Sue Ellery

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Sue Ellery

| honorific-suffix = MLC

| image = Sue Ellery.jpg

| office = Member of the Legislative Council
of Western Australia

| constituency = South Metropolitan Region

| alongside = Doust, Edman, Goiran, MacLaren, Mills, O'Brien, B. Scott, J. Scott

| term_start = 22 May 2001

| term_end =

| birth_name = Suzanne Mary Ellery

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|5|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Perth, Western Australia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Labor

| alma_mater = University of Western Australia

}}

Suzanne Mary Ellery (born 12 May 1962) is an Australian politician who has been a Labor Party member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia since 2001, representing South Metropolitan Region. A senior figure in WA Labor, Ellery held a range of ministerial portfolios over two decades in Parliament. Most recently, she served as Minister for Finance, Commerce, and Women’s Interests in the McGowan and Cook governments.

Ellery was previously Minister for Education and Training (2017–2022), and earlier served in the Carpenter Ministry as Minister for Child Protection, Community Services, Women’s Interests, and Seniors and Volunteering (2007–2008).{{cite web |title=Member List |url=http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/memblist.nsf/wallmembers |accessdate=7 May 2017 |website=parliament.wa.gov.au}} She retired from Cabinet following the 2025 state election and will conclude her parliamentary service with the changeover of the Legislative Council on 21 May 2025.{{Cite web |title=Departing MPs |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/wa/2025/guide/retiring-mps |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}

Early life

Ellery was born in Perth to Rosemarie (née Gellard) and Peter Ellery. She attended Newman College before going on to the University of Western Australia, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She joined the Labor Party while at university, and in 1983 was the national women's officer for the Australian Union of Students. Prior to entering politics, Ellery worked in the trade union movement, including as an industrial advocate for the Liquor, Hospitality, and Miscellaneous Workers' Union.[http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/MemberNames/Ellery,%20Suzanne%20(Sue)%20Mary?OpenDocument Suzanne (Sue) Mary Ellery] – Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2016.

Politics

Ellery entered parliament at the 2001 state election, as the lead candidate on the Labor Party's ticket in South Metropolitan Region. She was a parliamentary secretary in the government of Geoff Gallop in 2003, and continued on when Alan Carpenter replaced Gallop as premier in January 2006. Ellery was elevated to the ministry in March 2007, becoming Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Community Services, Minister for Women's Interests, and Minister for Seniors and Volunteering. She held her positions until the Labor government's defeat at the 2008 state election. After that election, Ellery continued on as a shadow minister, and was also elected leader of the Labor Party in the Legislative Council.[http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/MemberNames/Ellery,%20Suzanne%20(Sue)%20Mary?OpenDocument Hon. Suzanne (Sue) Mary Ellery MLC], Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2016. She has been identified as a member of the party's Labor Left faction.Paige Taylor, [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/labor-moribund-says-former-wa-premier/story-e6frg6nf-1226039407728 "Labor moribund, says former WA premier Peter Dowding"], The Australian, 15 April 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2016.

From 2017 to 2022, she was the minister for education and training. In December 2022, she requested a change in ministries during a cabinet reshuffle.{{cite web |last1=Zimmerman |first1=Josh |title=Upper House MP Sue Ellery poised to be replaced as Education Minister in McGowan's impending Cabinet reshuffle |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/labor/upper-house-mp-sue-ellery-poised-to-be-replaced-as-education-minister-in-mcgowans-impending-cabinet-reshuffle-c-9113229 |website=The West Australian |access-date=14 December 2022 |date=10 December 2022}} She became the minister for finance, minister for commerce, and minister for women's interests.{{cite web |title=Premier unveils new team with a focus on renewal and experience |url=https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2022/12/Premier-unveils-new-team-with-a-focus-on-renewal-and-experience.aspx |website=Media Statements |access-date=14 December 2022 |date=14 December 2022 |archive-date=19 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219114522/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2022/12/Premier-unveils-new-team-with-a-focus-on-renewal-and-experience.aspx |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last1=Hastie |first1=Hamish |title=McGowan reveals portfolio appointments after cabinet reshuffle |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/western-australia/more-women-take-seat-in-mcgowan-s-cabinet-as-parliamentary-secretary-list-balloons-20221213-p5c60o.html |website=WAtoday |access-date=14 December 2022 |date=14 December 2022}}

Ellery shared a close professional relationship with Premier Mark McGowan throughout his political career. During McGowan’s resignation announcement on 29 May 2023, Ellery was seen wiping away tears as he delivered his remarks. Her presence at the press conference, alongside other senior cabinet ministers, reflected her long-standing role as a senior figure within the WA Labor Government and her loyalty to McGowan’s leadership.{{Cite web |last=Burton |first=Hamish Hastie, Jesinta |date=2023-05-29 |title=‘I’m tired, extremely tired’: WA Premier Mark McGowan quits politics |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/i-m-tired-extremely-tired-wa-premier-mark-mcgowan-steps-down-20230529-p5dc68.html |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=WAtoday |language=en}}

Ellery will retire from politics at the 2025 election.{{Cite web |title=Departing MPs |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/wa/2025/guide/retiring-mps |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}