Melinda Pavey

Melinda Pavey
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
Personal details
Born	Melinda Jane Shaw
Political party	The Nationals

Melinda Jane Pavey MLC (born 1969 as Melinda Jane Shaw) is an Australian politician. She has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 2002, representing the National Party of Australia. A former party staffer, the Coffs Harbour businesswoman attracted attention when she became the party's youngest New South Wales MP at the age of 33.

Career

Pavey initially worked as a radio journalist with 2UW in Sydney, but soon became involved in the National Party, and in 1988 took up a position as a media officer for Matt Singleton, the then-Minister for Administrative Services. Over the next decade, she worked for a number of MPs, including Deputy Premier Wal Murray (1990–1993), Minister for Consumer Affairs Wendy Machin (1993–1994) and National Party leader Ian Armstrong (1994–1997).^[1]

Political career

Pavey did not attempt to enter politics herself until July 2002, when long-serving Legislative Council member Doug Moppett died suddenly. In the subsequent weeks, Pavey announced her intention to nominate for the resulting casual vacancy. At the time, the party was recovering from a significant defeat at the 2001 election, and the party was keen to look for younger and more appealing candidates.^{[citation needed]} Despite being nine months pregnant at the time, Pavey was ultimately successful in obtaining preselection, and was sworn in as an MLC in September 2002,^[1] three weeks after the birth of her daughter, Emily.

She has dedicated much of her time to advocating for the people of the Queanbeyan region, in her role as the National Party's duty member for the Labor-held Legislative Assembly electorate of Monaro. She has also served on the Parliamentary Committee on Children and Young People since 2003.^{[citation needed]}

On 3 April 2011, after the State election, it was announced by the new Premier Barry O'Farrell that Pavey would not enter his Coalition Cabinet in New South Wales; she had previously held the role of Shadow Emergency services Spokeswoman.^[2]

She was subsequently appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health.

References