Irene Doutney

Irene Doutney (1949/50 – 11 June 2018) was an Australian politician, who was a councillor of the City of Sydney for the Greens New South Wales. In 2016, she became Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney.

Irene Doutney
Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney
In office
29 February 2016 – 10 September 2016
Lord MayorClover Moore
Preceded byRobyn Kemmis
Succeeded byKerryn Phelps
Councillor of the City of Sydney
In office
13 September 2008 – 10 September 2016
Personal details
Born1949/50
Kings Cross, New South Wales, Australia
Died (aged 69)
Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyGreens New South Wales

Early life

Doutney grew up in King's Cross, Australia. Her father died of leukemia when she was 9 years old. Starting at age 12, Doutney battled depression. Her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer when Doutney was 16. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.[1]

Career

Doutney became involved in community issues through the group REDWatch.[2] She was first elected as a Greens councillor to the City of Sydney in 2008,[3] and re-elected for a second term in 2012.[4] On 29 February 2016, the Sydney Council elected Doutney the new Deputy Lord Mayor following the death of Robyn Kemmis. The election followed an agreement between Green Councillor Doutney and Independent Lord Mayor Clover Moore that Doutney would support Moore's budgetary measures but remain free to object to other proposals.[5]

One of Doutney's signature issues as a public official was advocating for improved public housing.[2] Her first act as an elected councilor was to speak out against the Northern Territory intervention for the Aboriginal rights Coalition.[6]

Doutney was a "78er", having participated in the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 1978, and continued to advocate for marriage equality and LGBT rights.[7] Doutney lead the ultimately successful push for the City of Sydney to divest from fossil fuels.[8] She advocated for urban forest,[9] leading the City of Sydney adopting the Greening Sydney strategy.[10] In 2016, she announced she would not contest the September 2016 elections for the City of Sydney.[11]

Death

Doutney died on 11 June 2018 at the St Vincents Sacred Heart Hospice after a 3-year battle with cancer.[12]

References
  1. Burke, Kelly (14 May 2012). "Councillor pre-empts rivals' dirt file to reveal her own troubled past". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  2. Clement, Jessica (22 May 2014). "Stigma and the City: public housing's bad wrap?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  3. "City election results announced - The City of Sydney Media Centre". www.sydneymedia.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  4. "Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye! Meet the new City of Sydney Council". The City of Sydney Media Centre. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  5. "Our newly elected Deputy Lord Mayor". South Sydney Herald. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
    - Hansen, Nick (21 January 2016). "Clover Moore and Irene Doutney strike power deal after death of Deputy Lord Mayor Robyn Kemmis". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  6. "My first speech to Council". Councillor Irene Doutney. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  7. Richard Milnes (12 August 2012). "Rally for marriage equality outside Sydney Town Hall". YouTube. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
    - "Gays line up for election - Star Observer". Star Observer. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
    - Campion, Vikki (11 May 2010). "Council goes straight for the throat of 'anti-gay' group". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  8. "How we got Australia's biggest city to divest". Fossil Free. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  9. "Preserving the Urban Canopy". Councillor Irene Doutney. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  10. "Greening the city". City of Sydney. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  11. "September council election campaign off and racing". Altmedia. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
    - Clark, Philippa (10 March 2017). "Mural restoration more than a heritage issue". South Sydney Herald. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  12. "Death Notice: Irene DOUTNEY". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
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