Sarah Henderson
{{Short description|Australian politician and journalist (born 1964)}}
{{for multi|the environmental health scientist|Sarah B. Henderson|the Australian pastoralist and author|Sara Henderson}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Senator the Honourable
| name = Sarah Henderson
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Senator sarah henderson 2019.jpg
| caption =
| office2 = Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services
| primeminister2 = Malcolm Turnbull
| predecessor2 = Jane Prentice
| successor2 = Stuart Robert
| term_start2 = 18 February 2016
| term_end2 = 24 August 2018
| office3 = Senator for Victoria
| predecessor3 = Mitch Fifield
| term_start3 = 11 September 2019
| constituency_MP4 = Corangamite
| parliament4 = Australian
| majority4 =
| predecessor4 = Darren Cheeseman
| successor4 = Libby Coker
| term_start4 = 7 September 2013
| term_end4 = 18 May 2019
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1964|04|04}}
| birth_place = Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Australian
| partner = Simon Ramsay (2009–2017)
| party = Liberal
| residence = Barwon Heads, Victoria, Australia
| alma_mater = Monash University
| profession = Journalist, lawyer and television presenter
| religion =
| signature =
| website = {{url|sarahhenderson.com.au}}
| footnotes =
| relations = Ann Henderson (mother)
}}
Sarah Moya Henderson (born 4 April 1964)[http://gnet.geelongcollege.vic.edu.au:8080/wiki/HENDERSON-Sarah-1964.ashx HENDERSON, Sarah (1964–)], Illustrated Heritage Guide to The Geelong College. is an Australian politician, lawyer and former journalist.{{cite news | first=Jeff | last=Whalley | title=Former TV host Sarah Henderson will take on Corangamite for Lib | date=15 June 2009 | url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/06/15/78185_news.html | work=Geelong Advertiser |access-date=7 January 2010 }} She has been a Senator for Victoria since September 2019, representing the Liberal Party. She previously held the Division of Corangamite in the House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019.
Early life
Henderson was born on 4 April 1964 in Geelong, Victoria.{{cite news|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=ZN4|title=Senator the Hon Sarah Henderson|publisher=Parliament of Australia|accessdate=8 November 2022}}{{cite news | first=Jeff | last=Whalley | title=Labor attacks Sarah Henderson's local credentials for Corangamite | date=22 June 2009 | url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/06/22/79781_news.html | work=Geelong Advertiser |access-date=6 January 2010 }} Her mother Ann Henderson ({{Nee|Corben}}) was a Liberal state government minister in the 1990s, while her father Michael Henderson served as mayor of the City of Newtown and was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for state parliament.{{cite news|url=https://gnet.tgc.vic.edu.au/wiki/HENDERSON-Sarah-1964.ashx|title=HENDERSON, Sarah Moya (1964–)|publisher=The Geelong College|accessdate=8 November 2022}}
Henderson began her education at Sacred Heart College in Geelong. She moved to The Geelong College in 1977, soon after it became co-educational, and became the first female school captain.
