Kate Thwaites

Kate Lynne Thwaites[1] (born 19 January 1980)[2] is an Australian politician who has been a member of the House of Representatives since the 2019 federal election. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and represents the Division of Jagajaga in Victoria.

Kate Thwaites MP
Member of the Australian Parliament for Jagajaga
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 May 2019
Preceded by	Jenny Macklin
Personal details
Born	(1980-01-19) 19 January 1980 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Political party	Labor
Alma mater	RMIT University
Occupation	Reporter

Thwaites grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Rosanna.[3] Prior to entering politics, she was a television and radio news reporter with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). She later worked as a senior adviser to Labor MP Jenny Macklin and as communications director at the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.[4][5]

In July 2018, Thwaites won Labor preselection for the Division of Jagajaga, following Macklin's retirement. According to The Guardian, her victory was "was almost a direct result of [Josh] Burns' win in Macnamara, with the Labor left concerned about its female representation".[6] She retained Jagajaga for the ALP at the 2019 federal election with a small positive swing.[4]

References

1. "Qualification checklist" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
2. "Ms Kate Thwaites MP". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
3. "Kate Thwaites". Australian Labor Party. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
4. "Jagajaga". ABC News. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
5. "Jagajaga". The Poll Bludger. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
6. "Victorian Labor senator's dumping could have ramifications in Queensland". The Guardian Australia. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Jenny Macklin	Member for Jagajaga 2019–present	Incumbent