Cathy McGowan (politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

|honorific-prefix =

|name = Cathy McGowan

|honorific-suffix = AO

|image = Cathy McGowan House.jpg

|caption = McGowan speaking in parliament in 2018

|constituency_MP = Indi

|parliament = Australian

|term_start = 7 September 2013

|term_end = 11 April 2019

|predecessor = Sophie Mirabella

|successor = Helen Haines

|birth_name = Catherine McGowan

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1953|11|29}}

|birth_place = Albury, New South Wales, Australia

|nationality = Australian

|party = Independent

|residence = Indigo Valley, Victoria

|partner = David Wolfenden

|occupation = Politician

|profession = Agricultural consultant, farmer

|alma_mater = University of Western Sydney

|signature = Cathy McGowan signature 2016.svg

|website = [http://www.cathymcgowan.com.au cathymcgowan.com.au]

}}

Catherine McGowan AO (born 29 November 1953) is a former Australian politician who was the independent MP for the rural Victorian seat of Indi from the 2013 federal election, when she defeated Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella,{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2013/guide/indi/|title=Indi - Australia Votes - Federal Election 2013 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|website=ABC News|access-date=29 November 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/election-2013/sophie-mirabella-surrenders-seat-of-indi-after-conceding-victory-to-cathy-mcgowan/story-fn9qr68y-1226721804748|title=Mirabella concedes, Palmer hangs in|date=18 September 2013|website=Theaustralian.com.au|access-date=29 November 2017}} until her retirement before the 2019 federal election.{{cite Au Parliament |mpid=123674 |name=Ms Cathy McGowan AO, MP |access-date=2021-11-06}}

In 2004 she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia "for service to the community through raising awareness of and stimulating debate about issues affecting women in regional, rural and remote areas."{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=1056771 |date=2004-06-14 |recipient=Cathy McGowan |award=Officer of the Order of Australia |postnominal=AO |access-date=2021-11-06}} McGowan was also a recipient of the Centenary Medal in 2001.

McGowan has a master's degree in Applied Science in Agricultural and Rural Development from the University of Western Sydney.{{cite web|url=http://www.csu.edu.au/research/ilws/about/members/board/McGowan.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921044305/http://www.csu.edu.au/research/ilws/about/members/board/McGowan.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 September 2013|title=Cathy McGowan AO - Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS) - Charles Sturt University|date=21 September 2013|website=Csu.edu.au|access-date=29 November 2017}}

Politics

=Early politics and lobbyist work=

McGowan worked as a staffer for Indi's Liberal MP Ewen Cameron during the late 1970s and early 1980s.{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/election-2013/mirabella-rattled-by-the-indie-from-indi/story-fn9qr68y-1226693840917#|title=Mirabella Rattled by the Indie from Indi|website=Theaustralian.com.au|access-date=29 November 2017}} McGowan also worked as a regional councillor for the Victorian Farmers' Federation and is a former President of Australian Women in Agriculture.{{Cite web|url=http://awia.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=218:20th-birthday-celebrations&catid=72:news&Itemid=455|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411000953/http://awia.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=218:20th-birthday-celebrations&catid=72:news&Itemid=455|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 April 2013|title=20th Birthday Celebrations|date=11 April 2013}}{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2013/09/23/seat-of-the-week-indi/ |title=Seat of the week: Indi | the Poll Bludger |access-date=23 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926050729/http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2013/09/23/seat-of-the-week-indi |archive-date=26 September 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

=Member for Indi=

McGowan ran as an independent for the Division of Indi at the 2013 Australian federal election, against the Liberal incumbent Sophie Mirabella.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/battle-boost-for-mirabella-as-she-struggles-to-hold-seat-20130906-2t8u1.html|title=Battle 'boost' for Mirabella as she struggles to hold seat|first=Natalie|last=Kotsios|date=6 September 2013|access-date=29 November 2017|newspaper=The Age}} The seat had long been believed to be a conservative stronghold; it had been held by a conservative party for all but nine years since Federation, and without interruption since 1931. However, a number of area residents felt Mirabella had taken them for granted.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence}} They formed a grassroots organisation,{{Citation needed|date=May 2018|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence}} Voices for Indi, that eventually decided to draft an independent to run against Mirabella. After numerous prominent locals turned down the offer,{{Citation needed|date=May 2018|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence}} McGowan finally accepted.Cassidy, Barrie. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-13/cassidy-indi/4955258 The story of how Cathy McGowan stormed Indi]. ABC News, 2013-09-13. After eleven days of counting, on 18 September, Mirabella conceded defeat and McGowan claimed victory, winning the seat with a final margin of 431 votes, a two-candidate preferred vote of 50.25 percent.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/18/sophie-mirabella-concedes-defeat-indi|title=Sophie Mirabella concedes in Indi|first=Oliver|last=Milman|date=18 September 2013|access-date=29 November 2017|website=Theguardian.com}}{{Cite web |url=http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-17496-218.htm |title=House of Representatives Division First Preferences |access-date=22 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922222431/http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-17496-218.htm |archive-date=22 September 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} Mirabella was the only Liberal incumbent to lose her seat at the 2013 election. The ABC's Barrie Cassidy described McGowan's candidacy as "a warning to the occupants of safe seats everywhere on both sides of politics."

It was claimed in October 2014 that 20 McGowan supporters who formerly lived in Indi changed their electoral roll details back to Indi.{{cite web|url=http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/2598641/aec-says-new-poll-not-possible/|title=AEC says new poll not possible|first=NATALIE|last=KOTSIOS|date=2 October 2014|website=Bordermail.com.au|access-date=29 November 2017}} The Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions pursued charges against two young voters. Their defence lawyers successfully argued the charges were "scurrilous" and that they had followed the Australian Electoral Commission's published advice in enrolling at their home address; on 5 April 2016 a Melbourne Magistrate dismissed all charges against the two voters and ordered the Crown to pay their court costs.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-05/electoral-fraud-charges-dropped-against-mcgowan-supporters/7299832|title=Electoral fraud charges dropped against two independent MP Cathy McGowan supporters|last=Younger|first=Emma|date=April 5, 2016|website=abc.net.au|access-date=June 9, 2016}}{{Cite news|url=http://wangarattachronicle.com.au/2016/04/06/charges-struck-out-against-indi-voters/|title=Charges struck out against Indi voters|last=Kelly|first=Steve|date=6 April 2016|website=Wangarattachronicle.com.au|access-date=29 November 2017}}

Mirabella gained Liberal party preselection in late June 2015 to run for Indi in the 2016 federal election,{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-28/sophie-mirabella-wins-liberal-pre-selection-for-indi/6578644|title=Sophie Mirabella wins Liberal preselection for her former seat of Indi|date=28 June 2015|website=Abc.net.au|access-date=29 November 2017}} However, McGowan retained Indi against Mirabella with an increased 54.8% (+4.6) two-candidate-preferred vote. Mirabella conceded to McGowan on 3 July 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/4006550/sophie-admits-its-over-and-out/|title=Sophie admits it's over and out|last=JOHNSTON|first=DAVID|date=2016-07-03|access-date=2016-07-03}} Notably, the Liberal two-party-preferred vote in a "traditional" two-party contest against Labor was reduced to 54.4% (–4.7) against Labor's 45.6% (+4.7), a marginal two-party result not seen since the 1929 election.

McGowan gave the Coalition government confidence and supply support in the event of a hung parliament, but ruled out becoming Speaker of the House to boost the Coalition's majority in the house.{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016/election-results-bill-shorten-predicts-second-poll-as-cathy-mcgowan-offers-coaltion-support-20160708-gq1f9m.html |title=Bill Shorten predicts second poll as Cathy McGowan offers Coaltion{{sic|nolink=y}} support |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 July 2016 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-10/election-2016-malcolm-turnbull-claims-election-victory/7584400 |title=Malcolm Turnbull claims victory after Bill Shorten concedes defeat |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=10 July 2016 }}{{Cite web |last=Koziol |first=Michael |date=2017-12-05 |title=Cathy McGowan rules out becoming Speaker to bolster Turnbull government's numbers |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/cathy-mcgowan-rules-out-becoming-speaker-to-bolster-turnbull-governments-numbers-20171205-gzyqzd.html |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