Journalism
In 1982, Henderson became a cadet reporter with Channel 7 in Melbourne.{{cn|date=December 2023}} She went on to work with Channel 9 in Brisbane and then Channel 10 in Melbourne, where she presented the weekend news with Alister Paterson. She moved to ABC-TV where she worked as a presenter of the consumer advocacy program The Investigators.{{cn|date=December 2023}} Her media career included working as a presenter of the ABC's Holiday program (1992–1993) and Australia's Most Wanted in 1994, and she was the Victorian presenter of The 7.30 Report in 1995.{{cn|date=December 2023}}
When The 7.30 Report became a national program in 1996, she continued working as the program's law correspondent and was also awarded a Walkley Award{{cite web |url=http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE2875b.htm |title=Henderson, Sarah |access-date=6 January 2010 |last=Henningham |first=Nikki |date=20 October 2008 |work=The Australian Women's Register |publisher=The National Foundation for Australian Women }} for her coverage of the Port Arthur massacre. In 1998, she obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from Monash University and moved to a career in the law with the Melbourne firm Arthur Robinson & Hedderwicks.{{cn|date=December 2023}} She worked as an attorney for News Corporation and was a weekly columnist with the Herald Sun newspaper from 2002 to 2004. At the same time, she established the Kudos Management Group which led to business management roles with Network Ten and National Indigenous Television.{{cn|date=December 2023}}
In 2003, Henderson hosted the Ethnic Business Awards, which is a national business award highlighting migrant and Indigenous excellence in business.{{cite web |url=https://www.ethnicbusinessawards.com/about/ |title=Ethnic Business Awards |publisher=Ethnic Business Awards |access-date=28 October 2020 |archive-date=3 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203074159/https://www.ethnicbusinessawards.com/about/ |url-status=dead }}
Politics
In 2009, Henderson was chosen as the Liberal Party candidate for the federal seat of Corangamite,{{cite web |url=http://www.vic.liberal.org.au/People/FederalHouseOfRepresentativesCandidates/SarahHenderson/tabid/204/Default.aspx |title=Candidate for Corangamite |last=Nutt |first=Tony |year=2009 |publisher=Liberal Victoria |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003134517/http://vic.liberal.org.au/People/FederalHouseOfRepresentativesCandidates/SarahHenderson/tabid/204/Default.aspx |archive-date=3 October 2009 |url-status=dead }} but was defeated by ALP incumbent Darren Cheeseman in the 2010 election.{{cite news | first=Tim | last=Colebatch | title=72 all – Brisbane to Coalition and Corangamite to ALP | date=28 August 2010 | publisher=Fairfax Media | url=http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/72-all--brisbane-to-coalition-and-corangamite-to-alp-20100827-13w1r.html | work=The Age |access-date=28 August 2010 }} She was preselected again as the Liberal Party's candidate for Corangamite at the 2013 federal election, and won the seat with a 4.6-point swing. Ahead of the 2019 election, a redistribution erased Henderson's majority and made Corangamite marginally Labor. Henderson sought another term in 2019, but was defeated by her 2016 opponent, Libby Coker.
On 26 May 2019, Victorian Senator Mitch Fifield chose to accept a position as the Permanent Australian Representative in the United Nations, leaving the possibility that the Liberal Party would choose Henderson to fill the casual vacancy caused by Fifield's eventual resignation to accept the role.{{cite news |last1=Belot |first1=Henry |last2=Conifer |first2=Dan |title=Scott Morrison stamps authority on Coalition with reshuffled Cabinet |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-26/election-2019-scott-morrison-unveils-government-ministry/11150626?section=politics |access-date=28 May 2019 |work=ABC News |date=26 May 2019 |language=en-AU}} On 8 September, Henderson defeated Greg Mirabella in the preselection ballot 234 votes to 197. She was appointed to the Senate by a joint sitting of the Parliament of Victoria on 11 September 2019.{{cite news |last1=Willingham |first1=Richard |title=Sarah Henderson defeats Greg Mirabella to claim Victorian Liberal Senate seat |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-08/sarah-henderson-beats-greg-mirabellaliberal-for-vic-senate-seat/11489840 |access-date=8 September 2019 |work=ABC News |date=8 September 2019 |language=en-AU}}{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/daily-hansard/Council_2019/Legislative_Council_2019-09-11.pdf|title=Hansard|work=Parliament of Victoria|date=11 September 2019}}
After the Coalition's defeat at the 2022 federal election, Henderson was appointed to new opposition leader Peter Dutton's shadow cabinet. She held the communications portfolio until February 2023, when she replaced Alan Tudge in the education portfolio following his retirement from parliament.
