Lin Estelle Thorp (born 4 November 1953[1]) was an Australian Labor Party politician and member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council (upper house) in the Hobart based division of Rumney from 1999 until 2011. She was defeated by Tony Mulder at the elections held on 7 May 2011.[2]
Thorp was born in Hobart, Tasmania. She studied education at the University of Tasmania and Tasmanian College of Advanced Education, and subsequently taught at Taroona High School and Hobart College. She also taught for some time in Greece and Turkey. She is married and has one son.
Her political interests include community support, women's issues, reconciliation, multiculturalism, the natural environment and social justice. During her time as Labor member she has announced a number of government achievements in information technology including; the opening of an online access centre in Clarendon Vale and the $4 million "Laptops for Teachers" program also speaking out against the Howard federal government's sale of Telstra. Other programs she has been a part of include: diabetes camps for teenagers, 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake aid efforts and Landcare Australia funding deals. In 2005 Lin Thorp quoted lyrics from John Lennons 'Imagine' song in tears as the government presented new anti-terrorism laws.
She faced election in the division of Rumney on 7 May 2005. She won with an outright majority of 50.96% and there was no need to distribute preferences.
Ms Thorp became Minister for Human Services on 17 September 2008.[3]
As a Legislative Councillor she was not involved in the 2010 Tasmanian State Election; however, the resulting portfolio reshuffle on 21 April 2010, saw her become the new Minister for Education and Skills, Minister for Children, and Minister for Police and Emergency Management.[4]