Sharryn Jackson
Encyclopedia
Sharryn Maree Jackson Australia
n politician, was an Australian Labor Party
member of the Australian House of Representatives
. She served one term from 2001 representing the Division of Hasluck
before losing the seat at the 2004 federal election. She regained the seat at the 2007 federal election and was then defeated at the 2010 federal election.
, Western Australia
, to parents from Midland
and Guildford
.
During her early childhood, she travelled throughout rural Western Australia with her family.
In her teenage years, she lived at the Swanleigh Boarding Hostel in Middle Swan, and attended Lockridge Senior High School.
She went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English, at the University of Western Australia
.
In 1999, Jackson was included on the honour roll celebrating the centenary of women's suffrage
in Western Australia.
Today, Jackson is married to John they live in Gooseberry Hill. She has two stepchildren.
-led State Coalition Government for a posting as Commissioner of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission, in mid-2000 Jackson resolved to run for Federal Parliament.
After the electoral redistribution which created the Division of Hasluck for the 2001 Australian Federal election, the electorate was notionally held by Labor with a margin of 2.55 per cent. In the election, Jackson polled a lower primary vote than Liberal contender Bethwyn Chan,
but won the seat after a distribution of minor party preferences gave her a margin of 1.8 per cent.
's campaign to enforce trademarks on the generic term "ugg boot", and helped to establish a successful fighting fund to challenge their trademarks.
Another issue Jackson pursued during her first term in office was the establishment of a university in the eastern suburbs of Perth, an area not currently served by any of Western Australia's five universities.
(AEC) by the WA Labor Party.
Jackson said it was part of a "dirty tricks" campaign by Henry, even though the AEC concluded that the letters were not directly misleading.
In the election she was defeated by Stuart Henry as part of the general swing away from Labor in Western Australia.
, who was the Minister for Sport and Recreation.
Jackson was appointed by Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter
as Director of the "Community Cabinet and Liaison Unit", part of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, in May 2005.
Her employment in this role drew criticism, since the job was not advertised and the role was already being filled by other public servants. It was also a controversial appointment because she kept her $
120,000-value Ministerial Chief of Staff salary
and the unit's primary role was as a "propaganda machine" creating promotional material for Government members but not for other members.
She was elected as Western Australian State President of the Australian Labor Party in November 2005, defeating Sarah Burke in a tight contest.
She took over this position from Michelle Roberts
, a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
. Jackson signalled that she intended to bridge the widening divisions between the different factions within the State Labor Party.
Jackson was re-elected State President in June 2006, again defeating Sarah Burke.
After initially considering running for the Division of Brand
in the forthcoming 2007 Federal election to replace outgoing member Kim Beazley
,
Jackson announced in January 2007 that she intended to once again seek Labor Party endorsement for the seat of Hasluck.
She also signalled her intention to resign from the ALP State Presidency if she gained endorsement. Also nominating for endorsement was Silvia Barzotto, from Labor's "New Right
" faction.
Jackson secured Labor endorsement in the endorsement ballots of February 2007.
She quit her position within the Department of Premier and Cabinet in March 2007,
and was succeeded as State ALP President by Sally Talbot in June 2007.
.
Jackson was probably aided in her campaign by voter discontent relating to a Government decision to allow the construction of a brick works in the electorate, against the wishes of the sitting member, Stuart Henry.
Mirroring an election promise made by John Howard when he was visiting the electorate the previous week, Jackson announced that Labor would undertake major roads funding in Hasluck, including the construction of a grade-separated interchange
at Great Eastern Highway
and Roe Highway
, to cost $48 million. This promise remained unfulfilled by the 2010 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, 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 Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
. She served one term from 2001 representing the Division of Hasluck
Division of Hasluck
The Division of Hasluck is an Australian Electoral Division in Western Australia.The division was created in 2001 and is named for Sir Paul Hasluck, who was Governor-General of Australia 1969-74, and for his wife, Dame Alexandra Hasluck, a prominent author...
before losing the seat at the 2004 federal election. She regained the seat at the 2007 federal election and was then defeated at the 2010 federal election.
Personal life
Jackson was born in PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, to parents from Midland
Midland, Western Australia
Midland is a suburb in the Perth, Western Australia metropolitan area, as well as the regional centre for the City of Swan local government area that covers the Swan Valley and parts of the Darling Scarp to the east. It is situated at the intersection of Great Eastern Highway and Great Northern...
and Guildford
Guildford, Western Australia
Guildford is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 13 km northeast of the city. Its Local Government Area is the City of Swan.-History:Guildford was established in 1829 on the Swan River, being sited near a permanent fresh water supply...
.
During her early childhood, she travelled throughout rural Western Australia with her family.
In her teenage years, she lived at the Swanleigh Boarding Hostel in Middle Swan, and attended Lockridge Senior High School.
She went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English, at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
.
In 1999, Jackson was included on the honour roll celebrating the centenary of women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
in Western Australia.
Today, Jackson is married to John they live in Gooseberry Hill. She has two stepchildren.
Union work
After graduating from university, she was the women's officer of the Western Australian Trades and Labor Council. For the 15 years prior to her entry into politics, she was, firstly, the Industrial Officer, and later the Assistant State Secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers Union.2001 Federal election
After being overlooked by the Richard CourtRichard Court
Richard Fairfax Court AC , was a Western Australian politician, representing the seat of Nedlands in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the Liberal Party of Australia from 1982 to 2001. He served as Premier of Western Australia from 1993 to 2001.Court was born into an old political...
-led State Coalition Government for a posting as Commissioner of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission, in mid-2000 Jackson resolved to run for Federal Parliament.