Political positions
=Environment=
As the Member for Corangamite, Henderson campaigned strongly against coal-seam gas mining (fracking) in Victoria's south-west as well as against a planned drilling campaign in the Great Australian Bight.{{Cite news |url=https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/politics/corangamite-mp-sarah-henderson-wants-her-electorate-to-be-csg-free/news-story/92135d51cda11b4f79751665d1810700|title=Extend CSG ban: Lib MP|date=28 January 2015|website=Weekly Times Now}} However, following losing her seat at the 2019 Federal Election and being appointed to fill a casual senate vacancy, she urged Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to lift the moratorium on conventional on-shore gas mining, saying to the Senate "Victoria is at a tipping point, facing blackouts over summer, with now the highest electricity prices in the nation. We need more dispatchable power – taking gas out of the Otway Basin onshore, as the state permits offshore, is desperately required."{{Cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/sarah-henderson-demands-victorian-gas-drilling-ban-be-lifted-more-dams-built-20191016-p531c9.html|title=Sarah Henderson demands Victorian gas drilling ban be lifted, more dams built|first=Rob|last=Harris|date=16 October 2019|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}{{Cite news |url=https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/surfcoasttimes/living/henderson-backs-conventional-gas-victoria/|title=Henderson backs conventional gas in Victoria|date=6 November 2017|website=Surf Coast Times}}
By 2020, Henderson had taken a more rightward shift on the issue of climate change describing local MPs in the Geelong region as "climate action zealots" while also coming out in support of coal mining and gas.{{cite web |url=https://sarahhenderson.com.au/geelong-labor-mps-put-climate-zealots-before-workers/|title=Geelong Labor MPs put climate zealots before workers|date=10 November 2020}}
=Foreign ownership=
Henderson has made calls for the strengthening of foreign investment rules, and opposes foreign ownership of vital assets, saying that "Australia's critical infrastructure assets, such as airports, power stations, data networks, communications infrastructure and ports – including the Port of Darwin – should simply not be falling into foreign hands."
=Water management=
Henderson supports a review into the allocation of water permits in the Murray–Darling Basin. "We must always ask what more we can do — whether it be a serious review of environmental water allocations for the Murray or new water trading rules to combat the corporate water hoarders and price takers."
Henderson also supports the construction of new dams, saying water "storage infrastructure is vital and in contrast to the NSW Government, the Victorian Government was refusing to green light any new dam".
=Refugees and asylum seekers=
Henderson opposes the transfer of asylum seekers to Australia on medical grounds. On the medevac legislation, she states that "there is no need for this bill ... this is all about politics. We are very very concerned ... it's unnecessary and it's all about politics and not about substance", while previously stating that those requiring medical treatment could already access assistance on Manus Island and Nauru.{{Cite news |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/medevac-critic-and-liberal-senator-appointed-to-chair-parliamentary-human-rights-committee|title=Medevac critic and Liberal senator appointed to chair parliamentary human rights committee|website=SBS News}}
Henderson has generally upheld the party line on boat turnbacks.
=COVID-19=
Henderson supported public health measures, including restrictions, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the community, but stated while Victorians understood the need for health restrictions, including those made using State of Emergency powers, restrictions must be proportionate to the public health risk, justifiable and temporary. She also said that she had "raised deep concerns about some restrictions which have closed businesses on what appears to be arbitrary and inconsistent grounds".{{Cite news |url=https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=GAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geelongadvertiser.com.au%2Fnews%2Fgeelong%2Fsenator-sarah-henderson-calls-for-details-on-road-out-of-coronavirus-restrictions%2Fnews-story%2Fb3505999bc9626e959d7c7c9c48a4b95&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=7862abc090e364291d61a293f7b5d864-1612202231|title=Subscribe to the Geelong Advertiser|website=Geelong Advertiser}}
In September 2020, Henderson described Victoria's roadmap out of COVID-19 restrictions as a "journey of despair".{{Cite news |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6188338607001|title=Victoria's roadmap is really a 'journey of despair'|website=Sky News Australia}}
=Social issues=
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Henderson is a member of the National Right faction of the Liberal Party,{{cite web |last1=Massola |first1=James |title=How Morrison's shattering defeat gave Dutton a seismic shift in factional power |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-morrison-s-shattering-defeat-gave-dutton-a-seismic-shift-in-factional-power-20230330-p5cwoq.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 April 2023 |access-date=4 December 2023}} after previously being aligned with the Centre-Right faction during the Morrison government years.{{cite web |last1=Massola |first1=James |title=Who's who in the Liberals' left, right and centre factions? |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/who-s-who-in-the-liberals-left-right-and-centre-factions-20210303-p577gv.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=20 March 2021 |publisher=Fairfax Media |access-date=1 February 2022}}
She was a supporter of same-sex marriage in Australia.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/02/liberal-backbencher-sarah-henderson-the-latest-mp-to-back-same-sex-marriage|title=Liberal backbencher Sarah Henderson the latest MP to back same-sex marriage|first=Shalailah|last=Medhora|date=2 June 2015|newspaper=The Guardian}} In a statement, released in June 2015, she stated that marriage equality "is consistent with fundamental Liberal values which embrace freedom of the individual and stable, long-term relationships". She also advocated for a free vote on the floor of parliament on the issue for Coalition MPs.
