Emma Jayne Kealy (born 29 May 1977[citation needed]) is an Australian politician. She has been a National Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since November 2014, representing the Legislative Assembly seat of Lowan.[1]
Emma Kealy | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Leader of the National Party in Victoria | |
| Assumed office 11 July 2022 | |
| Leader | Peter Walsh |
| Preceded by | Steph Ryan |
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Lowan | |
| Assumed office 29 November 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Hugh Delahunty |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 May 1977 Edenhope, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | National Party |
| Alma mater | University of South Australia |
| Website | http://www.emmakealy.com |
Kealy was born and raised in Edenhope, Victoria, where six generations of her family have worked as farmers. She gained a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from the University of South Australia, before living in the Northern Territory, Melbourne and Hamilton, Victoria, and then moving back to Edenhope to work as chief executive of the Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital.[2]
Since being elected, Kealy has established a moderate record in parliamentary votes and on policy generally. Despite her reticence towards expressing a view on abortion prior to the 2014 election,[3] Kealy was a supporter of legislation to legalise euthanasia,[4] same-sex adoption,[5] and to restrict protests in the vicinity of abortion clinics.[6] Kealy is also an advocate for a greener approach to climate change and has openly disavowed the more cautious approach of her federal leader Barnaby Joyce.[7]
Prior to the 2018 Victorian state election, Kealy became embroiled in controversy over her use of taxpayer-funded printing entitlements. Deputy Premier James Merlino referred Kealy to the State Ombudsman, alleging that Kealy had asked a local newspaper in her electorate, the Hamilton Spectator, to falsify invoices to enable taxpayer-funded advertising to run in the newspaper during November 2018 contrary to the prohibition against the use of MP allowances during the caretaker election period.[8][9] Blame for the affair was ultimately placed on the shoulders of an inexperienced advertising consultant at the Hamilton Spectator, and no further disciplinary action was taken against Kealy.
After the 2018 Victorian state election, Kealy continued in her role as Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Prevention of Family Violence, and Women. Despite being expected to advocate for the rights and status of women in her capacity as Shadow Minister for Women, Kealy surprised some observers by failing to join local female leaders in condemning Hindmarsh Shire Mayor, Ron Ismay, for using what the ABC chose to describe as sexist language, in introducing Kealy to an audience of young families and children at the opening ceremony for Nhill skate park in October 2019.[10] Hindmarsh Shire Council passed a motion formally apologising to Kealy, and local women's groups condemned the language for reducing women to their physical appearance and reinforcing gender stereotypes. Kealy herself opted not to comment any further on the matter.
Kealy was appointed deputy leader of the Victorian Nationals in July 2022.[11]
References edit
- ^ "Lowan Results". ABC News. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- ^ "Edenhope woman to run for Nationals pre-selection". Dimboola Courier. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- ^ http://coxstreetvets.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Eaglev3.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Euthanasia laws pass Vic lower house". ABC News. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ Emma Kealy (22 October 2015). "Adoption Amendment (Adoption by Same-Sex Couples) Bill 2015". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Victoria: Legislative Assembly. p. 4014.
- ^ Emma Kealy (12 November 2015). "Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2015". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Victoria: Legislative Assembly. p. 4394.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2045810415524786&id=521437877962055/ [user-generated source]
- ^ Anderson, Stephanie (7 August 2018). "Labor refers Coalition MPs to Victorian Ombudsman over Damien Mantach fraud". ABC News. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ @JamesMerlinoMP (7 August 2018). "I'm just going to leave this here... #springst" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Wales, Sean (7 October 2019). "Mayor agrees to apologise for introducing MP Emma Kealy as 'best-looking politician in Victoria'". ABC News. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ Darling, Alexander; Lowe, Rebekah (12 July 2022). "Emma Kealy takes over from Steph Ryan as deputy leader of the Victorian Nationals". ABC News.
