Jenny Gardiner

Jennifer Ann Gardiner (born 16 October 1950) is an Australian politician and former The Nationals member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1991 to 2015.

The Honourable Jenny Gardiner
Member of Legislative Council of New South Wales
In office 25 May 1991 – 6 March 2015
Deputy Leader of the Nationals in the Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 31 March 2003
Personal details
Born	Jennifer Ann Gardiner (1950-10-16) 16 October 1950 Penola, South Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	The Nationals
Website	jennygardiner.com

Early years

Gardiner was born in Penola, South Australia. She attended primary school in Victoria. Her secondary education was undertaken in Victoria and then in New South Wales.[1]

After leaving school, she obtained a Bachelor of Business through the Mitchell College of Advanced Education in Bathurst, New South Wales, now part of Charles Sturt University.

National Party political activity

Gardiner commenced her working life as a junior clerk working in a legal office in Tamworth[2] where she played an active role in the Young Australian Country Party – NSW (YACP – NSW) – the NSW youth branch of the Party now known as the Young Nationals. Gardiner worked her way up to become State Secretary of the YACP – NSW and was elected as a delegate to the Central Council of the Australian Country Party – NSW in the mid-1970s.[3] Gardiner moved to Sydney and began work at the New South Wales headquarters of the then Australian Country Party as a research officer working under the leadership of Colonel Bill Ford OBE, general secretary and then as Executive Officer to Charles Blunt, general secretary. She was eventually to become the General Secretary of the NSW Branch of the National Party of Australia between 1984 and 1991 and the first woman to hold that position.[4]

During her term as General Secretary of the NSW National Party, at the request of the National Party Federal Leader, Doug Anthony, Gardiner undertook an analysis of the implications of a Hawke Labor Government proposal in 1984 to increase the number of Members in the Australian House of Representatives. The Opposition Coalition was formally opposed to the proposal. Gardiner's analysis indicated that the National Party could benefit from an expanded House and National Party Senators crossed the floor to vote with Labor in support of the motion.[5][6] Gardiner was also influential in persuading the Liberal Party to avoid three-cornered contests in country NSW seats.[7]

During the failed 1987 Joh for Canberra campaign to install Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen as Prime Minister, in a highly unusual move for a paid party official, Gardiner issued a media release critical of the Queensland National Party.[8] Gardiner was general secretary when the NSW National Party achieved its most successful post-WWII outcome at the NSW general elections held on 19 March 1988 when the party won 20 out of 26 seats contested in the Legislative Assembly[9] that swept the Unsworth Labor Government from office.

In an unpublished manuscript, Gardiner has written about the history of the NSW Young Nationals.[10]

New South Wales state political career

Gardiner was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council on 25 May 1991 replacing the Honourable Judy Jakins, MLC.[11] She was re-elected to the Council in both 1999[12] and 2007[13] and had the fifth highest quota in both elections. She was number two on the Liberal/Nationals election ticket[14] and since 31 March 2003 was the Deputy Leader of The Nationals in the Legislative Council.[2]

In Parliament, she served on the following committees:

• General Purpose Standing Committee 2
• Privileges Committee
• Procedure Committee
• Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (2003–2007)
• Temporary Chair of Committees (2003–2007)
• Select Committee on Electoral and Political Party Funding (2007–2008)[2]
• Joint Select Committee Upon Gun Law Reform (1991) that drafted gun control laws[2]

On 16 February 2014 Gardiner announced she would be retiring at the 2015 election.[15]

Gardiner served on the Advisory Council for Charles Sturt University between 1991 and 1995.[16]

References

1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. "The Hon. (Jenny) Jennifer Ann Gardiner, BBus MLC". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
3. Davey, P: The Nationals: the Progressive, Country, and National Party in New South Wales 1919 – 2006, page 364. The Federation Press, 2006
4. Davey, P: op cit, page 274
5. Davey, P: op cit, page 255
6. Australian Electoral Commission: Electoral Pocket Book, pages 98–99. June 2005, historical electoral results
7. Davey, P: op cit, page 281
8. Davey, P: op cit, page 298
9. Green, Antony. "1988 election totals". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
10. Gardiner, J A: Young National Party of Australia – NSW, A Potted History, unpublished
11. Green, Antony. "Electing the Legislative Council 1978-1995" (PDF). ABC Election Archives.
12. Green, Antony (May 2000). "New South Wales Legislative Council Elections 1999" (PDF). Background Paper No 2/2000. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
13. Green, Antony. "New South Wales 2007 Election Results" (PDF). ABC Election Archive. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
14. Green, Antony; New South Wales Electoral Commission (2007). "2007 Party Group Endorsement and Result" (PDF). NSW Elections – 2007 Results. Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
15. "Politicians to battle it out for a spot in the upper house". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 February 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
16. "Past Councillors" (PDF). About Charles Sturt University. Charles Sturt University. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2010.