By 2017, under the Prime Ministership of Malcolm Turnbull leading up to a discussion on the marriage equality plebiscite within the Liberal Party room, Henderson shifted in favour of the plebiscite, stating that the plebiscite concept had "resonated very positively in the community".{{Cite news |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/corangamite-mp-sarah-henderson-quiet-on-gay-marriage-debate-in-canberra/news-story/e278a94f7ed86cdf12ebca6abc4f3438 |title=Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson quiet on gay marriage debate in Canberra |author=Alex Sinnott |date=2 August 2017 |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide}}
Henderson is pro-choice on the issue of abortion, which has drawn ire from more conservative elements within the Victorian Liberal Party.{{Cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-03/sarah-henderson-cops-conservative-criticism-liberal-senate-bid/11471552|title='Gay marriage and abortion supporter': Henderson targeted in Liberal Senate battle|date=2 September 2019|work=ABC News}} Nonetheless, on the floor of Parliament, on the question on whether the federal government should ensure that all Australians have access to abortion services, Henderson has almost always voted along party lines.{{cite web |url=https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/corangamite/sarah_henderson/policies/176|title=Sarah Henderson voted very strongly against universal access to abortion services |website=They Vote For You}}
Henderson is opposed to voluntary euthanasia. In October 2017, she tweeted an article written by former Prime Minister Paul Keating arguing against such legislation, adding that Victoria's euthanasia bill would "embed a culture of dying" in the state.{{cite tweet |user=senshenderson |number=921106931292315648 |date=19 October 2017 |title=#Euthanasia bill will embed a culture of dying in Victoria. Compelling words from #PaulKeating. #auspol https://google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh.com.au/comment/paul-keating-voluntary-euthanasia-is-a-threshold-moment-for-australia-and-one-we-should-not-cross-20171019-gz412h.html |accessdate=2021-02-01}}
Henderson supported state Liberal MP Moira Deeming when the state Liberal Party Leader proposed expelling her for anti-trans rhetoric and her part in organising an anti-trans rally attended by neo-Nazis.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-22/sarah-henderson-intervenes-over-moira-deeming/102129408|title=Federal Liberal senator Sarah Henderson pressures Victorian Liberal leader not to dump MP Moira Deeming|website=ABC News}}
=Other positions=
Upon taking her Senate seat, Henderson was eligible for a $100,000 payout for serving two terms as an MP. She handed back part of this payout saying her decision to keep only a "pro rata" amount was "in line with community expectations".{{Cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/henderson-to-hand-back-part-of-six-figure-payout-after-senate-win-20190913-p52r4t.html|title=Henderson to hand back part of six-figure payout after Senate win|first=Rob|last=Harris|date=13 September 2019|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}
In early November 2022, Henderson wrote to ABC (her former employer) managing director David Anderson "requesting disclosure of the remuneration packages for employees, contractors, subcontractors, or other workers earning an annual salary of at least $230,000" among other information sought. The request was denied by Anderson on the grounds of "public interest immunity".{{Cite news |url=https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/senator-pursues-details-of-abc-s-top-exec-salaries-despite-failure-20221202-p5c35v.html|title=Senator pursues details of ABC's top exec salaries despite failure|first=Zoe|last=Samos|date=5 December 2022|website=The Age}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=ZN4 Official Australian Parliament page]
- [http://sarahhenderson.com.au Official campaign website]
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{{s-par|au}}
{{succession box | title=Member for Corangamite | before=Darren Cheeseman | after=Libby Coker | years=2013–2019}}
{{s-bef|before=Mitch Fifield}}
{{s-ttl|title=Senator for Victoria|years=2019–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Australian Senators}}
{{First Morrison Ministry}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Henderson, Sarah}}
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Corangamite
Category:Members of the Australian Senate for Victoria
Category:Walkley Award winners
Category:Politicians from Geelong
Category:People educated at Geelong College
Category:Monash University alumni
Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia
Category:Women members of the Australian House of Representatives
Category:Women members of the Australian Senate
Category:21st-century Australian women politicians
Category:Australian women television journalists