Amanda Stoker

Amanda Jane Stoker (born 30 October 1982) is an Australian politician who became a Senator for Queensland in 2018. She is a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP) and sits with the Liberal Party in federal parliament. She was appointed to the Senate after the retirement of George Brandis.

Senator

Amanda Stoker
Senator for Queensland
Assumed office
21 March 2018
Preceded byGeorge Brandis
Personal details
Born
Amanda Jane Fell

(1982-10-30) 30 October 1982
Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyLiberal National Party
Other political
affiliations		Liberal Party
Spouse(s)
Adam Stoker
(
m. 2005)
Children3
ResidenceAuchenflower, Queensland
EducationHurlstone Agricultural High School
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
ProfessionBarrister
Liberal Party factionConservative
IdeologySocially & Fiscally Conservative
ReligionChristian: Anglican
WebsiteParliamentary website

Early life and education

Stoker grew up on the outer-southern suburbs of Sydney in Campbelltown[1] to working-class parents. In her first speech she explained "My dad is a plumber, drainer, gas fitter. He had his own small business. My mum worked in a shop as a retail assistant."[2] She completed her HSC at Hurlstone Agricultural High School before studying arts and law at Sydney University, graduating with first-class honours.[3]

Stoker began her career as a clerk and solicitor in Brisbane with Minter Ellison.[4][5] She went on to serve as a Commonwealth prosecutor, as well as a judge's associate to Philip McMurdo in the Supreme Court of Queensland and to Ian Callinan in the High Court of Australia.[6]

Prior to her appointment to the Senate, Stoker was a member of Level 27 Chambers and a sessional academic at Central Queensland University.[5] She was Vice-President of the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland from 2016 to 2018.[7][8] A member of the Samuel Griffith Society, she is known to have an interest in federalism, federal law and the Australian Constitution.[5]

From 2014 to 2018, Stoker was a director at the non-profit,[8] Brisbane-based conservative 'think tank', the Australian Institute for Progress (AIP).[5][9] According to the Executive Director, the AIP is 'ideologically centre-right', with its criticisms favouring right-wing political parties.[10] During her time there, the AIP was a critic of anti-mining advocacy groups holding charitable status[11] and hosted a visit to Brisbane by climate science denier Patrick Moore.[12] Also during Stoker's time, they opposed tobacco plain packaging and criticised the World Health Organisation's proposed international convention on tobacco.[13][14][15]

Political career

Leading up to the 2009 Queensland state election, Stoker sought pre-selection for the electoral district of Cleveland, which she lost to Mark Robinson who went on to win the seat.[16] She was an unsuccessful LNP Senate candidate at the 2013 federal election.[17]

On 10 March 2018, the Queensland LNP chose Stoker to succeed high-profile cabinet member George Brandis as a Senator for Queensland.[18] Endorsed by the LNP State Executive Council, she did not face a vote by rank-and-file members.[19] Prior to Stoker's selection all federal LNP senators were men.[20][6] The Australian reported that LNP members were threatening to push for gender quotas if the party did not preselect a woman,[20] and the Daily Mercury reported that LNP sources had said Stoker was one of the standouts as she was based in Brisbane and would also increase the LNP's percentage of females.[21] But the LNP president denied gender was a motive saying Stoker was chosen on merit.[18][6] The Parliament of Queensland appointed Stoker to the casual vacancy left by Brandis on 21 March 2018 and she was sworn in as a Senator the following day.[22][23] As an appointed Senator, she will face her first election in 2022.[17]

In 2020, The Australian named Stoker a "free speech champion and rising star of conservative politics".[24] She is part of the Liberal Party's conservative faction[25] and is aligned with the LNP's christian right.[1]

Political positions

Stoker is a self-described "proud conservative" Christian who believes Christian values are "under attack". Her political heroes are former prime minister John Howard and former UK leader Margaret Thatcher.[26] In 2019, Crikey reported that she is a socially and fiscally conservative who had positioned herself as a conservative champion of free speech and religious freedom. She claims conservatives are "misunderstood".[26]

In Senate Estimates, Stoker has complained that the use of the term "right-wing extremism" by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is offensive to conservatives. This came after ASIO chief Mike Burgess used the term in the context of combatting terrorism.[27] Labor Senator Murray Watt suggested Stoker was sensitive to the term due her attendance at the Conservative Political Action Conference, a suggestion she denies.[28] Stoker has been a speaker at this and other centre-right pro-liberty events.[29][30][31]

Stoker is an outspoken Christian.[26] She has spoken out against abortion and opposes the introduction of voluntary euthanasia legislation.[26][32]

Stoker has also spoken out against transgender activism,[24][33][26] has said sexuality is a "choice", and has stated that her political opponents prioritise the human rights of the LGBTIQ community over the "rights to freedom of conscience, religion and speech".[26] As a Senator, Stoker launched a petition against an alleged transgender activist agenda.[24]

In 2018, Stoker opposed a proposed bill to remove an exemption in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 that allows religious schools to discriminate against students on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity.[34][35] In articulating her opposition to the proposal, she expressed concern that children may want "to run a gay club within the school."[34] On the other hand, Stoker is a proponent for the introduction of a 'religious discrimination bill'.[36]

