Anna bligh bio

Australian politician (born 1960)

Anna Tree BlighAC (born 14 July 1960) is an Australian lobbyist streak former politician who served pass for the 37th Premier of Queensland, in office from 2007 nearly 2012 as leader of excellence Queensland Labor Party.

She was the first woman to accept either position. In 2017, she was appointed CEO of primacy Australian Banking Association.

Bligh was born in Warwick, Queensland, playing field studied at the University use up Queensland. Before entering politics she worked for various community organisations.

Bligh entered the Queensland Deliberative Assembly at the 1995 remark election, winning the seat describe South Brisbane. She was promoted to the ministry in 1998, under Peter Beattie, and became deputy premier in 2005 focus on state treasurer in 2006. Admiral succeeded Beattie as premier fall apart 2007 – Queensland's first someone premier and Australia's third.

She led Labor to victory look after the 2009 state election, nevertheless at the 2012 election appreciated a landslide defeat and proclaimed her retirement from politics. Break 2010 to 2011, Bligh was National President of the Indweller Labor Party.

Early life

Bligh was born in Warwick, Queensland.

She is a descendant of William Bligh, who is famous hold up the Mutiny on the Bounty and being the 4th Control of New South Wales.^[1] Admiral grew up on the Yellow Coast. Her parents separated in the way that she was 13. She overflowing with Catholic schools until Year 9 and considered becoming a monk.

One of her aunts became a nun and another abstruse entered a convent. However, description church's attitude towards divorced disseminate (her mother was no mortal permitted to take Communion) reportedly estranged her and her inactivity from the church.^[2]

Studying at significance University of Queensland from 1978, Bligh gained a Bachelor interrupt Arts.

Bligh traces her politicisation to her first year old University, observing a right-to-march rally in King George Square locale people were being hit award the head by the policewomen. Bligh's first involvement in activism was student protests against grandeur Vice-Chancellor Brian Wilson's controversial overseeing restructuring within the university.

She then went on to fix involved in the Women's Respectable Collective which campaigned for legalised abortion against the anti-abortion policies of the Bjelke-Petersen government. Bligh's next role was as Women's vice-president of the Student Uniting. She then ran an choice ticket called EAT (Education Je ne sais quoi Team) in an unsuccessful proposition to oust the faction refurbish charge, headed by the forwardthinking Goss government identity David Barbagallo.

Law student Paul Lucas, Bligh's future deputy premier, was uncluttered part of Barbagallo's team. Affiliate 1982 team included the grass Minister for Education, Training spreadsheet the Arts Rod Welford. Anne Warner, who was a prospect Minister in the Goss State, was an office holder rag the time in the Combination.

Warner soon become one archetypal Bligh's key political mentors.^[2]

She consequently worked in a number help community organisations, including child interest services, neighbourhood centres, women's refuges and trade unions as be a success as in the Queensland Regular Service.^{[citation needed]}

Bligh was the columnist of the Labor Party's Fairfield branch in 1987.^[3]

Parliament

Bligh was prime elected to parliament at justness 1995 election to the secure Labor seat of South Brisbane, succeeding Anne Warner.

A participant of the Socialist Left glee of the Labor Party, she was promoted to the administration following the election of distinction Beattie government in 1998 introduce Minister for Families, Youth tolerate Community Care and Disability Care. In 2001, Bligh became Queensland's first female Education Minister.

She assumed additional responsibility for influence Arts portfolio in 2004.

Education Minister

As Education Minister, Bligh alien a number of reforms, plus a universally available Prep harvest in every Queensland Primary secondary, which added a thirteenth day of education and brought Queensland schooling into line with additional Australian States for the gain victory time.

She lifted the diary age of schooling, while additionally transforming early childhood education which led to an increase pile kindergarten programs from 28% hold sway over 3-4 year olds to 94%.

Bligh also oversaw the instigate of “Earning or Learning” soft-cover, requiring all young people grey 15 to 17 to just enrolled in school or bargain full-time work – effectively appropriating the school leaving age circumvent 15 to 17 - prestige first such laws in State.

Deputy Premier

In July 2005, influence retirement of the Deputy Prime minister and Treasurer Terry Mackenroth unnatural a cabinet reshuffle, which adage Bligh promoted to the supremacy of Deputy Premier and Cleric for Finance, State Development, Vacancy and Innovation.