In the lead-up to the 2016 Federal election, McGowan was present at a function at a Benalla nursing home along with Sophie Mirabella. Both were candidates for the Division of Indi. It was subsequently reported on 20 April 2016 by journalist Libby Price in the Benalla Ensign that Mirabella had pushed McGowan at this meeting.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/4255655/push-claim-was-wrong/|title=Push claim was wrong|last=Morgan|first=Shana|date=2016-10-27|work=The Border Mail|access-date=2018-05-05|language=en}} McGowan was interviewed soon after the event and refused to confirm or deny the allegation. She was interviewed by The Border Mail and refused on four occasions to answer as to whether she had been pushed or not.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/5376106/we-say-cathy-wasnt-her-best-self-in-sophies-saga/|title=WE SAY: Cathy wasn't her 'best self' in Sophie's saga|last=Mardling|first=Xavier|date=2018-05-02|work=The Border Mail|access-date=2018-05-05|language=en}} The Benalla Ensign issued an apology on 26 October 2016 and stated that Mirabella did not push McGowan. Mirabella launched defamation proceedings against the Benalla Ensign and its editor Libby Price. The case was heard in the Victorian County Court in Wangaratta in early May 2018. McGowan was called as a witness in the case and gave evidence that Mirabella did not push her.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/5374397/cathy-tells-court-of-very-embarrassing-situation-with-sophie/|title=Cathy tells court of 'very embarrassing situation' with Sophie|last=Morgan|first=Shana|date=2018-05-01|work=The Border Mail|access-date=2018-05-05|language=en}} The court found in favour of Mirabella that she had been defamed by the Benalla Ensign and its editor Libby Price.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/5377959/mirabella-defamed-damages-pending/|title=Mirabella defamed, damages pending|date=2018-05-02|work=The Border Mail|access-date=2018-05-05|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-02/sophie-mirabella-wins-defamation-case-against-benalla-newspaper/9720482|title=Sophie Mirabella wins defamation case against Benalla newspaper|date=2018-05-02|work=ABC News|access-date=2018-05-05|language=en-AU}}

In November 2018, McGowan introduced a bill to establish a Federal Anti Corruption Body.{{Cite web |last=corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House |first=Canberra |title=National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_LEGislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6217 |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=www.aph.gov.au |language=en-AU}}{{Cite news |date=2018-11-26 |title=Crossbencher Cathy McGowan floats federal ICAC on Government's first day without majority |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-26/national-anti-corruption-commission/10554466 |access-date=2024-10-05 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} In December 2018, she proposed a statutory code of conduct for federal politicians and the creation of an Independent Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.{{Cite news |date=2018-02-08 |title=MPs should be banned from having sex with staff, McGowan says |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-08/mps-should-be-banned-having-sex-with-staff-cathy-mcgowan-says/9409220 |access-date=2024-10-05 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}

On 14 January 2019 McGowan announced she would not be recontesting Indi at the next election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-14/cathy-mcgowan-announces-retirement-from-federal-politics/10712832|title='It's time to pass on the baton': Cathy McGowan to retire from federal politics|first=Joseph|last=Dunstan|date=14 January 2019|website=ABC News}} On 18 May 2019, her preferred independent candidate, Helen Haines, claimed victory in the federal election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6131829/helen-haines-makes-history-as-she-claims-the-seat-of-indi/|title=Helen Haines makes history as she claims the seat of Indi|first=Sophie|last=Boyd|date=18 May 2019|website=The Canberra Times}}

References

External links

[http://www.cathymcgowan.com.au/ CathyMcGowan.com.au official site]
[https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/indi/cathy_mcgowan Cathy McGowan they vote for YOU]
{{Australian Women and Leadership|WLE0720b|McGowan, Catherine (Cathy)}}

{{s-bef

| before = Sophie Mirabella

}}

{{s-ttl

| title = Member for Indi

| years = 2013–2019

}}

Category:1953 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian consultants

Category:Australian schoolteachers

Category:Independent members of the Parliament of Australia