Born 2.3.1948, Northam, WA.
Parliamentary service
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State: elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Subiaco from 8.2.1986 to 4.2.1989 and for Glendalough from 4.2.1989. Resigned 14.2.1994.
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Federal: elected to the House of Representatives for Fremantle, Western Australia, at by-election 12.3.1994 vice the Hon. JS Dawkins (resigned). Re-elected 1996, 1998, 2001 and 2004. Retired prior to general elections 2007.
Committee service
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House of Representatives Standing: Environment, Recreation and the Arts from 30.5.96 to 31.8.98; Environment and Heritage from 8.12.98 to 27.11.00; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs from 20.3.02.
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Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund from 20.3.02 to 20.3.03.
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Joint Standing: Migration from 2.12.04.
Conferences, delegations and visits
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Official visits to Indonesia, June-July 1994; France, November 1994; China, September 1995.
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Study tour, UK and Italy, December 1999-January 2000.
Parliamentary party positions
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State: Leader of the State Parliamentary Labor Party (WA) from 12.2.90 to 7.2.94.
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Leader of the Opposition (WA) from 16.2.93 to 7.2.94.
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Federal: Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry from 19.3.96 to 21.4.97 and from 5.9.00 to 5.12.02. Shadow Minister for the Environment, Shadow Minister for the Arts and Assistant to the Leader of the Opposition on the Status of Women from 20.3.96 to 21.4.97; Shadow Minister for Industry, Innovation and Technology and Shadow Minister for the Status of Women from 5.9.00 to 25.11.01; Shadow Minister for Reconciliation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, the Arts and Status of Women from 25.11.01 to 5.12.02.
Party positions
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Vice-President, ALP Subiaco-Wembley Branch 1982-87.
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Delegate, Curtin Electorate Council 1982-88.
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Member, ALP Administrative Committee (WA) 1985-88.
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Proxy Delegate, ALP National Conference 1986.
Other positions
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Founding Member, Women's Electoral Lobby 1972.
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Chair, Child Sexual Abuse Task Force 1986-88.
Qualifications and occupation before entering federal Parliament
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BPsych (Hons), PhD (UWA).
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Research assistant 1969-71.
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Tutor, University of Melbourne 1972-73; part-time lecturer, WAIT 1974-78; lecturer, University of WA 1979-83.
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Research psychologist 1974 and 1978.
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Research Services, Dept of Health (WA) 1983-86.
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Member, Legislative Assembly (WA) (see Parliamentary Service above).
View the full record at
Australian Parliamentary Library
Lawrence became Australia's first woman State Premier (WA) on 12 February 1990. She began her parliamentary career by winning the seat of Subiaco for the Australian Labor Party in 1986.
She entered Federal politics on 12 March 1994, as the Member for Fremantle, and was appointed Minister for Human Services and Health and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women on 25 March 1994 until 11 March 1996. On 23 November 2001, Lawrence was appointed Shadow Minister for Reconciliation, Aborginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, the Arts, and the Status of Women.
Lawrence is a supporter of numerous organisations and is Patron of the Western Australia Netball Association and a Foundation Committee Member of EMILY'S List.
She retired from the Australian Parliament at the 2007 general election, which was held in November 2007.
View the full record at
Australian Women's Register