Gail Gago

Gail Elizabeth Gago (born 1957) is an Australian politician, and an Australian Labor Party member of the South Australian Legislative Council since the 2002 election. Prior to the 2014 election, she was Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women and Minister for State/Local Government Relations.

Legislative Council

Gago was elected to the Legislative Council from first position on the Labor ticket at the 2002 election and from second position on the Labor ticket at the 2010 election. After the resignation from Cabinet of Bernard Finnigan, Gago became acting Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council. She was also the only Minister in the Upper House.[1] On 17 May 2011, the Labor Caucus elected Gago the state's first woman leader of the Legislative Council.[2]

Ministerial history

Following the second term election of the Labor government in March 2006, Gago was appointed Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health. On 24 July 2008, Gago was appointed Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises and Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy. On 8 February 2011, Gago was appointed Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Minister for Government Enterprises. On 21 April 2011, Gago was appointed Minister for Gambling. On 21 October 2011, Gago was appointed Minister for Agriculture Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism and Minister for the Status of Women. On 21 January 2013, Gago was appointed Minister for Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women and Minister for State/Local Government Relations.[3]

Following the 2014 election, Gago was appointed Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, and Minister for Business Services and Consumers.

Background

Gago was born in Mooroopna, Victoria, and completed her secondary education at Shepparton High School. After high school, Gago studied at Phillip Institute of Technology and the Austin Hospital where she graduated as a registered nurse, later completing a Bachelor of Science (Honours) at Monash University, majoring in psychology.

In 1987, Gago and her husband Peter moved to South Australia, where she worked as a nurse at Salisbury Private Hospital for two years. In 1988 Gago started working with the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) for 12 years, first as an organiser, later becoming assistant secretary and branch secretary.[4] As a member of the ANF, Gago was part of many campaigns to improve patient care, access to health services, wages and conditions for workers. She has participated in and contributed to a range of state and federal health and industrial relations forums.[3]

Gago has been a member of the SA branch of the ALP since 1991, contributing to policy committees and serving as state convention delegate (proxy), state executive member and national conference attendee. Gago is from the Labor Left faction.[5]

Gago is married to Peter Gago, Penfold's chief winemaker[6] and a published author. She is also the sister of Victorian Labor Legislative Councillor Kaye Darveniza.[7]

An advocate for healthy living, Gago's interests include bushwalking and running,[3] and her favourite meal includes chickpeas, brussels sprouts and lemons.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Gago to go solo as upper house minister: AAP 27 April 2011
  2. ↑ Gail Gago creates political history: The Advertiser 18 May 2011
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Gail Gago MLC Government of South Australia, South Australia. Accessed 2014-03-23.
  4. ↑ Mayne, Stephen (25 January 2006). "Tracking the unionists in parliament". Crikey. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  5. ↑ Caucus approves Rann's controversial WorkCover cuts: The Advertiser 26 February 2008
  6. ↑ Crouch, Brad "Peter and Gail Gago - South Australia's power couple" The Advertiser, South Australia (2013-06-21). Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  7. ↑ Parliament of Victoria Hansard 11 November 1999, p137.
  8. ↑ Wills, Daniel & Novak, Lauren "Premier seems to back Gail Gago's gibe at male MPs" Herald Sun, Melbourne, Victoria (2012-09-19). Retrieved 2014-03-23.

External links