Sharryn Jackson

Sharryn Maree Jackson (born 12 February 1962), Australian politician, was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives. She served one term from 2001 representing the Division of Hasluck before losing the seat at the 2004 federal election. She regained the seat at the 2007 federal election and was then defeated at the 2010 federal election.

Sharryn Jackson
Member of the Australian Parliament for Hasluck
In office 10 November 2001 – 9 October 2004
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Stuart Henry
In office 24 November 2007 – 21 August 2010
Preceded by	Stuart Henry
Succeeded by	Ken Wyatt
Personal details
Born	(1962-02-12) 12 February 1962 Perth, Western Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Alma mater	University of Western Australia
Occupation	Unionist

Jackson was an elected member of the National Executive of the Labor Party.

Personal life

Jackson was born in Perth, Western Australia, to parents from Bayswater and Guildford.[1] During her early childhood, she travelled throughout rural Western Australia with her parents and three sisters- Julie, Karina, and Tania. She has three nephews Adam, Thomas, and Michael, as well as four nieces Lauren, Jess, Emily, and Amy.[2] In her teenage years, she lived at the Swanleigh Residential College in Middle Swan, and attended Lockridge Senior High School.[2] She went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English, at the University of Western Australia.[2]

In 1999, Jackson was included on the honour roll celebrating the centenary of women's suffrage in Western Australia.[3]

Jackson is married and, together with her husband John, they live in Gooseberry Hill.[2] She has two stepchildren.[3]

Career

After graduating from university, she was the women's officer of the Western Australian Trades and Labor Council.[2] For the 15 years prior to her entry into politics, she was, firstly, the Industrial Officer, and later the Assistant State Secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers' Union.

Political career

After being overlooked by the Richard Court-led State Coalition Government for a posting as Commissioner of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission, in mid-2000 Jackson resolved to run for Federal Parliament.[1]

After the electoral redistribution which created the Division of Hasluck for the 2001 Australian Federal election, the electorate was notionally held by Labor with a margin of 2.55 per cent.[3] In the election, Jackson polled a lower primary vote than Liberal contender Bethwyn Chan,[4] but won the seat after a distribution of minor party preferences gave her a margin of 1.8 per cent.[5]

In 2004, Jackson was vocal in her criticism of Deckers Outdoor Corporation's campaign to enforce trademarks on the generic term "ugg boot", and helped to establish a successful fighting fund to challenge their trademarks.[6] During her first term in office Jackson also campaigned for the establishment of a university in the eastern suburbs of Perth, an area that was not served by university.[7]

At the 2004 Federal election, Jackson faced a challenge from first-time election candidate Stuart Henry. During the election campaign, Henry's electoral team sent campaign materials to households in the electorate in which Henry was described as "Member for Hasluck", sparking complaints to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) by the WA Labor Party.[8] Jackson said it was part of a "dirty tricks" campaign by Henry, even though the AEC concluded that the letters were not directly misleading.[7] Jackson was defeated by Henry.

Post political career

Following her defeat in the 2004 election, Jackson worked as Chief of Staff for State MP Bob Kucera, who was the Minister for Sport and Recreation.[9]

Jackson was appointed by Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter as Director of the "Community Cabinet and Liaison Unit", part of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, in May 2005.[10] Her employment in this role drew criticism, since the job was not advertised and the role was already being filled by other public servants.[10] It was also a controversial appointment because she kept her A$120,000 salary as a Ministerial Chief of Staff[11] and the unit's primary role was as a "propaganda machine" creating promotional material for Government members but not for other members.[9][11]

She was elected as Western Australian State President of the Australian Labor Party in November 2005, defeating Sarah Burke in a tight contest.[12] She took over this position from Michelle Roberts, a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. Jackson, a member of Labor's Socialist Left faction,[13] signaled that she intended to bridge the widening divisions between the different factions within the State Labor Party.[14] Jackson was re-elected State President in June 2006, again defeating Burke.[15]

After initially considering running for the Division of Brand in the forthcoming 2007 Federal election to replace outgoing member Kim Beazley,[16] Jackson announced in January 2007 that she intended to once again seek Labor Party endorsement for the seat of Hasluck.[17] She also signalled her intention to resign as State President of Labor if she gained endorsement.[17] Silvia Barzotto, from Labor's "New Right" faction also nominated,[18] and Jackson was successful.[19] Jackson resigned from her position within the Department of Premier and Cabinet in March 2007,[10][20] and Sally Talbot succeeded Jackson as State Labor President in June 2007.[21]

Re-election into federal parliament

Jackson was a successful candidate at the 2007 federal election, regaining her former seat of Hasluck. Jackson was probably aided in her campaign by voter discontent relating to a Government decision to allow the construction of a brick works in the electorate, against the wishes of the sitting member, Stuart Henry.[22] Mirroring an election promise made by John Howard when he was visiting the electorate the previous week, Jackson announced that Labor would undertake major roads funding in Hasluck, including the construction of a grade-separated interchange at Great Eastern Highway and Roe Highway, to cost $48 million.[23] As of 2010, Jackson had not met this election promise.

