Jeannette McHugh

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Jeannette McHugh (born 18 December 1934), Australian politician, is a former Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Divisions of Phillip (1983–1993) and Grayndler (1993–1996) in New South Wales.

Born in Kandos, New South Wales, McHugh was educated at the University of Sydney where she resided at The Women's College.[1] She worked as a teacher before gaining ALP pre-selection for the Division of Phillip, a seat she won at the Australian federal election, 1983, making her the first woman from New South Wales to sit in the federal parliament.

Labor Party power-broker Anthony Albanese organised for McHugh to take a seat on the Paul Keating ministry, and she was made Minister for Consumer Affairs in 1993, making her the first female federal minister from NSW. When the Division of Phillip was abolished after redistribution, it was arranged for McHugh (as a minister) to move to the Division of Grayndler (forcing sitting member Leo McLeay to move to the new neighbouring electorate of Watson).[2]

McHugh retired from parliament on 29 January 1996, a month before the 1996 federal election at which the ALP lost government. Anthony Albanese won pre-selection for Grayndler, and retained it during the election.

McHugh was Secretary of the Evatt Foundation until November 2006.[3]

[edit] Family life

Jeannette McHugh is married to former High Court of Australia justice Michael McHugh.[4]

[edit] References

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Jack Birney
Member for Phillip
1983–1993
Succeeded by
none
Preceded by
Leo McLeay
Member for Grayndler
1993–1996
Succeeded by
Anthony Albanese
Political offices
Preceded by
Michael Tate
Justice and Consumer Affairs
Minister for Consumer Affairs
1993–1996
Succeeded by
Geoff Prosser
Small Business and Consumer Affairs


Persondata
NAME McHugh, Jeannette
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Australian politician
DATE OF BIRTH 18 December 1934
PLACE OF BIRTH Kandos, New South Wales, Australia
DATE OF DEATH living
PLACE OF DEATH