Gabrielle Williams

{{About|the Australian politician|the Australian author|Gabrielle Williams (author)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Gabrielle Williams

| honorific-suffix = MP

| image = Gabrielle Williams MP Official Headshot.jpg

| office = Minister for Consumer Affairs

| termstart = 2 October 2023

| termend = 19 December 2024

| predecessor = Danny Pearson

| successor = Nick Staikos

| premier = Jacinta Allan

| office1 = Minister for Public and Active Transport

| termstart1 = 2 October 2023

| premier1 = Jacinta Allan

| predecessor1 = Ben Carroll (as Minister for Public Transport)

| office2 = Minister for Government Services

| termstart2 = 2 October 2023

| termend2 = 19 December 2024

| premier2 = Jacinta Allan

| predecessor2 = Danny Pearson

| successor2 = Natalie Hutchins

| office3 = Minister for Mental Health

| premier3 = Daniel Andrews

| term_start3 = 27 June 2022

| term_end3 = 2 October 2023

| predecessor3 = James Merlino

| successor3 = Ingrid Stitt

| office4 = Minister for Treaty and First Peoples
{{small|(Minister for Aboriginal Affairs before 27 June 2022)}}

| premier4 = Daniel Andrews

| term_start4 = 23 March 2020

| term_end4 = 2 October 2023

| predecessor4 = Gavin Jennings (as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs)

| successor4 = Natalie Hutchins

| office6 = Minister for Women

| term_start6 = 29 November 2018

| term_end6 = 27 June 2022

| premier6 = Daniel Andrews

| predecessor6 = Natalie Hutchins

| successor6 = Natalie Hutchins

| office7 = Minister for the Prevention
of Family Violence

| term_start7 = 29 November 2018

| term_end7 = 27 June 2022

| premier7 = Daniel Andrews

| predecessor7 = Natalie Hutchins

| successor7 = Ros Spence

| office8 = Minister for Youth

| premier8 = Daniel Andrews

| term_start8 = 29 November 2018

| term_end8 = 23 March 2020

| successor8 = Ros Spence

| office9 = Minister for Ambulance Services

| term_start9 = 6 December 2022

| term_end9 = 2 October 2023

| predecessor9 = Mary-Anne Thomas

| successor9 = Mary-Anne Thomas

| office10 = Member of the
Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Dandenong

| predecessor10 =

| term_start10 = 29 November 2014

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1982|10|27}}

| death_date =

| death_place =

| restingplace =

| restingplacecoordinates =

| birthname =

| nationality =

| party = Labor

| spouse =

| relations =

| children = 1

| alma_mater = Monash University

| occupation =

| committees =

| religion =

| profession = Lawyer

| website = {{URL|https://www.gabriellewilliams.com.au/}}

}}

Gabrielle Leigh Williams (born 27 October 1982) is an Australian politician. She has been a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since November 2014, representing the electorate of Dandenong.{{Cite web |title=Dandenong Results |url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/people-in-parliament/members-search/list-all-members/details/22/15 |access-date=6 December 2014 |website=ABC News}}

Background and early career

Williams holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University.{{Cite web|url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/vic-election-2014/guide/dand/|title = The Hon Gabrielle Williams|access-date = 14 January 2021|website = Parliament of Victoria| date=28 November 2014 }}

Williams is the youngest of four girls. Her father worked as an electronics technician and for most of her life, her parents ran a small business repairing household electrical goods.{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Parliament of Victoria |url=https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/ |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=new.parliament.vic.gov.au |language=en}} She attended Emmaus College and graduated in 2000 before attaining a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University, with Honours.

Williams worked as a Ministerial Adviser to Minister for Energy and Community Development, Peter Batchelor and later, Minister for Community Development, Lily D'Ambrosio. She also worked as an Electorate Officer for Federal Member for Bruce, Alan Griffin. After completing her university studies Williams worked as solicitor at Baker McKenzie. While working as a solicitor, Gabrielle became the director of not-for-profit disability health organisation, Disability Sport and Recreation. Most recently before becoming an MP, Gabrielle worked as a Project Manager in the Office of the Vice Chancellor at The University of Melbourne.

Political career

Williams ran for the seat of Dandenong at the 2014 Victorian State Election, successfully retaining the seat after longstanding local MP John Pandazopoulos retired. In December 2014, Williams was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Carers and Volunteers. In July 2016, she became the Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Employment and Volunteers. In November 2016, following a further reshuffle, Williams was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Parliamentary Secretary for Carers and Volunteers.{{Cite web |title=Gabrielle Williams {{!}} Parliament of Victoria |url=https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/gabrielle-williams/ |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=new.parliament.vic.gov.au |language=en}}

Upon the return of the Andrews Labor Government at the 2018 Victorian State Election, Williams entered the Ministry as the Minister for Women, Minister for Youth and the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence. Following the retirement of Gavin Jennings in March 2020, Williams was additionally appointed as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs but relinquished her role as Minister for Youth. In June 2022, Williams was appointed as Minister for Mental Health and Minister for Treaty and First Peoples. Ambulance Services was also added to her Ministerial portfolio in December 2022.

With the resignation of Andrews as premier on 26 September 2023 and the subsequent cabinet reshuffle, Williams was appointed the Minister for Public and Active Transport, the Minister for Consumer Affairs, and the Minister for Government Services in the Jacinta Allan Labor government.{{cite web |title=New Cabinet To Keep Delivering For Victorians |url=https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-cabinet-keep-delivering-victorians |publisher=State Government of Victoria |access-date=2024-03-26}}

Williams is a member of the Australian Republic Movement and has voiced her support for the 'Yes' campaign in the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/WilliamsforDandenong/ |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=www.facebook.com/WilliamsforDandenong/}}

Personal life

Williams was previously married. She has one son and has been open about her IVF journey and life as a solo mother by choice. She is a joint number one ticket holder for the Melbourne Storm, a supporter of the Collingwood AFL and AFLW teams, and number one ticket holder for the Southside Flyers WNBL team.