At the 2010 federal election it took several days to determine an outcome in the seat of Hasluck as the result was very close.[24] Ken Wyatt claimed victory in the seat on 29 August, with over 900 votes ahead on a two-party preferred basis.[25]

References

1. Pryer, Wendy (6 November 2001). "Candidate looks to follow a notable pioneer for women". The West Australian.
2. "Sharryn Jackson - Candidate for Hasluck". Australian Labor Party. Archived from the original on 6 November 2004. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
3. "The voter's choice - Election 2001". The Australian. 1 November 2001. p. 8.
4. Martin, Roger (8 September 2004). "Surviving on beginner's luck - Election 2004". The Australian. p. 8. At the last election Ms Jackson polled lower than her Liberal opponent, but minor party preferences enabled her to sneak over the line.
5. "Young home owners could be the key". The Sunday Times. 5 September 2004. p. 1. This seat is held by Labor's Sharryn Jackson but with a 1.8 per cent margin it is there for the taking.
6. "Ugg fund aims to give Deckers the boot". ABC News. Australia. 20 March 2004.
7. Pryer, Wendy (8 October 2004). "Investigation lets Libs off Hasluck hook". The West Australian. p. 13.
8. Videnieks, Monica (1 October 2004). "Liberal letter suggests Hasluck candidate is MP". The West Australian. p. 12.
9. Strutt, Jessica (20 May 2006). "Labor chief gets $100,000 to run 'propaganda' unit". The West Australian. p. 4. WA taxpayers are paying ALP State president Sharryn Jackson $100,000 a year to head up a Government unit which senior Labor figures admit pumps out political propaganda for the party.
10. Strutt, Jessica (2 May 2007). "ALP chief quits spin job in new bid for seat". The West Australian. p. 6.
11. Strutt, Jessica (26 May 2006). "Carpenter appointed spin chief". The West Australian. p. 7. Alan Carpenter personally parachuted ALP State president Sharryn Jackson into her $120,000-a-year role running a State Government propaganda unit without advertising the position and when there were already senior public servants doing the job.
12. "WA: "Baby Burke" fails in bid to become WA Labor president". Australian Associated Press. 27 November 2005.
13. Milne, Glenn (19 September 2009). "Rudd's 'f***ing' rant at factions". The Sunday Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
14. Taylor, Robert (28 November 2005). "Right on rise as Burke comes close". The West Australian. p. 4.
15. "Burke loses Labor tussle". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. 26 June 2006. p. 14. Ms Jackson retained her position as branch president winning 172 votes to Ms Burke's 135.
16. Maiden, Samantha; Gosch, Elizabeth (18 January 2007). "Gray may replace Beazley". The Australian. p. 2.
17. "WA: State ALP President seeks endorsement for Hasluck". Australian Associated Press. 18 January 2007.
18. O'Brien, Amanda (9 February 2007). "Labor turns up heat on marginals". The Australian. p. 8.
19. "Key ALP players endorsed". The West Australian. 20 February 2007. p. 4.
20. Strutt, Jessica (2 May 2007). "ALP chief quits spin job in new bid for seat". The West Australian. p. 6. A Government spokesman said Ms Jackson resigned as director in March and was under no obligation to do so to contest Hasluck.
21. "MLC elected Party President Sally Talbot, WA ALP President". ABC News. Australia. 4 June 2007.
22. Gosch, Elizabeth (26 October 2007). "Roads cash not enough to calm anger over brickworks". The Australian. p. 8. Although Mr Henry led numerous community protests against the brickworks, he could not convince his Canberra colleagues to reject the proposal.
23. "Labor promises highway cash". Hills Gazette. 2 November 2007. p. 5. HASLUCK Labor candidate Sharryn Jackson has announced a Federal Labor government would spend $48 million on upgrading the intersection of Roe Highway and Great Eastern Highway.
24. "Hasluck holds key to Abbott's hopes". ABC News. Australia. 23 August 2010. Among those still undecided is Hasluck, where Liberal candidate Ken Wyatt has a wafer-thin 0.6 per cent lead over Labor incumbent Sharryn Jackson.
25. "Wyatt secures Hasluck for Liberals". ABC News. Australia. 26 August 2010. Liberal candidate Ken Wyatt will now become the first Indigenous person to take a seat in the House of Representatives after winning Hasluck from Labor's Sharryn Jackson.

Parliament of Australia
New division	Member for Hasluck 2001–2004	Succeeded by Stuart Henry
Preceded by Stuart Henry	Member for Hasluck 2007–2010	Succeeded by Ken Wyatt