Ann Barker

Ann Patricia Barker (born 19 January 1952) is a former Australian politician. She was a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1999 to 2014, representing the electorate of Oakleigh. She previously represented the electorate of Bentleigh from 1988 to 1992.[1]

For the British historian, criminologist and civil servant, see Ann Barker (civil servant).

Ann Barker
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Bentleigh
In office
1 October 1988 – 3 October 1992
Preceded byGordon Hockley
Succeeded byInga Peulich
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Oakleigh
In office
18 September 1999 – 29 November 2014
Preceded byDenise McGill
Succeeded bySteve Dimopoulos
Personal details
Born (1952-01-19) 19 January 1952
Tasmania
Political partyLabor Party
Children2
Websiteannbarker.net

Barker was born in Tasmania. She worked as an electorate officer to former federal MP Joan Child before being elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Bentleigh at the 1988 state election, succeeding retiring ALP member Gordon Hockley.[1] She was seen as a potential ministerial candidate towards the end of her first term, but was twice overlooked by then-Premier Joan Kirner.[2][3] These ambitions were to be short-lived, as she was one of many Labor members to be defeated amidst the party's landslide defeat at the 1992 state election, losing to Liberal Inga Peulich.[1]

After her 1992 election defeat, Barker was employed as an advisor to federal MP Simon Crean, then a minister in the Keating government. She left Crean's office in 1996 to work as an office manager with the Victorian Court Information and Welfare Network, but returned to Crean's office the following year.[1][4] She was the Labor candidate for the seat of Oakleigh at the 1996 election, but was very narrowly defeated by incumbent Liberal member Denise McGill.[5] She was again the Labor candidate for the seat at the 1999 election, having resisted pressure to stand aside for star candidate Mary Delahunty, and amidst the party's statewide victory, succeeded in defeating McGill.[4][6]

Barker was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Training and Higher Education after the party's victory at the 2002 election.[1] A relatively low-profile MP, she spoke less than only one other member of either house of parliament in 2004.[7] In 2006, she was a vocal supporter of Martin Pakula's unsuccessful challenge to the preselection of her former employer, Simon Crean.[8] She was appointed Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly after the 2006 election.[1]

References
  1. "Ann Barker (Oakleigh)". Members Information. Parliament of Victoria. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  2. Button, James. "Rowe quits: five chase Cabinet job". The Age, 16 April 1991.
  3. Dixon, Robyn. "Roper under pressure to quit". The Age, 18 January 1992.
  4. Parkinson, Tony and Boreham, Gareth. "Delahunty dilemma as deal eludes ALP". The Sunday Age, 15 March 1998.
  5. Hill, Kendall. "Six votes could separate defeat from victory". The Age, 1 April 1996.
  6. Wallace, Rick. "Youngest MP makes Labor history". Herald Sun, 20 September 1999.
  7. Kelly, Jeremy. "Self-imposed gag for MP". Herald Sun, 23 December 2004.
  8. Bachelard, Michael. "Crean's state colleagues support his rival.". Herald Sun, 25 February 2006.
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