User:Rebecca/Drafts/Julia Irwin

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Julia Claire Irwin

Worked in a bank, for trade unions, and as an electorate officer for former federal Schools, Vocational Education and Training minister Ross Free and member for Fowler Ted Grace. - husband of former state MP Geoff Irwin - staffer for Ted Grace, MP succeeded - Reba Meagher initially interested, but subsequently pulled out and endorsed Irwin; also had support of head office (won preselection 1995) - Ngo and Tripodi helped secure preselection (Irwin being Unity) - branch-stacking issues had resulted in "special ballot split between local rank-and-file and central administration delegates" - duly won seat at 1998 election with +00.6 swing, despite a strong showing from new Unity candidate; had one of the highest two-party preferred votes in the country

- argued for naltrexone being put on PBS; again raised in 2000 - restrained support for Badgerys Creek - somewhat pro-China ("respect for differences" - Bolt) - went to state secretary Roozendaal with Latham asking for inquiry into branch stacking allegations in Fowler and Werriwa after Bargshoon assault - opposed rises in tobacco tax - major spat in 2000 over left's attempts to unseat her and Latham being thwarted by state executive intervention; could have lost their seats if rank-and-file votes were held, but Left-disputed Unsworth inquiry suggested branches up to 90% stacked (inc membership more than tripling in mid-1990s); June decided would not have to face preselection at state conference as voting pool was so tainted; left argued right was stealing two seats off them; ultimately succeeded in deal that gave George Throsby; left's appeal to national executive failed; threat of court action forced them to back down on simply preventing right of branches t ovote and went back to part-part option - Aug 2000 - advocates retractable syringe introduction - up to January 20 2001