• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE0144

Tebbutt, Carmel Mary

(1964 – )
  • Born 22 January, 1964, Forbes New South Wales Australia
  • Occupation Local government councillor, Parliamentarian

Summary

Carmel Tebbutt was a very successful ALP politician who made the transfer from the upper to the lower house of the New South Wales parliament. However, before she entered state politics Carmel was a councillor in the Marrickville Council from 1993- 1998 and their Deputy Mayor from 1995-1998. She entered state politics when she was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1998 and subsequently re-elected in 2003. During this time she served as Minister for Juvenile Justice (1999-2003), Minister for Ageing, Disability Services and Minister for Community Services (2003 -2005) and Minister for Education and Training (2005-2007). Carmel Tebbutt resigned from the Legislative Council in August 2005 to run for the seat of Marrickville in the Legislative Assembly by-election, which she won. She was then appointed Minister for Education and Training (2005 – 2008). In 2008 she became the state’s first female Deputy Premier and subsequently held the portfolios of Climate Change and Environment and in the Keneally Government, that of Health Minister. She retired from parliament at the 2015 election.

Details

In 1981, Tebbutt obtained her Higher School Certificate from De La Salle College Cronulla. She worked as a Graduate Trainee, State Bank of NSW 1985-1986, and graduated with a Bachelor of Economics, majoring in Economics and Industrial Relations, from Sydney University in 1986.
Before being elected to the Legislative Council, she was an Industrial Officer for the AMP Staff Association 1986-1988, State Secretary AMP Staff Association 1988-1990; an Electorate Officer for Senator Bruce Childs 1990-1992; an Industrial Officer/Training Officer for the Community and Public Sector Union 1992-1995 and Policy Adviser to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Health 1995-1998.
Tebbutt has been a Representative of the Legislative Council on the Council of University of New England since 1998.She became a Minister in 1999, and was Minister for Juvenile Justice 1999 -2003, Minister Assisting the Premier on Youth Affairs 1999-2003, and Minister Assisting the Minister for the Environment 1999-2002.
Her Committee Memberships include: Sessional: Library Committee 1998-1999, Standing Orders Committee since 1999. Standing: Standing Committee on Social Issues 1998-1999.
Tebbutt became a Member of the ALP in 1985, and her party activities include: being a Member of the Executive of NSW Young Labor Council 1988-1991; President of the NSW Young Labor Council 1990-1991; Member of the ALP Economic Policy Committee 1990-1994; President Ashfield State Electorate Council 1994-1998; Deputy Convenor ALP Credentials Committee 1996-1999 and Member of the Administrative Committee ALP NSW Branch 1993-1999.
A Member of the Marrickville Council since 1993, Tebbutt served as Deputy Mayor 1995-1998. She was a Member of the Marrickville Aboriginal Consultative Committee 1995-1998 and a Member of the Marrickville Heritage Promotion Committee 1997-1998.
She is a Member of Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad; Australian Republican Movement and the Evatt Foundation. Her interests include: social justice, local government, children’s and young peoples services, education and the environment and she enjoys swimming, cycling, reading and movies.

Read

Published resources

Related entries


  • Featured in
    • Putting Skirts on the Sacred Benches: Women Candidates for the New South Wales Parliament
  • Related Concepts
    • Women in Politics: Australian Labor Party