Janice Maree Edwards (born 2 February 1962[1]) is an Australian politician. She has been the member for Bendigo West in the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2010.

Maree Edwards
Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
2 August 2022
Preceded byColin Brooks
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Bendigo West
Assumed office
27 November 2010
Preceded byBob Cameron
Personal details
Born (1962-02-02) 2 February 1962 (age 62)
Maryborough, Victoria, Australia
Political partyLabor
Alma materLa Trobe University, Bendigo
Websitemareeedwards.com.au

Education

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Edwards has a BA (Hons) from La Trobe University, Bendigo.[1]

Political career

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Edwards was first elected at the 2010 Victorian state election and has been re-elected ever since. Prior to her election she worked for the previous Member, Bob Cameron.[2]

On 7 March 2017, Edwards was elected Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly[3] and became the Speaker in August 2022, the fourth woman to hold the position.[4][5] After the November 2022 state election, Edwards was re-elected as Speaker in December 2022 unopposed.[6]

Personal life

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Edwards has four children.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ms Maree Edwards". Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Victorian parliament 2022: New speaker Maree Edwards on her career in politics".
  3. ^ "Edwards named deputy speaker". Bendigo Advertiser. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Victorian parliament 2022: New speaker Maree Edwards on her career in politics". The Age. 16 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Maree Edwards elected Speaker". Parliament of Victoria. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  6. ^ "O'Keeffe and Cleeland sworn in to Legislative Assembly". Shepparton News. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
Victorian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Bendigo West
2010–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
2022–present