party member for the seat of Pembroke in the Tasmanian Legislative Council since the Pembroke by-election on 1 August 2009....
, after criticism of the government over the Essential Learnings Curriculum. After the election, she became Minister for Tourism, Arts and the Environment, while David Bartlett assumed her Education portfolio. Following a cabinet reshuffle in January 2008, Wriedt was appointed Minister for Economic Development and Tourism.
Controversies
On 31 July 2008, Wriedt was the subject of a comment, which some described as a "lewd" remark, made by Sam NewmanSam Newman
John Noel William "Sam" Newman is a retired Australian rules football player and current television personality. He is a featured presenter on the AFL version of The Footy Show.-VFL career:...
on the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
's AFL Footy Show
The AFL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award winning Australian sports television program, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates.This show, which is dedicated to the AFL and Australian rules football, made its debut on 24 March 1994 at the same time as the other version which relates to the NRL and rugby...
. Wriedt appeared on the show to announce a A$4 million sponsorship deal for a Tasmanian AFL team bid
Tasmanian AFL Bid
The bid to establish an Australian Football League team in the state of Tasmania has been ongoing, with fluctuating levels of support, since the then-Victorian Football League began its national expansion in the 1980s and 1990s....
. Wriedt described the remark as "stupid and inappropriate", and Newman apologised the following day.
The following week, on 4 August 2008, Wriedt was admitted to hospital after an apparent suicide attempt. Premier David Bartlett
David Bartlett
David John Bartlett is an Australian former politician in the state of Tasmania, serving as the 43rd Premier of Tasmania from May 2008 until January 2011. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Denison from 2004 to 2011.-Early life:He has been a resident...
announced that she would require a period of treatment and recuperation, and that he would be temporarily handling Wriedt's ministerial duties.
On 6 August 2008, Wriedt released a statement acknowledging that she had been suffering from depression following the breakdown of her marriage to Dale Rahmanovic in February 2008 as a consequence of an affair she had with former chauffeur Ben Chaffey, which had commenced a year earlier. Chaffey commenced legal proceedings seeking an ex-gratia
Ex gratia
Ex gratia is Latin for "by favour", and is most often used in a legal context. When something has been done ex gratia, it has been done voluntarily, out of kindness or grace...
payment of about $150,000, claiming the fall-out from the affair had left him unable to resume his work duties. Chaffey was subsequently awarded $40 000 on 24 November 2008.
On 12 September 2008 Premier Bartlett asked the Governor of Tasmania to withdraw Wriedt's commission, ending her appointment as a minister.
On 18 January 2009 Wriedt announced her retirement from the Tasmanian parliament, citing her ongoing battle with depression.