- Mary Jo Fisher
-
Senator
Mary Jo FisherSenator for South Australia Incumbent Assumed office
12 June 2007Personal details Born 25 December 1962
Beverley, Western AustraliaPolitical party Liberal Party of Australia Profession Barrister Mary Josephine Fisher (born 25 December 1962) is an Australian politician. She has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since 2007, representing the state of South Australia.
Fisher was chosen on 6 June 2007 to fill a vacancy in the Australian Senate left by the resignation of the Hon. Amanda Vanstone.[1] This preselection was subject of an internal appeal by fellow candidate Maria Kourtesis.[2] On 5 June 2007 the appeals tribunal set up by the SA Liberal Party dismissed Mrs Kourtesis appeal in a 4-1 vote. A joint sitting of the Parliament of South Australia officially nominated her on 6 June 2007.[3] Fisher was sworn in as a South Australian Senator on 12 June. Maria Kourtesis remained fourth on the SA Liberal Party Senate ticket for the 2007 election.
Fisher was born in the Western Australian town of Beverley. She is the niece of former Nuclear Disarmament and Greens WA Senator Jo Vallentine.[4] She worked as a barrister and specialist in industrial relations before the start of her political career. She subsequently served as a senior adviser to the then Industrial Relations Minister, Peter Reith. At the time of her selection, Fisher was General Manager of Business Services for Business SA.[5]
Fisher has served on the Senate's Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts committee, and is a participating member of the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, and Legal and Constitutional Affairs Standing committees.[6] She is the former Chair of the Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network,[7] and she is currently the Chair of the Senate Standing References Committee on Environment and Communications.[8]
Fisher made headlines in March 2011 when she mocked Prime Minister Julia Gillard by dancing the Hokey Pokey and the Time Warp in the Australian Senate during a speech arguing against the Government's climate change policy.[9]
In July 2011, it was revealed that Fisher had been charged for alleged shoplifting and the alleged assault of a security guard at an Adelaide supermarket in December 2010.[10] Fisher made a statement in which she said she would vigorously defend the claims.[11] If convicted on either charge, Fisher would have lost her seat in the Australian Senate.[10] Senator Fisher's defense was that she was suffering from depression and a severe panic attack at the time of the offense.[12] On 18 November, magistrate Kym Boxall cleared Fisher of shoplifting charges, but found her guilty of assault, although no conviction was recorded and no penalty was imposed.[13]
References
- ^ "Fisher replaces Vanstone". The Advertiser. 25 May 2007. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21797203-5006301,00.html.
- ^ Kelton, Greg (29 May 2007). "Preselection row delays Vanstone successor". The Advertiser. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21817466-2682,00.html.
- ^ Adelaide Advertiser "Vanstone seat resolved" 6 June 2007
- ^ Senator Fisher's first speech
- ^ "Workplace barrister to replace Vanstone". The Age (Melbourne). 26 May 2007. http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Workplace-barrister-to-replace-Vanstone/2007/05/26/1179601714891.html.
- ^ Senator Mary Jo Fisher, Official biography, retrieved January 2009.
- ^ Department of the Senate, committee memberships, retrieved January 2009.
- ^ http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/membership/index.htm#Environment
- ^ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/mary-jo-fishers-hokey-pokey-time-warp-performance/story-e6frf7l6-1226015351907
- ^ a b Hunt, Nigel. "Liberal Senator Mary Jo Fisher Arrested for Shoplifting, Assault". Daily Telegraph. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/liberal-senator-mary-jo-fisher-arrested-for-shoplifting-assault/story-fn7q4q9f-1226100044518. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ "SA Senator charged with assault". 22 July 2011. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-22/mary-jo-fisher-facing-charges/2806888. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
- ^ "SA Senator Mary Jo Fisher guilty of assault but cleared of shop-lifting". 18 November 2011. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/sa-senator/story-e6frf7jo-1226198743946. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
- ^ "Liberal senator found guilty of assault". 18 November 2011. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-18/mary-jo-fisher-shoplifting-judgment/3678996/?site=sydney. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
External links
Categories:- 1962 births
- Living people
- Members of the Australian Senate for South Australia
- Members of the Australian Senate
- Liberal Party of Australia politicians
- Women members of the Australian Senate
- Australian barristers
- People from Beverley, Western Australia
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