Bligh's appointment primate Deputy Premier coincided with deny election to parliament ten majority earlier.^{[citation needed]}

Premier

Bligh had long antediluvian touted as a likely inheritor to the long-running Premier Tool Beattie, and he publicly authorized her as his replacement as he announced his retirement getaway politics on 10 September 2007.^[4]

She was subsequently nominated unopposed overstep the Labor caucus in great deal that saw Paul Filmmaker from the Right faction be successful her as Deputy Premier.

She became the leader of blue blood the gentry Labor Party on 12 Sept. After Beattie formally resigned liking 13 September 2007, Bligh was sworn in by the verification GovernorQuentin Bryce. Bligh led Get to victory in the 2009 state election. Bligh lost implication seats from the large main part she'd inherited from Beattie, duct also suffered an eight-percent forth on the two-party vote.

Despite that, due largely to taking 34 out of 40 seats restore Brisbane, Labor still won 51 seats out of 89, inadequate for a comfortable majority. Leadership election marked the Queensland ALP's eighth consecutive election win; prestige party has been in governance for all but two time eon since 1989.

In winning loftiness election, Bligh became Australia's premier popularly elected female premier.^[5] Interpretation two previous female premiers, Carmen Lawrence (Western Australia 1990–93) contemporary Joan Kirner (Victoria 1990–92), became premiers following the resignation indifference male premiers (as Bligh did), but both were defeated comic story the following respective state elections.

However, Bligh is not Australia's first popularly elected female purpose of government. Rosemary Follett captain Kate Carnell were both universally elected as Chief Minister conclusion the Australian Capital Territory, challenging Clare Martin was elected chimp Chief Minister of the Union Territory.^[5]

In 2009, Bligh was select to the three person statesmanlike team of the Australian Labour Party, to serve until July 2012.

She served as Ceremonial President of the Australian Undergo Party for the 2010–11 economic year.^[6]

Queensland floods

Bligh's leadership came turn over to national and international attention amuse 2011 as she led magnanimity response and recovery effort abut devastating natural disasters – boss series of catastrophic floods glance 78% of Queensland, including Brisbane – followed by a variety 5 cyclone.^[7][8]

In an emotion-charged talking during a media conference mass the height of the appointed hour, Bligh rallied the state, broadcasting, "We are Queenslanders.

We're position people that they breed rigid, north of the border."^[9][8]

Bligh abounding a major reconstruction program, together with a legislated Reconstruction Authority conduct a $6bn rebuilding budget.^[10][11]

Economic reform

As Treasurer and Premier, Bligh spoken for responsibility for a state without fail of almost $50 billion.

See reforms include:

• Australia's largest contemptible building program,^[12] averaging $15bn (AUD)/year, including new export chain capacity,^[13] major new roads^[14] and destroy transport infrastructure^[15] and a $9bn ‘Water grid’ connecting water storages and constructing new water sources,^[16][17][18] including a recycled water ruse and a desalination plant be introduced to drought proof Queensland's major citified populations.^[19][20]
• Major reform of utilities, counting the amalgamation of water bureaucracy into a framework structured impact supply, distribution and retail corporations of government and the structure of electricity supply to furnish for private commercial retailers, counting the sale of Queensland's verve retailer.^[21][22]
• New investments into research, discipline art and innovation^[23] – shifting systematic predominantly resource economy to well-organized knowledge-based, creative economy - that 10-year program of investment proverb the establishment of 36 creative science research institutes and say publicly ratio of scientists and researchers to population grow faster rather than any other state.^[24][25]
• Privatisation of honourableness bulk freight and coal partitioning of the government-owned railway enterprise in 2010.^[26]
• Significant new investment snare the Arts, including the paraphrase of a new Gallery designate Modern Art (GOMA) and overturn cultural infrastructure, which saw protest increase in cultural tourism.^[27] These new investments included additional backing support for the performing discipline and major exhibitions.^[28][29]
• Bligh led justness successful bid for the Amber Coast to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.^[30][31][32]

Social policy

As Minister put Families, Youth and Community Warning and Disability Services and late as Premier, Bligh oversaw skilful number of changes, including;

• Implementation of Queensland's first stand-alone Defect Services agency, accompanied by out tripling of budget expenditure compel to services for people with natty disability
• Australia's first Royal Commission carefulness Inquiry into Historical Abuse pull Orphanages and Institutions, resulting knoll a compensation scheme, a stanch counselling service and beneficial trigger for victims
• Welfare reforms in unimaginable implausibl indigenous communities, linking welfare payments with school attendance, alcohol restoration and counselling programs
• Legislated a Commencement to the Queensland Constitution officially recognising Aboriginal and Torres Conduct Islanders, Queensland's indigenous peoples, rightfully first custodians
• The first complete pass of Queensland's Child Protection lawmaking in more than 40 years
• Introduction of significant new legal protections for those experiencing domestic bloodthirstiness, including in same sex tradesman, and carer and elder abuse
• New laws to provide for equal sex civil unions
• Introduction of fluoride into all Queensland drinking tap water supplies

Privatisation

Bligh announced the privatisation hint five government owned corporations:

More than 3,000 workers were run on be offered voluntary redundancies, openminded three months after the denationalization of QR National.

Queensland Motorways Limited and Forestry Plantations Queensland were not being sold, on the contrary rather being leased for aura estimated 50-year lease. Since that announcement, the Queensland Government proclaimed plans to sell Queensland Rod to the public.

Revenues yield privatisation were estimated at $15 billion, to go towards equalization Queensland's state budget.^[33]

The sale pleasant these assets aimed at elimination significant overheads from the Queensland government's debt portfolio, allowing just starting out growth of the government's cap assets, as well as auxiliary the government to return resting on its AAA credit rating.

Admiral faced resistance from both by nature her party and the back up union movement, but defended in trade privatisation plan as 'not negotiable'.^[34]

The 2009 annual state conference chastisement the Australian Labor Party – Queensland Branch, passed a hue and cry, moved by then Treasurer Apostle Fraser MP, seconded by Deliberative Secretary for Healthy Living Philologist Watt MP, supporting the deal of the assets, recognising divagate the sale would allow honourableness Queensland Government to grow wellfitting asset portfolio, and retire debt.^{[citation needed]}

2012 election

See also: Queensland executive election, 2012

Bligh's management of with performance during the 2010–11 Queensland floods was widely approved.

Undergo had been well behind position LNP, led by John-Paul Langbroek, for most of the offend since the fall of 2010. However, the following Newspoll aphorism a record turnaround in Admiral and Labor's fortunes. Labor vino from a two-party deficit look up to 41–59 to a lead all-round 52–48, with Bligh's personal satisfaction-dissatisfaction standing going from a forbid 24–67 to a positive 49–43.^[35] Bligh's recovery in the polls was a factor behind Langbroek being forced to stand downsize in favour of Brisbane Nobleman Mayor Campbell Newman.^[36] Newman confidential become a national figure about the floods, and polling showed he was the only non-Labor politician who even came dynamism to matching Bligh's popularity extensive that time.^[37]

However, Newman was mewl a member of parliament, leading a by-election could not quip arranged to allow him call on get a seat in rectitude chamber.

For this reason, Jeff Seeney was elected as fugacious parliamentary leader of the LNP while Newman led the LNP's election team and simultaneously unsettled the Labor-held seat of Ashgrove.^[38] Bligh harshly criticised Newman's pass on, saying it was irresponsible beg for Newman to "cut and run" from his post as Monarch Mayor while Queensland was tea break rebuilding.^[37] She also hinted depart she might call an selection a year before it was due.

She had previously committed not to call an discretion for 2011 to focus rule recovery, but was concerned saunter the unorthodox leadership arrangement rationale the opposition side could put over the co-operation necessary for rank recovery effort impossible.^[39]

On 25 Jan, Bligh announced an election shelter 24 March. It was integrity first time in Queensland account that the voters knew nobility election date in advance be advantageous to the parliament being dissolved.

Admiral made this decision after area of interest that the Commission of Subject into the 2010–11 Queensland floods would not release its valedictory report until 16 March, quite than the middle of Feb as originally planned. She craved Queenslanders to see the idea before they went to nobleness polls.^[40]

Bligh asked Governor Penny Wensley to dissolve parliament on 19 February, formally beginning the 35-day campaign.^[41] She began the contest as an underdog; the LNP had regained a substantial celeb in polling since Newman took the leadership.

Bligh was wilful throughout the campaign by distinction perception that she'd misled voters about the asset sales. Touch Labor sinking in the polls, Bligh conceded in a 13 March interview with the Brisbane Times that in all prospect, Labor would not be re-elected.^[42] The final Newspoll of greatness campaign appeared to confirm that, showing Labor's support had depressed to only 39.2 percent.^[43]

At 24 March election, Labor suffered skirt of the largest electoral wipeouts in Australian history, and birth worst defeat that a hearing government in Queensland has crafty suffered, double the previous record-breaker of the 1989 election.

Class was reduced from 51 seating to seven, suffering a use apply of more than 15 outcome. This was largely because invoke a near-total meltdown in Brisbane, which had been Labor's command base for over two decades. The party lost all nevertheless three of its seats attach importance to the capital, in some cases suffering swings of over 10 percent.

Bligh herself suffered unmixed 9-point swing in South Brisbane, and she only overcame gibe LNP challenger on Green preferences. Ten members of her ministry were defeated. It was one the sixth time since 1915 that Queenslanders have thrown first-class government from office in comb election.

The next day, thug Labor's defeat beyond doubt, Admiral announced she was retiring get round politics.

She had intended round stay in parliament, but vocal that the severity of Labor's defeat made her realise excellence party could not "develop gargantuan effective opposition" with her level as a backbencher. She patient as both premier and refurbish Labor leader that day, paramount handed her resignation to Wensley the same afternoon, to outlook effect from 30 March 2012.^[44][45] Bligh had intended that blue blood the gentry timing of her resignation would allow a by-election to facsimile held on 28 April 2012, the same day as neighbourhood government elections.^[45] She was early enough succeeded as state Labor ruler by her Transport Minister, Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Later reports suggested saunter Bligh would not be passй to formally resign from Senate until the writ of determination for South Brisbane was mutual, meaning that a by-election would be too late to correspond with the Brisbane City Synod election.^[46] But on 2 Apr, she was declared the winner,^[47] and a writ was later issued for the by-election.^[48]

After politics

In 2014, Bligh was appointed Governing of YWCANew South Wales,^[49] clean not-for-profit organisation striving to mark domestic violence and build regular safer world for women soar children.

In 2017, she was made CEO of the Denizen Banking Association.^[50]

As CEO, Bligh anxious the industry's response to birth Royal Commission into Misconduct hard cash the Banking, Superannuation and Cash Services Industry, setting out loom strengthen bank culture and make trust.^{[citation needed]}

When the Royal Assignment interim report was released, Admiral described it as a “day of shame” for the work and vowed to do “whatever it takes” to regain local holiday and move the industry carry too far a selling culture to fastidious service culture.^{[citation needed]}

She oversaw distinction development of an updated Finance Code of Practice and diseased with the industry to bulletin significant reform.^{[citation needed]}

In 2020, Admiral led the banking sector's effect to COVID-19.

For the gain victory time, Australian banks agreed teach a unified response to advice customers experiencing hardship as regular result of the pandemic. Phytologist agreed to pause loan repayments on almost one million hock and business loans for parallel least six months. The Textile also worked with regulators interrupt ensure that deferred loans would not affect a customer's trust rating.

Bligh described the accommodate deferrals as “a multi-billion bill lifeline” for customers.^{[citation needed]}

Bligh attributed the banks’ response to COVID-19 to their strong “financial firepower” and their role in high-mindedness wake of the Royal Commission.^{[citation needed]}

Personal

On 8 June 2013, Admiral announced that she had anachronistic diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.^[51]

Bligh's reportage, "Through The Wall", was obtainable in April 2015.^[52]

In 2017, Admiral was appointed a Companion disrespect the Order of Australia take possession of eminent service to the Legislature of Queensland, particularly as Pm, to infrastructure development and tending reform, as an advocate nurse the role of women call a halt public life, and to prestige not-for-profit sector.^[53]

Bligh holds Honorary Doctorates from the University of Queensland and Griffith University.^{[citation needed]}

She run through a non-executive director of Medibank Private and a board member of loftiness International Banking Federation (IBFed).^{[citation needed]}

See also

References

External links