Stoker advocates for the repeal of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. In 2018 she said: "I think 18C has got to go. I think 18C is a drag on our society."[26] The Opposition responded by saying this would "water down protections against racist hate speech."[37]

Stoker has said she disapproves of women in politics "playing the gender card",[38] and has implied that women with children were "baggage" from an employer's perspective. She has pushed for nannies to be tax-deductible.[26]

Stoker blames unions for the casualisation of workplaces, and argues against raising minimum wages and penalty rates because doing so would "reduce job opportunities for those most in need".[26] She has also described unfair dismissal laws as a "block to growth".[39]

Stoker supports the development of an Australian nuclear energy industry.[40]

Stoker opposed the Government ban on the personal import of liquid nicotine used for vaping.[41]

While most media reporting covers Stoker's socially conservative views on gender and religious freedom, The Catholic Leader also reported that in her first speech she had made the 'brave observation' that "Australians don’t trust politicians. In fact, Australians are losing faith across the four sectors of the economy – government, media, corporate and non-government organisations."[32]

Controversies

In June 2020 during a televised interview on Sky News, Stoker criticised Queensland's decision to close its borders during the COVID-19 pandemic saying that Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk "knows she is absolutely choking our economy by having these borders shut – she is the knee on the throat of businesses of Queensland, stopping them from breathing".[42] Indigenous Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy labelled the comments as "abhorrent and insensitive" for apparently invoking a reference to the killing of George Floyd.[42] Stoker's spokesman had initially said she would not be backing away from her comments,[43] but a day later Stoker apologised to anyone genuinely hurt or offended saying it was not intentional nor premeditated.[44]

The Courier-Mail reported that in 2019–2020 Stoker had been using a second and pseudonym social media account on her official Facebook site to defend and argue the Senator's political views on topics including race, family law and religious freedom. Stoker's 'Mandy Jane' profile had referred to Stoker in the third person and had changed the use of pronouns so as to appear as a different person. The Mandy Jane profile photo is that of a storybook character. Stoker's spokesman said the Mandy Jane account was her personal profile but denied she should have disclosed that information before posting on the Senator's official page.[45]

Personal life

Stoker married husband Adam in 2005 and they have three daughters.[46][3] She is a Christian and attends an Anglican church in inner city Brisbane.[26][33][32] Stoker was born in the Sydney suburb of Liverpool to Mark and Cornelia Ingrid Fell. Her father was born in Australia and her mother in Sweden.[47] She lives with her family in Auchenflower, a suburb of Brisbane.[3]

gollark: ++tel unlink apionet `#a`
gollark: ++tel link apionet `#b`
gollark: Hmm. Oh well.
gollark: That would distance people in esolangs substantially from APIONET, as nobody actually uses #b.
gollark: I see.

