De-Anne Kelly

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De-Anne Margaret Kelly (born 21 March 1954), was an Australian politician. She was a National Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1996 until November 2007, representing the Division of Dawson, Queensland. She was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, and was educated at the University of Queensland. She was a business proprietor, cattle producer and sugar-cane farmer before entering politics.

Kelly was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade 2003-04 and Minister for Veterans' Affairs since October 2004, yet lost the position in a 2006 reshuffle. She is the first female member of the National Party to hold ministerial office in the federal Parliament.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2004 Kelly was the subject of criticism in Parliament when it was revealed that a member of her staff was a former lobbyist for a company for which a government grant had been approved (though in the event the grant was not made), and that no declaration of interest form had been lodged by this staff member as required by the Ministerial Code of Conduct.

At the 2007 general election, Kelly was defeated in her seat of Dawson by Labor candidate James Bidgood, with a swing against her of more than thirteen per cent. The loss of Dawson was unexpected by most commentators.

[edit] References

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[edit] External links

• Parliamentary Secretary website

Political offices
Preceded by Danna Vale	Minister for Veterans' Affairs 2004 – 2006	Succeeded by Bruce Billson
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Ray Braithwaite	Member for Dawson 1996 – 2007	Succeeded by James Bidgood