Gayle Tierney

Gayle Anne Tierney is an Australian politician. She has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council since November 2006, representing Western Victoria Region.^[1]

Tierney studied politics and Asian studies at Flinders University, before entering the trade union movement. During the early 1980s she worked for Australia Asia Worker Links, promoting research and study tours in South Korea, The Philippines,Japan and Hong Kong, focusing on union, human, indigenous and women's rights in those countries, and encouraging Australian companies active in Asia to maintain proper standards of care.

Following her period at AAWL Tierney was a Federal Industrial Officer with the Australian Public Service Association and held that position until joining the Vehicle Builders Union in 1989.

Tierney was the first woman to become State Secretary of the traditionally male-dominated Vehicle Division of the Automotive, Metals and Engineering Union (now part of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union), serving in that role from 1993 to 2006, and serving as its Federal President from 2000 to 2006. Tierney also served on the executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions from 2000 to 2006.^[2][3]

Tierney entered politics ahead of the 2006 state election, winning the second position on the Labor ticket for the reconstituted Western Victoria Region, thus ensuring her election to parliament. ^[4] Tierney was elected from the second position, and was appointed deputy chair of the Rural and Regional Committee in 2007.^[5]

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