Wendy Fatin
Encyclopedia
Wendy Frances Fatin Australian politician, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives
from Western Australia representing the Australian Labor Party
in the Divisions of Canning
(1983–1984) and Brand
(1984–96). Fatin is notable as being the first Western Australian woman to win a seat in that House.
In 1962, she became a registered nurse
and later attained a Bachelor of Applied Science (Nursing) from the Western Australian Institute of Technology
(WAIT). She was a strong advocate for women's issues and was one of the founders of the Women's Electoral Lobby
in Western Australia. She served as a ministerial adviser to the Minister for Repatriation and Compensation and Minister for Social Security in 1974–1975.
At the 1983 election
, she was elected to the House of Representatives for the Division of Canning
, winning the seat from the Liberals'
Melville Bungey on a 9.1% swing. Following an electoral redistribution, she won the new seat of Brand
at the 1984 election, holding it until her retirement in 1996.
In April 1990, Fatin was appointed to the Hawke
ministry as Minister for Local Government
and Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women
. In December 1991, she left Local Government and was appointed Minister for the Arts and Territories
, retaining her Status of Women role. She stepped down from Cabinet after the 1993 election, and chose to retire from politics at the 1996 election, being succeeded in her seat by deputy prime minister Kim Beazley
, who had moved from the marginal seat of Swan
.
Her advocacy work continued beyond her retirement, and she is an honorary life member of the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance.
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....
from Western Australia representing 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 the Divisions of Canning
Division of Canning
The Division of Canning is an Australian Electoral Division in Western Australia. The division was created in 1949 and is named for Alfred Canning, the Western Australian government surveyor who surveyed the Canning Stock Route...
(1983–1984) and 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...
(1984–96). Fatin is notable as being the first Western Australian woman to win a seat in that House.
In 1962, she became a registered nurse
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
and later attained a Bachelor of Applied Science (Nursing) from the Western Australian Institute of Technology
Curtin University of Technology
Curtin University is an Australian university based in Perth, Western Australia, with additional campuses in regional Western Australia and at Miri , Sydney and Singapore...
(WAIT). She was a strong advocate for women's issues and was one of the founders of the Women's Electoral Lobby
Women's Electoral Lobby
WEL is credited with major achievements for women in Australia in relation to anti-discrimination and equal opportunity legislation, equal pay decisions, the funding of women’s and children’s services.....
in Western Australia. She served as a ministerial adviser to the Minister for Repatriation and Compensation and Minister for Social Security in 1974–1975.
At the 1983 election
Australian federal election, 1983
Federal elections were held in Australia on 5 March 1983. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election, following a double dissolution...
, she was elected to the House of Representatives for the Division of Canning
Division of Canning
The Division of Canning is an Australian Electoral Division in Western Australia. The division was created in 1949 and is named for Alfred Canning, the Western Australian government surveyor who surveyed the Canning Stock Route...
, winning the seat from the Liberals'
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...
Melville Bungey on a 9.1% swing. Following an electoral redistribution, she won the new seat 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...
at the 1984 election, holding it until her retirement in 1996.
In April 1990, Fatin was appointed to the Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
ministry as Minister for Local Government
Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads (Australia)
Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads was a position within the Australian federal government from 7 October 2003 until 3 December 2007....
and Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women
Minister for the Status of Women (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Status of Women is Kate Ellis, who was appointed on 14 September 2010. The ministry is administered through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs....
. In December 1991, she left Local Government and was appointed Minister for the Arts and Territories
Minister for Home Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Home Affairs has been Brendan O'Connor since 6 June 2009. The Home Affairs portfolio brings together agencies such as the Australian Customs Service , the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, which were previously the...
, retaining her Status of Women role. She stepped down from Cabinet after the 1993 election, and chose to retire from politics at the 1996 election, being succeeded in her seat by deputy prime minister 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....
, who had moved from the marginal seat of Swan
Division of Swan
The Division of Swan is an Australian Electoral Division located in Western Australia. The division is named after the Swan River.For several decades, it has been a marginal seat, extending along the Swan and Canning Rivers from the affluent suburbs in the City of South Perth to the west, which...
.
Her advocacy work continued beyond her retirement, and she is an honorary life member of the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance.
External links
- Person notes at National Archives of Australia