Janet Rice

Rice was born on 18 November 1960 in the Melbourne suburb of Altona.{{cite web|publisher=The Greens |title=Janet Rice |url=https://greens.org.au/vic/person/janet-rice |access-date=1 December 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231201120345/https://greens.org.au/vic/person/janet-rice |archive-date=1 December 2023}} She attended the University of Melbourne, where she studied mathematics and meteorology. It was at Melbourne University where she met her partner, Penny Whetton, another student in the meteorology department. Rice began her environmental activism whilst at university, including participating in the Franklin Dam Campaign in 1983.

Rice completed a Bachelor of Science, graduating with honours in meteorology.{{Cite news |url=http://www.northernweekly.com.au/story/279749/greens-rice-tipped-to-become-senator/ |title=Greens' Rice tipped to become senator |first=Goya |last=Dmytryshchak |website= NorthernWeekly.com.au |access-date=30 August 2013 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130830203057/http://www.northernweekly.com.au/story/279749/greens-rice-tipped-to-become-senator/ |archive-date=30 August 2013 |url-status=dead |date=5 March 2012}}

Rice began her career in September 1983 as a Nature Conservation Project Officer for the Conservation Council of Victoria now known as Environment Victoria where she was involved in policy and advocacy work on nature conservation issues for 2 years. In 1985, Rice moved to the East Gippsland Coalition as a forest campaigner. She was a leader of the campaign that resulted in the declaration of the Errinundra National Park and protection of the old growth forests of the Rodger River catchment in the Snow River National Park in 1988. Rice continued her work with the East Gippsland Coalition until 1990.{{cite Au Parliament |mpid=155410 |name=Senator Janet Rice |access-date=2021-11-06}}

In 1985–1986, Rice worked as a Water Policy Officer at the Department of Water Resources, where she authored reports on Gippsland Water Resource{{cite web|title=Gippsland Water Resource Report|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18141329?versionId=21295420|publisher=National Library of Australia|access-date=7 March 2013}} and South East Region water management strategy{{cite web|title=South East Region Water Management Strategy|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/15759398?versionId=18501913|publisher=National Library of Australia|access-date=7 March 2013}} and Environmental Aspects of Water Management Strategy for South West Victoria.

Rice worked for Bicycle Victoria from 1993 to 1997, as the inaugural Ride to Work Co-ordinator. She developed the Ride to Work Day program, which started with 615 cyclists and has grown to an estimated 60,000 participants all over Australia.{{cite web|title=Minutes|url=http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Files/171006_Ordinary_Minutes.pdf|work=17 October 2006|publisher=Maribyrnong City Council|access-date=8 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326122320/http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Files/171006_Ordinary_Minutes.pdf|archive-date=26 March 2012|url-status=dead}} From Bicycle Victoria, Rice pursued her career as a Senior Consultant at Context Pty Ltd. Rice worked with clients including the Barwon Water, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria and a range of local governments. After leaving Context, Rice began her own facilitation and consultancy practice, Janet Rice Facilitation and Community Involvement. Rice was employed by the Hume City Council as their Senior Strategic Transport Planner.

Rice was also a Member of the School Council for Footscray City Primary School becoming the President between 2002 and 2003.{{cite news|last=Crook|first=Andrew|title=Footscray City Primary School|url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/07/23/andrews-smacked-down-labor-hacks-and-got-kanis-over-the-line/?wpmp_switcher=mobile|access-date=9 March 2013|date=23 July 2012}}

Rice is a Member of the advisory board at the Centre of Governance and Management of Public Transport.{{cite web|last=Low|first=Nicholas|title=Transforming Urban Transport|url=http://www.routledge.com/cw/low-9780415529037/|publisher=Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group}}

Rice was a key element in establishing Australian Greens Victoria. She organised preliminary meetings, and helped form the green politics network just as the October 1992 Victorian state election approached. The Victorian Greens was officially launched on 7 November 1992.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

Rice started her political career when in 2003 she was elected as a councillor for the City of Maribyrnong, where she represented the Saltwater Ward. As a Councillor, Rice focused on Transport and Planning issues. She was Chair of the Metropolitan Transport Forum between 2004 and 2008.{{cite web|title=Most Liveable and Best Connected|url=http://mtf.org.au/MTF-Reports/Most-Liveable-and-Best-Connected-The-Economic-Benefits-of-In.aspx|publisher=Metropolitan Transport Forum|access-date=16 March 2013|archive-date=9 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409045014/http://mtf.org.au/MTF-Reports/Most-Liveable-and-Best-Connected-The-Economic-Benefits-of-In.aspx|url-status=dead}} Rice's publications and presentations on transport include a chapter in the book "Transit Oriented Development: Making it Happen' (Curtis, Renne and Bertolini, 2009).{{cite web|title=Transit Oriented Development: Making it Happen|url=http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754673156|publisher=Ashgate|access-date=16 March 2013|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714162551/http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754673156|url-status=dead}}

Rice was elected Mayor of Maribyrnong in 2006. During her mayoral term, she created the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group which succeeded in banning trucks from entering central Footscray.{{cite web|title=Trucks banned in Footscray|url=http://mtag.org.au/NEWS/2007/03/trucks-banned-from-footscray-center/|publisher=MTAG|access-date=9 March 2013}} Rice was also a part of the Save Footscray Pool campaign, trying to preserve the aging facility and keep the site from developers.{{cite web|title=Save Footscray Pool |url=http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/star/footscray-yarraville/33/story/12068.html |publisher=Star News Group |access-date=9 March 2013 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Rice remained in the council until 2008.{{cite news|last=Ryan |first=Brad |title=Green to quit council |url=http://maribyrnong-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/green-to-quit-council/ |access-date=7 March 2013 |newspaper=Maribyrnong Leader |date=3 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004021311/http://maribyrnong-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/green-to-quit-council/ |archive-date= 4 October 2009 }}

In 2008 and 2010, Rice worked with Greens member for the Western Metropolitan Region, Colleen Hartland, managing community campaigns across Hartland's electorate.

Rice was the lead Senate candidate for the Australian Greens Victoria for the 2013 Australian federal election{{cite tweet|number=296439970330189824|user=melbgreens |title=Our lead Senate candidate, Janet Rice. MT @janet_rice: Woo hoo. 14 September is election day! I'm so looking forward to the campaign!|date=30 January 2013 |archive-date=1 December 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231201121502/https://twitter.com/melbgreens/status/296439970330189824|access-date=9 March 2013}} and was elected on a 10.85 percent primary vote.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2013/results/senate/vic/ |title=Federal Election Senate: Victoria |website=ABC.net |access-date=10 January 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231201121211/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2013/guide/senate-vic |archive-date=1 December 2023 |url-status=live |first=Antony |last=Green |author-link=Antony Green}}

Rice took her seat in the Senate on 1 July 2014, and was sworn in on 7 July 2014.[http://janet-rice.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/new-greens-senator-cycles-through-victoria-canberra-two-week-listening-tour/ New Greens Senator cycles through Victoria to Canberra], Greens MPs, accessed 14 July 2014

Rice was successfully re-elected in the 2016 Australian federal double-dissolution election, running second on the Australian Greens Victoria ticket.[http://www.aec.gov.au/media/media-releases/2016/08-03e.htm Victorian Senators have been decided], AEC.gov.au, accessed 4 December 2016

Rice was again re-elected at the 2019 federal election, with a final Senate vote of 10.6%.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2019/results/senate |archive-date=1 December 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231201121241/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2019/results/senate|title=Senate Results|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-07-21 |first=Antony |last=Green}}

As of 2020, Rice served as the Greens' Party Room Chair and Deputy Whip, and acts as the spokesperson for the following:{{Cite web|title=Greens announce new party room lineup to push for Green New Deal and compassionate pandemic recovery|url=https://greensmps.org.au/articles/greens-announce-new-party-room-lineup|access-date=2023-02-06|website=greensmps.org.au|language=en}}

• Foreign Affairs
• Multiculturalism
• Forests
• LGBTIQ
• Transport & Infrastructure
• Science, Research & Innovation

In September 2023 Rice announced she would not re-contest her Victorian Senate position and would retire in the first half of 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8362259/greens-senator-janet-rice-to-retire/|title=Greens senator Janet Rice announces plans to retire |work=The Canberra Times|first=Natalie |last=Vikhrov |date=25 September 2023 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231002143532/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8362259/greens-senator-janet-rice-to-retire/ |archive-date=2 October 2023 |url-status=live}} Her resignation was formalised on 19 April 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=155410|title=Former Senator Janet Rice|work=aph.gov.au}} Upon retirement Steph Hodgins-May was appointed to fill Rice's Senate seat.{{cite news |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/enormous-shoes-to-fill-ex-greenpeace-boss-to-replace-retiring-greens-senator-20231130-p5eo4u.html |title='Enormous shoes to fill': Ex-Greenpeace boss to replace retiring Greens senator |date=30 November 2023 |access-date=1 December 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=1 December 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231201010328/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/enormous-shoes-to-fill-ex-greenpeace-boss-to-replace-retiring-greens-senator-20231130-p5eo4u.html |work=The Age |first=Broede |last=Carmody}}

On 29 February 2024, the Senate voted to censure Rice after she raised a placard with the words “stop the human rights abuses” while Philippine President Bongbong Marcos was addressing parliament. She was escorted out of the House accompanied by Barbara Pocock. Rice defended her action afterwards stating that it was “on behalf of every Filipino person whose human rights have been abused by the government of President Marcos and the government of former president Duterte before him”. Rice also elaborated on the recent history of human rights abuses by the government in the Philippines, including the imprisonment and killing of labor leaders, workers, environmental defenders, and human rights lawyers. Rice, along with the Human Rights Network of the Philippines, investigated these cases a few years ago when she visited the Philippines.{{cite news |last1=De Leon |first1= Dwight|title=Australian senator who protested during Marcos' speech censured by colleagues|url= https://www.rappler.com/world/asia-pacific/australian-senator-janet-rice-censured-protesting-marcos-parliamentary-speech/|accessdate=February 29, 2024 |publisher=Rappler |date=February 29, 2024}}{{cite news |last1= Cabato|first1=Luis |title=Australian senator stages 'protest' during Marcos' speech|url=https://globalnation.inquirer.net/226647/fwd-australian-senator-protest-during-marcos-speech |accessdate=February 29, 2024 |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=February 29, 2024}} Filipino senator Robin Padilla, a former convict turned controversial ally of both Duterte and Marcos, on March 4, 2024 filed a resolution in the Philippine Senate to condemn Rice and declare her persona non grata.{{cite news |last1= Bacelonia |first1= Wilnard|title=Petition seeks PH ban for Aussie senator who disrespected PBBM|url= https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1220044|accessdate=March 4, 2024 |work= Philippine News Agency|date=March 4, 2024}}

Rice lives in Footscray, Victoria with her two sons.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/gender-changes-but-a-wifes-love-stays/2007/09/08/1188783562207.html|title=Gender changes, but a wife's love stays|newspaper=The Age|date=9 September 2007 |first=William |last=Birnbauer}} Her wife was Penny Whetton, until her death on 11 September 2019.[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-17/penny-whetton-climate-scientist-and-wife-of-janet-rice-dies/11519308 Penny Whetton, wife of Senator Janet Rice, climate scientist and transgender woman, dies], ABC News Online, 17 September 2019{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Stephanie |title=I still love her, we can stay married: The Senator and her transgender wife |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/02/06/i-still-love-her-we-can-stay-married-senator-and-her-transgender-wife |publisher=SBS |access-date=20 June 2015}}

Coinciding with her wife's gender transition, Rice came out as bisexual. She is currently one of eight members in the Parliament of Australia who are openly part of the LGBTI community.

{{Reflist}}

• {{commonscat-inline}}
• [http://janet-rice.greensmps.org.au/ Janet Rice's Australian Greens MPs website]
• [http://janetrice.greens.org.au/ Janet Rice's Greens website]
• {{cite web |url = http://www.facebook.com/janet.rice.greens |title = Facebook |author = Janet Rice |website = Facebook }}
• [https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/janet_rice Summary of parliamentary voting for Senator Janet Rice on TheyVoteForYou.org.au]
• {{Australian Women and Leadership|WLE0069b|Rice, Janet Elizabeth}}

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Category:Australian Greens members of the Parliament of Australia

Category:Australian environmentalists

Category:Australian women environmentalists

Category:University of Melbourne alumni

Category:1960 births

Category:Living people

Category:Women mayors of places in Victoria (state)

Category:LGBTQ legislators in Australia

Category:Australian bisexual politicians

Category:Bisexual women politicians

Category:Politicians from Melbourne

Category:Members of the Australian Senate

Category:Members of the Australian Senate for Victoria

Category:Women members of the Australian Senate

Category:21st-century mayors of places in Australia

Category:21st-century Australian women politicians

Category:Mayors of places in Victoria (state)

Category:People from Altona, Victoria