| The Honourable Cassy O'Connor MP |
|
|---|---|
| Constituency | Denison |
| Greens Member for Denison | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 7 July 2008 |
|
| Preceded by | Peg Putt |
| Secretary to Cabinet | |
| In office 21 April 2010 – 11 November 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | (new office) |
| Minister for Human Services | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 11 November 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | Nick McKim |
| Minister for Community Development | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 11 November 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | Nick McKim |
| Minister for Climate Change | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 12 May 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Nick McKim |
| Minister for Aboriginal Affairs | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 12 May 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Nick McKim |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 April 1967 Canberra |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Tasmanian Greens |
| Spouse(s) | Steven Lees (1st) Nick McKim (2nd) |
Cassandra (Cassy) Stanwell O'Connor (born 1 April 1967 in Canberra, ACT)[1] is an Australian politician, who has been a Tasmanian Greens member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly since 2008, representing the electorate of Division of Denison.
One of two Greens in the eight member cabinet, O'Connor is currently Minister for Human Services, Community Development, Climate Change and Aboriginal Affairs.[2]
As an elected member of the Tasmanian Greens, O'Connor also carries shadow portfolio responsibility for the Environment, Parks & Heritage, Animal Welfare and the Arts.[3]
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The daughter of a former ABC foreign correspondent, O’Connor spent her childhood in India, Singapore, Japan, Canberra, Brisbane and Stradbroke Island, Queensland, before moving to Tasmania in 1989.
Prior to entering Parliament, O'Connor worked as a television news journalist and a political staffer in the Keating Government for former Justice Minister and Federal ALP member for Denison Duncan Kerr and later for Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and Tasmanian Senator Christine Milne.
She also became well known in Tasmania as the face of the "Save Ralphs Bay" campaign. This community campaign began in March 2004, when Sydney-based developer Walker Corporation announced its intention to construct Tasmania's first canal housing estate in the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area east of Hobart.[4][5] In June 2010 the legal confirmation of the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area as being 171 hectares came into effect, therefore preventing Walker Corporations proposed canal housing estates.[6]
O'Connor finished second on the Tasmanian Greens Denison ticket in 2006 with 3.6% of the primary vote. She received 70% of Tasmanian Greens Leader Peg Putt's preferences and eventually reached almost half a quota before being excluded. She first won the seat of Denison on a countback of votes on 21 July 2008 after the sitting member and leader of the Tasmanian Greens Peg Putt resigned earlier in the month.[4]
Cassy O'Connor was re-elected at the 2010 election, receiving the highest number of first preference votes in Denison with 16.2%.[7]
On 19 April 2010, Labor Premier David Bartlett appointed Ms O'Connor as Secretary to Cabinet. In November 2010 she was promoted within the Bartlett cabinet, holding two portfolios. O'Connor and Nick McKim are the first Greens in Australia to hold Cabinet positions.[8]
In 2011 O’Connor was given full Ministerial responsibility for Human Services, Community Development, Aboriginal Affairs and Climate Change. Elements of Community Development include Multicultural Affairs, Seniors, Women, Youth and Gambling. Her colleague Tasmanian Greens Leader Nick McKim MP is now Minister for Education, Sustainable Transport, and Corrections and Consumer Affairs.[9]
In July 2009, O'Connor confirmed she was in a relationship with fellow MP and leader of the state Greens party, Nick McKim.[10] She was previously married to Steven Lees and has four children born prior to the relationship with McKim.[11]
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