Barbara Perry (politician)
{{Short description|Australian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Barbara Perry
| honorific-suffix =
| image = File:The Hon. Barbara Mazzel PERRY.jpg
| assembly = New South Wales Legislative
| constituency_AM = Auburn
| term_start = 8 September 2001
| term_end = 6 March 2015
| predecessor = Peter Nagle
| successor = Luke Foley
| birth_name = Barbara Mazzel Anne Abood
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1964|4|6}}
| birth_place = Auburn, New South Wales, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Australian Labor Party
| relations =
| spouse = Michael Perry
| children = 5
| residence =
| nationality = Australian
| alma_mater = University of Sydney
| occupation = Lawyer
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Barbara Mazzel Anne Perry (born 6 April 1964{{cn|date=May 2023}}) is an Australian former politician, representing Auburn for the Labor Party in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2015. Perry was the first woman of Lebanese origin to be elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.{{cn|date=May 2023}}
Early years and background
One of five children, Perry is the daughter of Lebanese immigrants, Ralph and Susan Abood, and is married to Michael Perry with five sons. She was educated by the Sisters of Charity and the Marist Brothers before graduating in law from the University of Sydney, commencing work with the Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales in 1990.{{cite web
| title =Perry, Barbara Mazzel Anne
| publisher =Australian Women
| url =http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE1714b.htm
| access-date = 2007-02-24 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070211013349/http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE1714b.htm| archive-date= 11 February 2007 | url-status= live}}
Political career
Perry was elected in a by-election on 8 September 2001 following the resignation of Labor Member Peter Nagle and re-elected at the 2003, 2007 and 2011 state elections.{{cite NSW Parliament |name=The Hon. Barbara Mazzel Perry (1964– ) |id=2159 |former=Yes |accessdate=22 September 2019}}
Following the 2007 state election, Perry was appointed Minister for Juvenile Justice, Minister for Western Sydney and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship in the second Iemma ministry, serving until December 2008. In December 2009, Perry was appointed to the Keneally ministry as Minister for Local Government and Minister Assisting the Minister for Mental Health, taking on the additional responsibilities of Minister for Juvenile Justice in June 2010.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/another-keneally-minister-quits-20100604-ximy.html|title=Another Keneally minister quits |last=Robins|first=Brian|date=4 June 2010|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=3 August 2011}} Perry retained these portfolios until the 2011 state election when Labor was defeated at the polls. Subsequently, Perry was appointed Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services, Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Shadow Minister for Ageing and Disability Services.
On 7 January 2015, after a bitter pre-selection contest,{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/auburn-deal-takes-shape-as-luke-foley-firms-as-alp-leadership-ballot-favourite-20141226-12dtls.html|title=Auburn deal takes shape as Luke Foley firms as ALP leadership ballot favourite|author=Nicholls, Sean|date=27 December 2014|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=8 January 2015}} Perry announced that she would not seek Labor endorsement for the 2015 state election. She stood down in order to make way for newly elected leader Luke Foley to have a clear run for her seat. Foley needed to contest a Legislative Assembly seat as he was a member of the Legislative Council.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/auburn-mp-barbara-perry-retires-from-labor-seat-to-make-way-for-future-premier-luke-foley/story-e6frg6n6-1227177076425?nk=dc69baeb2440f71afc5a6b3be68d87fa|title=Auburn MP Barbara Perry retires from Labor seat to make way for 'future premier' Luke Foley|author=Wood, Alicia|work=The Australian|date=7 January 2015|accessdate=8 January 2015}}{{cite news|title=NSW Labor MP Barbara Perry withdraws from Auburn contest to make way for Opposition Leader Luke Foley|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-07/nsw-labor-mp-barbara-perry-withdraws-from-auburn-contest/6004310|accessdate=7 January 2015|work=ABC News|location=Australia|date=7 January 2015}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|au-nsw-la}}
{{s-bef|before=Peter Nagle}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for Auburn|years=2001{{ndash}}2015}}
{{s-aft|after=Luke Foley}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Paul Lynch}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Local Government |years=2008{{ndash}}2011}}
{{s-aft|after=Don Page}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perry, Barbara}}
Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales
Category:Australian people of Lebanese descent
Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Category:Politicians from Sydney
Category:21st-century Australian politicians
Category:Women members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly