The House of Reps class of 2013

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Author
Maria Rae

Election Watch project officer
PhD student, School of Social and Political Sciences
University of Melbourne

A CHANGE of government normally prompts a flood of new faces to the nation's capital, and 2013 has been no different.

 

Below is a comprehensive list of 'The Class of 2013' - new members in the House of Representatives.

 

Links to the vote counts for undecided seats are also included.

 




Electorate MP Bio
NSW    
Lindsay Fiona Scott (LIB) Born and raised in the Nepean Valley in one of the original farming families of the region. A small business owner and equestrian who has worked with local disability groups. Scott drew media attention when Tony Abbott described her as having "sex appeal". She also attracted criticism for linking asylum seekers to traffic jams.
Robertson Lucy Wicks (LIB) Grew up on the Central Coast, working as a teacher before moving into the telecommunications industry. Wicks was living in Sydney when she was controversially chosen as a candidate without a preselection process. 
Dobell Karen McNamara (LIB) A lawyer who has held senior positions in the NSW public service. McNamara lost the first preselection ballot but was chosen by the state executive. Her husband John lost the 2010 contest for the seat.
Banks David Coleman (LIB) A lawyer and Channel Nine executive working on broadcast and online strategic management. Coleman ran for Maroubra at the 2003 state election and the Cook preselection ahead of the 2007 federal election.
Eden-Monaro

Peter Hendy (LIB)

Was a cadet economist with the Federal Treasury, a director of the Australian Made, Australian Grown campaign and chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was chief of staff to Howard minister Peter Reith and advised Deputy Leader Julie Bishop.
Page Kevin Hogan (NAT) Lives in Lismore. Has a background in finance and teaching. He operates a small business and runs a cattle property. He was the Nationals candidate in the 2010 contest. 
Reid

Craig Laundy (LIB)

Described as the "pub heir" after his 23 years of working in the multimillion-dollar family business Laundy Hotel Group. He countered a Labor smear campaign saying: "I was on the frontline of a western Sydney business, not in an ivory tower. I think I've got a degree in life."

 

Barton

Nickolas Varvaris (LIB)

 

Has lived locally for his entire life. Started schooling at Sans Souci, before going on to work and establish his own business in Kogarah.

Charlton


Pat Conroy (ALP)

Lives in Lambton Heights. Was the deputy chief of staff to retiring Labor member Greg Combet. Studied economics and worked in the labour movement.
Hume Angus Taylor (LIB) A Rhodes scholar who was born and raised on cattle and sheep property. Worked as a consultant to mining and agricultural industries and has been involved in farm leadership programs. Has represented Australia at the Triathlon World Championships.
New England Barnaby Joyce (NAT) Moved from the Queensland Senate seat he has held since 2004. Has been shadow minister for regional development, local government and water. Joyce was born and raised in the New England district and has a background in finance. Often described as a "maverick" politician.
Newcastle Sharon Claydon (ALP) Has worked in Aboriginal communities and the disability service sector. Claydon has been on  the Newcastle City Council since 2007 and worked for her predecessor Sharon Grierson.
Kingsford Smith Matt Thistlethwaite (ALP) A former Labor senator and NSW party boss who was born and raised in Maroubra. He has been president of the local life saving club and the PCYC. 
Lyne David Gillespie (NAT) A gastroenterologist who has worked in regional health for two decades. He lives  west of Port Macquarie and was the National candidate in this seat at the 2010 federal election. 
     
QUEENSLAND    
Capricornia

Michelle Landry (LNP)

 

Michelle is a small business owner and local who  has lived in the Central Queensland her entire life.  She has been involved with the financial sector for 28 years.

Fisher Mal Brough (LNP) The former Howard government minister has a military background. As the minister for families, community services and indigenous affairs he led the controversial Northern Territory intervention. He was also in the spotlight last year for his involvement in the James Ashby sexual harrassment case against Fisher independent Peter Slipper.
Petrie

Luke Howarth (LNP)

Born and raised locally, he runs a family pest control business. contested the local state seat of Sandgate at the 2004 Queensland election.
Fairfax

Clive Palmer (PUP)

The colourful millionaire mining mogul may claim victory in his first attempt at election.He has been active in the National Party and split with the LNP after the Newman government was elected in Queensland. He also plans to build a replica Titanic and a dinosaur park. 
Rankin Jim Chalmers (ALP) Chalmers was executive director of Labor think tank the Chifley Research Centre and before that was chief of staff to former Treasurer Wayne Swan.
     
VICTORIA    
Corangamite Sarah Henderson (LIB) Was a journalist and newsreader for Channel 9 Brisbane, Channel 10 Melbourne and ABC-TV. Henderson then worked in commercial law and worked in New York as an attorney with News Corporation. She has also run a business management consultancy in Barwon Heads.
Deakin Michael Sukkar (LIB) Born and raised in Deakin, he worked as a senior associate for Ashurst Australia.
La Trobe Jason Wood (LIB) A former policeman who has been awarded for his work with youth. Wood was elected to the seat in 2004, defeated in 2010 and now is back in the seat again.
Batman David Feeney (ALP) Moved from the Senate seat he has held since 2007. Has a long history in the Labor party as ALP Assistant National Secretary and also served as Director of Strategy for then Victorian Premier Steve Bracks. Feeney helped Julia Gillard become Prime Minister in 2010. He was also Parliamentary Secretary for Defence. 
Bendigo Lisa Chesters (ALP) Worked for United Voice and has been the union's representative in the Bendigo region and on the Bendigo Trades Hall Council.
Gellibrand Tim Watts (ALP) Was a senior manager at Telstra dealing with government relations and has worked as a corporate lawyer. He was also a senior advisor to former Victorian Premier John Brumby and Deputy Chief of Staff to Senator Stephen Conroy.
Hotham Clare O'Neill (ALP) Fulbright scholar at Harvard who worked as a former Mayor of the City of Greater Dandenong. 
Lalor Joanne Ryan (ALP) Lives in Werribee and was the principal of Moonee Ponds Primary School. Was Julia Gillard's choice to succeed her as the Lalor MP.
Mallee Andrew Broad (NAT) Was president of the Victorian Farmers Federation and a former director of the National Farmers Federation. He has been a board member of Australian Made, Australian Grown and a delegate to APEC. 
Scullin Andrew Giles (ALP) Was an employment lawyer and has also been a senior adviser to local state Labor MPs.
Indi

Cathy McGowan (IND)

Cathy McGowan grew up in North East Victoria. She has academic qualifications in economics and agriculture. In the 1980s, she bought a farm in the Indigo Valley and established a rural consulting business. Ms McGowan has also worked as a teacher, electoral assistant, academic and researcher.

McEwen

Donna Petrovich (LIB)

Donna went to Bendigo Secondary College and lives in Woodend. She spent six years as a local councillor and as Mayor of the Shire of Macedon Ranges and another six years as a Member for Northern Victoria in State Parliament. She is a volunteer for groups such as Hanging Rock Advisory Committee and Woodend Lions Club.

 

     
WA    
Durack Melissa Price (LIB) Grew up in Kalgoorlie and has a background in law. a director of the Cancer Council (WA) and child health research charity the Brightspark Foundation. She ran for Kalgoorlie at the 2013 WA election.
Moore

Ian Goodenough (LIB)

Has served as a Wanneroo City Councillor for the past 13 years and has interests in an engineering business and commercial property development company.
O'Connor Chub Witham (NAT) Is a mining executive and geologist as well as the director of Espresso EMS. He has worked as the southern manager for the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission and executive officer to the Esperance Community College. 
Pearce Christian Porter (LIB) Was a law lecturer and worked with the Director of Public Prosecutions before his 2008 election to the WA parliament. He became Treasurer and Attorney General before making the switch to federal politics.
Perth Alannah MacTiernan (ALP) A commercial lawyer and local community newspaper editor before election to WA Parliament as an MLC in 1993. MacTiernan resigned her seat to contest Canning at the 2010 federal election.
     
SA    
Barker Tony Pasin (LIB) Was a councillor with the City of Mount Gambier, chairman of the Rural and Regional Council and runs his own legal practice.
     
TASMANIA    
Bass Andrew Nikolic (LIB) Served in the Australian Army for over 31 years as a soldier and officer and in the Department of Defence as a senior public servant.
Braddon
Brett Whiteley (LIB)
Was first elected to state parliament in 2002, which he lost in 2010. He was an alderman in Burnie City Council, a marriage celebrant, pastor and bank manager.
Lyons Eric Hutchison (LIB) Was the wool marketing manager with a major Tasmanian agricultural  business. Hutchinson was also a board member of the Brand Tasmania Council.