Louise Asher

Louise Asher (born 26 June 1956) Australian politician is currently the deputy leader of the Liberal Party of Australia in Victoria.

Asher joined the Young Liberal Movement in 1976 and served as state president in 1982. Asher also studied at both Melbourne and Monash University completing a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Education and was a secondary teacher during the 1980s before becoming an advisor to New South Wales minister Peter Collins.

At the 1992 state election Asher was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council as the member for Monash Province. After the 1996 election she served as Minister for Small Business and Minister for Tourism. An ally of Premier Jeff Kennett, Asher had the opportunity to transfer into the Legislative Assembly in her local district of Brighton after the retirement of Alan Stockdale. However she faced a bruising pre-selection against future Senator Mitch Fifield but she prevailed 33 votes to 18. [http://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s35566.htm]

While Asher did enter the Legislative Assembly as the Member for Brighton at the 1999 election the Liberal Party unexpectedly lost government. However Asher successfully contested the deputy leadership and also served as Shadow Treasurer. However with the Liberals badly trailing badly in the polls in 2002 she and party leader Dennis Napthine, who was also allied to Jeff Kennett, were replaced by Robert Doyle and Phil Honeywood as leader and deputy leader respectively. After the Liberals devastating defeat at the 2002 election continued to serve on the opposition frontbench, serving as Shadow minister for Manufacturing and Exports and later as Shadow Minister for Industry and Employment and Shadow Minister for Major Projects.

In April 2006 Honeywood announced his retirement from politics and resigned his position as Deputy Leader. In order to restore party unity and stabilise his own leadership, Doyle offered Asher the deputy leadership, which she accepted. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/lasher-strikes-back/2006/04/29/1146198391666.html?page=2] However this move was not enough for Doyle to save his own leadership, and the following month resigned and he was replaced by Kennett supporter Ted Baillieu. Asher is continuing on as Deputy Leader with her existing portfolios of Industry and Employment and Major Projects.

External links

* [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/lasher-strikes-back/2006/04/29/1146198391666.html The Age: 'Lasher' Strikes Back]