Sharryn Jackson

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Sharryn Maree Jackson (born 12 February 1962), Australian politician, is an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives. She served one term from 2001 representing the Division of Hasluck before losing the seat at the 2004 federal election. She is currently serving a second term, having regained the seat at the 2007 federal election.

Contents 1 Personal life 2 Union work 3 2001 Federal election 4 Member for Hasluck (2001 to 2004) 5 2004 Federal election 6 Post-election defeat 7 2007 Federal election 8 References

[edit] Personal life

Jackson was born in Perth, Western Australia, to parents from Midland and Guildford.^[1] During her early childhood, she travelled throughout rural Western Australia with her family.^[2] In her teenage years, she lived at the Swanleigh Boarding Hostel in Middle Swan, and attended Lockridge Senior High School.^[2] She went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English, at the University of Western Australia.^[2]

In 1999, Jackson was included on the honour roll celebrating the centenary of women's suffrage in Western Australia.^[3]

Today, Jackson lives with her de facto partner John in Gooseberry Hill.^[2] She has two step-children.^[3]

[edit] Union work

After graduating from university, she was the women's officer of the Western Australian Trades and Labor Council.^[2] For the 15 years prior to her entry into politics, she was, firstly, the Industrial Officer, and later the Assistant State Secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers Union.

[edit] 2001 Federal election

After being overlooked by the Richard Court-led State Coalition Government for a posting as Commissioner of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission, in mid-2000 Jackson resolved to run for Federal Parliament.^[1]

After the electoral redistribution which created the Division of Hasluck for the 2001 Australian Federal election, the electorate was notionally held by Labor with a margin of 2.55 per cent.^[3] In the election, Jackson polled a lower primary vote than Liberal contender Bethwyn Chan,^[4] but won the seat after a distribution of minor party preferences gave her a margin of 1.8 per cent.^[5]

[edit] Member for Hasluck (2001 to 2004)

In 2004, Jackson was vocal in her criticism of Deckers Outdoor Corporation's campaign to enforce trademarks on the generic term "ugg boot", and helped to establish a successful fighting fund to challenge their trademarks.^[6]

Another issue Jackson pursued during her term in office was the establishment of a university in the eastern suburbs of Perth, an area not currently served by any of Western Australia's five universities.^[7]

[edit] 2004 Federal election

At the 2004 Federal election, Jackson faced a challenge from first-time election candidate Stuart Henry. During the election campaign, Henry's electoral team sent campaign materials to households in the electorate in which Henry was described as "Member for Hasluck", sparking complaints to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) by the WA Labor Party.^[8] Jackson said it was part of a "dirty tricks" campaign by Henry, even though the AEC concluded that the letters were not directly misleading.^[7]

In the poll, there was a swing away from Labor in the electorate, which rendered the electorate marginally Liberal, and handed the seat to Stuart Henry.

[edit] Post-election defeat

Following her defeat in the 2004 election, Jackson worked as Chief of Staff for State MP Bob Kucera, who was the Minister for Sport and Recreation.^[9]

Jackson was appointed by Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter as Director of the "Community Cabinet and Liaison Unit", part of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, in May 2005.^[10] Her employment in this role drew criticism, since the job was not advertised and the role was already being filled by other public servants.^[10] It was also a controversial appointment because she kept her $120,000-value Ministerial Chief of Staff salary^[11] and the unit's primary role was as a "propaganda machine" creating promotional material for Government members but not for other members.^[9][11]

She was elected as Western Australian State President of the Australian Labor Party in November 2005, defeating Sarah Burke in a tight contest.^[12] She took over this position from Michelle Roberts, a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. Jackson signalled that she intended to bridge the widening divisions between the different factions within the State Labor Party.^[13] Jackson was re-elected State President in June 2006, again defeating Sarah Burke.^[14]

After initially considering running for the Division of Brand in the forthcoming 2007 Federal election to replace outgoing member Kim Beazley,^[15] Jackson announced in January 2007 that she intended to once again seek Labor Party endorsement for the seat of Hasluck.^[16] She also signalled her intention to resign from the ALP State Presidency if she gained endorsement.^[16] Also nominating for endorsement was Silvia Barzotto, from Labor's "New Right" faction.^[17] Jackson secured Labor endorsement in the endorsement ballots of February 2007.^[18]

She quit her position within the Department of Premier and Cabinet in March 2007,^[19][10] and was succeeded as State ALP President by Sally Talbot in June 2007.^[20]

[edit] 2007 Federal election

Jackson was a successful candidate at the 2007 federal election, regaining her old seat of Hasluck.

Jackson was potentially aided in her campaign by voter discontent relating to a Government decision to allow the construction of a brick works in the electorate, against the wishes of the sitting member, Stuart Henry.^[21]

Mirroring an election promise made by John Howard when he was visiting the electorate the previous week, Jackson announced that Labor would undertake major roads funding in Hasluck, including the construction of a grade-separated interchange at Great Eastern Highway and Roe Highway, to cost $48 million.^[22]

[edit] References

Parliament of Australia
New division	Member for Hasluck 2001 – 2004	Succeeded by Stuart Henry
Preceded by Stuart Henry	Member for Hasluck 2007 – present	Incumbent

v • d • e Current Members of the Australian House of Representatives from Western Australia Labor Gary Gray · Sharryn Jackson · Melissa Parke · Stephen Smith Liberal Julie Bishop · Barry Haase · Steve Irons · Dennis Jensen · Michael Keenan · Nola Marino · Judi Moylan · Don Randall · Luke Simpkins · Wilson Tuckey · Mal Washer

Persondata
NAME	Jackson, Sharryn Maree
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Australian politician
DATE OF BIRTH	12 February 1962
PLACE OF BIRTH	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
DATE OF DEATH	living
PLACE OF DEATH