Christine Forster

Christine Forster is a former Australian local government politician who was a Liberal councillor in the City of Sydney (2012–2021) and the younger sister of former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.[1][2]

Forster attended the University of Sydney, completing a Bachelor of Economics. In her time at the University of Sydney, she ran for the Students' Representative Council (SRC) as a Democratic Alliance candidate, and becoming an SRC Representative in 1982.[3][4]

Forster worked as a journalist covering the Australian energy sector for resources information service Platts,[5] was elected to the City of Sydney Council in September 2012[6] and in 2014 announced a plan to run for the New South Wales Legislative Council.[7] Forster has opposed local council amalgamation plans,[8] called for Martin Place to be smoke free,[9][10] and advocated tall buildings[11] and increased street parking in Sydney City.[12] She describes herself as "committed to the principles of common sense government, genuine sustainability, free enterprise and respect for the individual."[5]

Forster lives with her wife Virginia Flitcroft, with whom she has raised money for the Sir David Martin Foundation[13] and campaigned for same-sex marriage.[14] Forster had been married previously.[15][16] In 2013, she attended the launch of the Bingham Cup in Sydney, along with Bruce Notley-Smith, Don Harwin, Malcolm Turnbull, Nick Farr-Jones and John Eales.[17]

Following the 2018 Liberal leadership spill that resulted in the defeat of Malcolm Turnbull, Forster indicated that she would seek preselection as a Liberal candidate for 2018 Wentworth by-election,[18] but later withdrew her nomination.[19]