| Cherie Burton MP | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Kogarah |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 27 March 1999 |
|
| Preceded by | Brian Langton |
| Majority | 1.9% (2011) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | ca. 1968 Paddington, New South Wales |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Spouse(s) | Andrew Murphy |
| Occupation | Union official; political advisor |
| Website | Parliamentary webpage |
Cherie Ann Burton (born ca. 1968) an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Kogarah for the Australian Labor Party since 1999.
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Burton was born in Paddington, New South Wales and brought up in Minto. She graduated from Narrabeen High School in 1986 and became an accounts clerk and an official for the National Union of Workers. She later became an adviser to Premier Bob Carr.[1]
Burton has been the member for the relatively safe Labor seat of Kogarah since 1999 when she defeated the Liberal candidate, Sam Witheridge after being installed by the head office administrative committee as the Labor candidate on an N40 ruling, bypassing local pre-selection. At the time of her election, aged 30, she was one of the youngest Labor politicians on the back bench, second only to Matt Brown, aged 27.[2]
Burton was the Minister for Housing and the Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) from August 2005 to March 2007.[3] Citing family reasons, Burton announced she had decided to step down from the ministry following the 2007 NSW election. However questions were raised as to whether she was forced to give up her place in the ministry due to a police enquiry into an alleged assault against the nephew of the Liberal candidate for Burton's electorate on polling day.[4]
Burton was criticised in December 2006 for failing to report to police that a staff member was found to have embezzled A$16,000. Michael Han, an employee at Burton's Kogarah electoral office, was forced to resign and repay the money taken.[5]
Burton's driver's licence was suspended for 12 months in mid-2010 for refusing to cooperate with police demands for some of her blood.[6]
Burton is a keen sailor, having sailed since her teens. She is a Patron of the Kogarah Bay Sailing Club. In October 2006 she opened a new pontoon for Sailability Kogarah Bay at Dover Park, Blakehurst.[7]
Burton announced she met her husband, Andrew Murphy, after consulting television psychic John Holland in early 2003.[8]
| Parliament of New South Wales | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Brian Langton |
Member for Kogarah 1999–present |
Incumbent |