Rosy Buchanan

{{Short description|Australian politician}}

{{Use Australian English|date=June 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

Rosalyn Buchanan (born 8 November 1961) is an Australian politician. She was a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2006, representing the electorate of Hastings.{{cite web | url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/people-in-parliament/re-member/details/24/1700 | title=Rosalyn Buchanan | publisher=Parliament of Victoria | work=re-member | accessdate=3 December 2022}}

Buchanan was born in Bairnsdale and was educated at Footscray Technical College. She was a volunteer support worker and support group co-ordinator before becoming a manager with Centrelink from 1989 to 2002. She was also a Shire of Hastings councillor from 1989 to 1992.{{cite web | url=https://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE1317b.htm | title=Buchanan, Rosy (1961 - ) | publisher=The Australian Women's Register | accessdate=3 December 2022}}

Buchanan was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in a shock upset in the Bracks government's landslide victory at the 2002 state election. She unexpectedly won the new seat of Hastings, which had been viewed as a safe seat for the conservative Liberal Party of Australia, and had a notional Liberal margin of over 8%. Buchanan initially only received $100 in campaign funding from the Labor Party until Joan Kirner and EMILY's List Australia stepped in and provided $1500 to fund leaflets and signs. She was to only serve one term, as Neale Burgess, the defeated Liberal candidate from 2002, recontested the seat at the 2006 election and defeated Buchanan by 717 votes.{{cite news | url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/labor-party-to-hold-62-seats-in-lower-house-20021207-gduw65.html | title=Labor Party to hold 62 seats in lower house | work=The Age | date=7 December 2002 | accessdate=3 December 2022}}{{cite news | url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/helping-women-fly-ahead-of-schedule-20021208-gduwbv.html | title=Helping women fly, ahead of schedule | work=The Age | date=8 December 2002 | accessdate=3 December 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/vic/2022/guide/hast | title=Hastings (Key Seat) - VIC Election 2022 | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | accessdate=3 December 2022}}{{cite news | url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/marginal-vic-seats-finally-declared-20061209-gdp0jf.html | title=Marginal Vic seats finally declared | work=Sydney Morning Herald | date=9 December 2006 | accessdate=3 December 2022}}