References
  1. Killoran, Matthew (23 March 2018). "Amanda Stoker's journey to becoming a senator". The Courier-Mail. Qld.: News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  2. McIlroy, Tom (26 March 2018). "Meet senator Amanda Stoker, 35, a lawyer from Bundaberg who idolises Thatcher". Australian Financial Review. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020.
  3. Queensland Parliament (21 March 2018). "Record Of Proceedings; First Session Of The Fifty-sixth Parliament; Wednesday, 21 March 2018" (PDF). Hansard. pp. 593(44)–600(51). Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 April 2020.
  4. "Senator Amanda Stoker". Parliament of Australia. Canberra. 1 April 2019. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  5. "Amanda Stoker*". Level Twenty Seven Chambers. Brisbane. 1 April 2018. Archived from the original on 9 March 2020.
  6. Hutchens, Gareth; AAP (11 March 2018). "Lawyer Amanda Stoker chosen to replace George Brandis in Senate". The Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  7. "WLAQ History". The Women Lawyers Association of Qld. Brisbane. 1 April 2019. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  8. Stoker, Amanda Jane (19 June 2019). "Statement Of Registrable Interests - Form A - Senators" (PDF). Parliament of Australia. Canberra. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 July 2020.
  9. Caldwell, Felicity (19 July 2018). "'Sorry kids, sorry grandkids': Former Queensland under treasurer slams debt". Brisbane Times. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020.
  10. School of Law (19 June 2020). "The Australian Institute for Progress Ltd v The Electoral Commission of Queensland & Ors [2020] QSC 54". The University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020.
  11. McHugh, Babs (17 February 2015). "Anti-mining activists say they are within their rights to claim charity status". ABC Rural. Australia. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020.
  12. Readfearn, Graham (22 November 2017). "The climate science denial promoters behind Queensland's energy scare election headlines". RenewEconomy. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020.
  13. Glenza, Jessica; Kelly, Sharon; Adolphe, Juweek (23 January 2020). "Free-market groups and the tobacco industry". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020.
  14. Australian Institute for Progress (22 September 2016). ""World Health Organization Uses Exclusion to Silence Debate" Says Former Australian Minister". prnewswire.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020.
  15. Various (March 2018). "5 Years of Failure: Global Coalition Letter Against Plain Packaging" (PDF). propertyrightsalliance.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2018.
  16. Goodenough, Cheryl (20 March 2018). "Senate replacement Amanda Stoker has connection to the Redlands". Redland City Bulletin. Australian Community Media. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018.
  17. Hoffman, Bill (5 May 2019). "Un-elected Senator withdraws from Coast talk". Sunshine Coast Daily. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2020. Lay summary – As republished.
  18. Layt, Stuart (11 March 2018). "Stoker to take Brandis's Queensland senate seat". Brisbane Times. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  19. Gauja, Anika; Buckley, Fiona; Curtin, Jennifer (20 May 2018). "The Liberals have a serious women problem – and it's time they took action to change it". The Conversation Australia. The Conversation Media Group Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018.
  20. Sarah, Elks (4 March 2018). "LNP under pressure to pick a woman to replace Brandis". The Australian. News Corp. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  21. Gellie, Campbell; Kippen, Troy (21 February 2018). "Deputy Mayor looking for seat in capital". Daily Mercury. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020.
  22. Caldwell, Felicity (21 March 2018). "Amanda Stoker's election as Queensland senator is now official". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  23. AAP (22 March 2018). "Brandis' replacement joins Senate". SBS News. Australia. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018.
  24. Lane, Bernard (28 January 2020). "MP Amanda Stoker taking fight to transgender activists". The Australian. News Corp. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020.
  25. Tillett, Andrew (23 August 2019). "The rise of the next generation of factional leaders". Australian Financial Review. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020.
  26. Khalik, Jennine (12 July 2019). "Who is Amanda Stoker, rising star of the religious right?". Crikey. Private Media Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  27. Napier-Raman, Kishor (12 March 2020). "Christchurch one year on: Australia's missed opportunity to fight the far right". Crikey. Private Media Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020.
  28. Karp, Paul (3 March 2020). "Labor's Murray Watt has asked the Australian Human Rights Commission about rightwing extremism, after Asio's evidence it is on the rise - 00:49". The Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020.
  29. Morton, Rick (16 October 2018). "Katter senator Fraser Anning spoke at neo-Nazi rally". The Australian. News Corp. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020.
  30. Andrews, Tim (28 June 2020). "Coming soon: the ALS Friedman Conference". The Spectator Australia. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020.
  31. Bolt, Andrew (29 April 2019). "Freedom Conference - Book While It's Allowed". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020.
  32. Bowling, Mark (5 July 2018). "Senator Amanda Stoker, Queensland's voice for life". The Catholic Leader. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020.
  33. "Meet Senator Amanda Stoker: Faith and Politics". trybooking.com. 1 August 2018. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020.
  34. OIP Staff (4 December 2018). "Senator Stoker says religious protections needed to stop gay student clubs". OUTInPerth. Speirins Media Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020.
  35. Coulter, Ellen (13 October 2018). "Morrison to change Sex Discrimination Act to protect gay students from expulsion". ABC News Australia. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020.
  36. Ireland, Judith (13 February 2020). "'Risky', 'unrealistic': MPs hit back at call to ditch religious discrimination bill". The Age. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020.
  37. Burke MP, Tony; Dreyfus MP, Mark (25 June 2018). "Media Release - Liberal Party Continues Race Hate Rhetoric" (PDF). ParlInfo. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 June 2020.
  38. Kenny, Chris (15 June 2020). "Qld Opposition leader using gender as a defence was a 'weak thing to do': Amanda Stoker". Sky News Australia. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Lay summary – As republished.
  39. "Ensuring Integrity Bill" (PDF). Maritime Workers Journal. Maritime Union of Australia. Summer 2019: 23. November 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 July 2020.
  40. Remeikis, Amy (2 October 2019). "Queensland LNP breaks with federal branch to oppose nuclear power". The Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 3 October 2019.
  41. Harris, Rob; Hunter, Fergus (25 June 2020). "Greg Hunt faces backbench revolt over vaping import ban". Brisbane Times. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020.
  42. Karp, Paul (15 June 2020). "Liberal senator's 'knee on the throat' comment about Queensland premier 'abhorrent', Labor says". The Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020.
  43. Maiden, Samantha (15 June 2020). "'Front of mind': Liberal Senator's excuse after 'vile' clip". News.Com.Au. News Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020.
  44. Stayner, Tom (16 June 2020). "Liberal senator Amanda Stoker apologises for calling Queensland premier 'knee on the throat' of tourism'". SBS News. Australia. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020.
  45. Wray, Michael (27 June 2020). "LNP Senator Amanda Stoker admits to using pseudonym on social media". The Courier-Mail. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020.
  46. "About Amanda". amandastoker.com.au. 12 March 2019. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019.
  47. Stoker, Amanda Jane (9 April 2018). "Statement in relation to citizenship - 45th Parliament" (PDF). Parliament of Australia. Canberra. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 June 2020.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
George Brandis		 Senator for Queensland
2018–present		 Incumbent
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.