Fiona Richardson

Fiona Catherine Alison Richardson (22 November 1966 – 23 August 2017) was an Australian politician. She was a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 2006 until her death in 2017, representing the electorate of Northcote. She was Minister for Women and Minister for Prevention of Family Violence in the First Andrews Ministry from December 2014 until her death.

The Honourable
Fiona Richardson
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Northcote
In office
25 November 2006 – 23 August 2017
Preceded byMary Delahunty
Succeeded byLidia Thorpe
Personal details
Born
Fiona Catherine Alison Richardson

(1966-11-22)22 November 1966
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Died23 August 2017(2017-08-23) (aged 50)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Political partyLabor Party
SpouseStephen Newnham
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne

Early life and career

Richardson was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania[1] and was educated at Methodist Ladies College, Kew and the University of Melbourne, where she graduated in 1989 majoring in politics and psychology.[1] She was then a researcher of ocular trauma at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.[2]

Political career

Richardson joined the Australian Labor Party in 1991, and was an adviser to numerous state and federal members of parliament.[1] She was the secretary of the right-wing Labor Unity faction from 2000 to 2007. Richardson was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in November 2006 representing the electorate of Northcote.[1] She replaced the retiring Arts Minister Mary Delahunty.[3] She was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Education and served in that position until August 2007, when she became a Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury and Finance.

Richardson was seen as a key player in protecting husband Stephen Newnham as state secretary during a debilitating struggle within the Right faction over control of ALP head office during 2008 and 2009. Newnham eventually left the role in September 2009 after losing the support of the Premier John Brumby.[4]

After the Labor government's defeat in the 2010 Victorian state election Richardson was appointed as the Victorian Labor Party's spokesperson for public transport. Due to her ill health, her responsibilities were reduced in a December 2013 reshuffle of the opposition shadow cabinet, and she took responsibility for small business and innovation.[5][6]

When Labor was returned to government in 2014, Richardson was made Minister for Women and Minister for Prevention of Family Violence in the Andrews Ministry.[7] Richardson oversaw the establishment of the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence in 2015, which tabled its report to Parliament in 2016.[8]

Personal life

Richardson was married to former ALP state secretary Stephen Newnham and they had two children.[3]

On 25 June 2013, it was announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.[5] She went into remission and returned to parliament.

On 7 August 2017, Richardson announced she was taking medical leave from parliament.[9] On 22 August 2017, she said she would be extending her leave after being diagnosed with several tumours and would retire at the next election,[10] but she died the next day, 23 August 2017, aged 50.[11]

References
  1. "Parliamentary handbook of the 56th Parliament – Fiona Richardson". Parliament of Victoria. Archived from the original on 3 September 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
  2. "Richardson, Fiona Catherine Alison (1966-2017)". The Australian Women's Register. National Foundation for Australian Women. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  3. Irwin, Julia (16 October 2006). "Fiona: I'm no outsider". Northcote Leader.
  4. Crook, Andrew (18 August 2009). "Frozen out, Newnham prepares to meet his maker". Crikey. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  5. Willingham, Richard (25 June 2013). "State frontbencher faces cancer battle". The Age. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  6. Smethurst, Annika (19 December 2013). "Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews announces front bench reshuffle". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  7. Willingham, Richard; Cowie, Tom (4 December 2014). "Premier Daniel Andrews finalises ministers' portfolios". The Age. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  8. Royal Commission into Family Violence. "Royal Commission into Family Violence: Summary and recommendations" Archived 5 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Melbourne, March 2016. Retrieved on 13 June 2018.
  9. "Illness forces Andrews government minister Fiona Richardson to take leave". The Age. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  10. "Victorian MP Fiona Richardson to leave Parliament after cancer diagnosis". ABC News. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  11. "Victorian minister Fiona Richardson dies after battle with cancer". The Age. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
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