Stephen Dawson (politician)

The Honourable
Stephen Dawson
MLC
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for Mining and Pastoral
Incumbent
Assumed office
22 May 2013
Personal details
Born 30 July 1975
Dublin, Ireland
Political party Labor
Domestic partner Dennis Liddelow

Stephen Noel Dawson (born 30 July 1975) was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council as an Australian Labor Party member for Mining and Pastoral region at the 2013 state election. He took his seat on 22 May 2013 and became a Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Pilbara; Kimberley and Goldfields-Esperance regions. In September 2013 he became Shadow Minister for Disability Services, Mental Health and Child Protection.

He joined the Labor Party in 1995 at the Edith Cowan University orientation day.

Prior to his election, Dawson worked as the WA State Manager of Essential Media Communications. Dawson had previously worked as a lobbyist with Hawker Britton,[1] and had also formerly worked as chief of staff to Carpenter government Environment Minister David Templeman.[2]

Stephen first ran for Mining and Pastoral region in 2005.[3]

Upon the passage of legislation that allows same sex couples to marry in the Australian Capital Territory, Stephen and his partner Dennis Liddelow became one of the first couples to be legally married in Australia.[4] However Stephen and Dennis had their marriage ended on 12 December 2013, when the High Court of Australia annulled gay marriages stating that only the Federal Government has the authority to legalise gay marriage.

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