After the electoral redistribution which created the Division of Hasluck for the 2001 Australian Federal election, the electorate was notionally held by Labor with a margin of 2.55 per cent. In the election, Jackson polled a lower primary vote than Liberal contender Bethwyn Chan,
but won the seat after a distribution of minor party preferences gave her a margin of 1.8 per cent.
Member for Hasluck (2001 to 2004)
In 2004, Jackson was vocal in her criticism of Deckers Outdoor CorporationDeckers Outdoor Corporation
Deckers Outdoor Corporation is a footwear manufacturer based in Goleta, California, United States. It began in 1973 as a sandal producer, run by Doug Otto. Deckers currently manufactures six brands, Teva, UGG Australia, Simple Shoes, Sanuk, Tsubo, Ahnu and Mozo.- Teva :Mark Thatcher was the...
's campaign to enforce trademarks on the generic term "ugg boot", and helped to establish a successful fighting fund to challenge their trademarks.
Another issue Jackson pursued during her first term in office was the establishment of a university in the eastern suburbs of Perth, an area not currently served by any of Western Australia's five universities.
2004 Federal election
At the 2004 Federal election, Jackson faced a challenge from first-time election candidate Stuart Henry. During the election campaign, Henry's electoral team sent campaign materials to households in the electorate in which Henry was described as "Member for Hasluck", sparking complaints to the Australian Electoral CommissionAustralian Electoral Commission
The Australian Electoral Commission, or the AEC, is the federal government agency in charge of organising and supervising federal elections and referendums. State and local government elections are overseen by the Electoral Commission in each state and territory.The Australian Electoral Commission...
(AEC) by the WA Labor Party.
Jackson said it was part of a "dirty tricks" campaign by Henry, even though the AEC concluded that the letters were not directly misleading.
In the election she was defeated by Stuart Henry as part of the general swing away from Labor in Western Australia.
Post-election defeat
Following her defeat in the 2004 election, Jackson worked as Chief of Staff for State MP Bob KuceraBob Kucera
Robert Charles Kucera is an Australian politician. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2008, representing the district of Yokine, initially for the Australian Labor Party and from June 2008 as an independent.Joining the police force of Western Australia in...
, who was the Minister for Sport and Recreation.
Jackson was appointed by Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter
Alan Carpenter
Alan John Carpenter is a former Australian politician. He was the 28th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 2006 to 2008. He took office following the resignation of Dr Geoff Gallop...
as Director of the "Community Cabinet and Liaison Unit", part of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, in May 2005.
Her employment in this role drew criticism, since the job was not advertised and the role was already being filled by other public servants. It was also a controversial appointment because she kept her $
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
120,000-value Ministerial Chief of Staff salary
and the unit's primary role was as a "propaganda machine" creating promotional material for Government members but not for other members.
She was elected as Western Australian State President of the Australian Labor Party in November 2005, defeating Sarah Burke in a tight contest.
She took over this position from Michelle Roberts
Michelle Roberts
Michelle Hopkins Roberts is an Australian politician. A member of the Australian Labor Party, she currently represents the Electoral district of Midland in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly....
, a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
. Jackson signalled that she intended to bridge the widening divisions between the different factions within the State Labor Party.
Jackson was re-elected State President in June 2006, again defeating Sarah Burke.
After initially considering running for the Division of Brand
Division of Brand
The Division of Brand is an Australian electoral division in the state of Western Australia. The division was named after Sir David Brand, a former state premier, and is a safe Labor seat held by Gary Gray who first won the seat at the 2007 federal election...
in the forthcoming 2007 Federal election to replace outgoing member Kim Beazley
Kim Beazley
In the October 1998 election, Labor polled a majority of the two-party vote and received the largest swing to a first-term opposition since 1934. However, due to the uneven nature of the swing, Labor came up eight seats short of making Beazley Prime Minister....
,
Jackson announced in January 2007 that she intended to once again seek Labor Party endorsement for the seat of Hasluck.
She also signalled her intention to resign from the ALP State Presidency if she gained endorsement. Also nominating for endorsement was Silvia Barzotto, from Labor's "New Right
New Right
New Right is used in several countries as a descriptive term for various policies or groups that are right-wing. It has also been used to describe the emergence of Eastern European parties after the collapse of communism.-Australia:...
" faction.
Jackson secured Labor endorsement in the endorsement ballots of February 2007.
She quit her position within the Department of Premier and Cabinet in March 2007,
and was succeeded as State ALP President by Sally Talbot in June 2007.
2007 Federal election
Jackson was a successful candidate at the 2007 federal election, regaining her former seat of HasluckDivision of Hasluck
The Division of Hasluck is an Australian Electoral Division in Western Australia.The division was created in 2001 and is named for Sir Paul Hasluck, who was Governor-General of Australia 1969-74, and for his wife, Dame Alexandra Hasluck, a prominent author...
.
Jackson was probably aided in her campaign by voter discontent relating to a Government decision to allow the construction of a brick works in the electorate, against the wishes of the sitting member, Stuart Henry.
Mirroring an election promise made by John Howard when he was visiting the electorate the previous week, Jackson announced that Labor would undertake major roads funding in Hasluck, including the construction of a grade-separated interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
at Great Eastern Highway
Great Eastern Highway
The Great Eastern Highway is a major road between the Western Australian cities of Perth and Kalgoorlie. It is a key route for vehicles accessing the eastern wheatbelt and the eastern goldfields...
and Roe Highway
Roe Highway
Roe Highway is a limited access dual carriageway in Western Australia. It links Great Northern Highway and Middle Swan Road with Kwinana Freeway. It is one of the key heavy vehicle routes in the Perth metropolitan area. Aside from intersections, the speed limit is 100 km/h for most of its length...
, to cost $48 million. This promise remained unfulfilled by the 2010 election.