Louise Markus

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Louise Markus MP
Louise Markus
In office
9 October 2004 – present
Preceded by Frank Mossfield
Majority 38,381 (50.58%)
Born 6 September 1958 (1958-09-06) (age 49)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality Australian
Political party Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse Jim Markus
Children Joshua and Hannah
Alma mater University of New South Wales
Profession Social worker
Religion Assemblies of God in Australia
Website www.louisemarkus.com.au

Louise Elizabeth Markus (born 6 September 1958 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian politician who was elected to the House of Representatives as member for the Division of Greenway, New South Wales for the Liberal Party of Australia at the 2004 federal election, in a very close result.[1]

She was educated at the University of New South Wales, graduating in social work, and was a community worker running the Hillsong Church's drug and alcohol outreach service in Blacktown prior to entering politics.[2]

Subsequent to the 2004 election, allegations were made in the NSW State Parliament that Mrs Markus had directly benefited from unauthorised campaign materials containing false statements in an attempt to capture racist voter sentiment against her Labor opponent, and that this was consistent with a broader sentiment held by parts of the Liberal hard right.[3] These allegations were subsequently reported in the media.[4]

The situation was very similar to the later 2007 Lindsay pamphlet scandal, in which unauthorised election materials were distributed in an apparent attempt to stir up anti-muslim sentiment. This was traced back to members of the Liberal party campaign.[5]

Markus retained the seat of Greenway with a comfortable margin in the 2007 election, although with a nominal swing of 6.85% against her on a two-party preferred basis.[6]

Following the 2007 election, she was made Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Citizenship.[7]

She lives in Riverstone, in the south of her electorate. At the time of the 2004 election she did not live in the Greenway electorate. A September 2006 redistribution of boundaries saw her residence included in the electorate.[8] The northward shift in electorate boundaries also saw her seat change from marginal to safe.

She is married with two children.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Greenway
  2. ^ Parliament of Australia: House of Representatives - Members
  3. ^ Religious Freedom - 27/10/2004 - ADJ - NSW Parliament
  4. ^ Husic victim of slur on Islam, says MP - National - www.smh.com.au
  5. ^ Howard condemns bogus flyer scam | The Daily Telegraph
  6. ^ House of Representatives Division First Preferences
  7. ^ Department of the Parliamentary Library - Shadow Ministry
  8. ^ http://www.aph.gov.au/House/members/pics/electrts/Greenway.pdf

[edit] External links

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Frank Mossfield		 Member for Greenway
9 October 2004 – present		 Incumbent
v • d • e
Current Members of the Australian House of Representatives from New South Wales
Labor
Liberal
Nationals
Independent


Persondata
NAME Markus, Louise
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Australian politician
DATE OF BIRTH 6 September 1958
PLACE OF BIRTH Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH