Tracey Roberts (politician)
{{Short description|Australian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Tracey Roberts
| honorific_suffix = MP
| image =
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| image_upright =
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| order =
| office = Member of the Australian Parliament
for Pearce
| status =
| term_start = 21 May 2022
| term_end =
| predecessor1 = Christian Porter
| successor1 =
| office2 = Mayor of City of Wanneroo
| term_start2 = 17 October 2011
| term_end2 = 21 May 2022
| predecessor2 = Jon Kelly
| successor2 = Brett Treby (acting)
| birth_place = Manchester, England
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| citizenship = Australian{{br}}British (until 2021)
| party = Labor
| spouse =
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| children = 2
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| occupation = Politician
| profession =
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| website = {{URL|traceyforpearce.com.au}}
}}
Tracey Roberts is an English-born Australian politician. She was elected to the Division of Pearce in the Australian House of Representatives at the 2022 Australian federal election, succeeding Christian Porter. She was a councillor for the City of Wanneroo from 2003 to 2022, and mayor from 2011 to 2022. She was also the president of the Western Australian Local Government Association from March 2020 to 2022, a vice president of the Australian Local Government Association.
Early life
Tracey Roberts was born in Manchester, England.{{cite web |last1=Donaldson |first1=Mark |title=City of Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts passionate in support of local footy |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/community-news/north-coast-times/city-of-wanneroo-mayor-tracey-roberts-passionate-in-support-of-local-footy-c-783560 |website=Perth Now |access-date=20 December 2021 |date=4 April 2016}} In the mid-1980s, she emigrated from the United Kingdom to Australia.
Career
Roberts was first elected to the Coastal Ward of the City of Wanneroo council in May 2003.{{cite web |title=Annual Report 2006/2007 |url=https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/download/downloads/id/201/annual_report_20062007.pdf |website=City of Wanneroo |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=2007 |archive-date=26 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326180450/http://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/download/downloads/id/201/annual_report_20062007.pdf |url-status=live }} She was elected deputy mayor in 2009, and mayor in 2011,{{cite web |last1=McInnes |first1=Anita |title=Tracey Roberts on her move to win the seat of Pearce |url=https://www.yanchepnewsonline.com.au/tracey-roberts-on-her-move-to-win-the-seat-of-pearce/ |website=Yanchep News Online |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=20 September 2021 |archive-date=21 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921103218/https://www.yanchepnewsonline.com.au/tracey-roberts-on-her-move-to-win-the-seat-of-pearce/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Jarvis |first1=Lucy |title=Nominations open for Wanneroo council candidates |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/community-news/wanneroo-times/nominations-open-for-wanneroo-council-candidates-c-890189 |website=Perth Now |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=5 September 2019 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804194844/https://www.perthnow.com.au/community-news/wanneroo-times/nominations-open-for-wanneroo-council-candidates-c-890189 |url-status=live }} receiving 37.72% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Local Government Postal Elections Election Report 2011 |url=https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/3814824aa490ae09b8fc615648257a010011754f/$file/4824.pdf |website=Western Australian Electoral Commission |access-date=16 November 2021 |page=134 |date=30 April 2012}} She was elected to a second term as Mayor in October 2015, receiving 67% of the vote.{{cite web |last1=Jarvis |first1=Lucy |title=Cities of Wanneroo and Joondalup welcome new councillors after local government elections |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/community-news/wanneroo-times/cities-of-wanneroo-and-joondalup-welcome-new-councillors-after-local-government-elections-c-915159 |website=Perth Now |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=20 October 2015 |archive-date=19 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919213741/https://www.perthnow.com.au/community-news/wanneroo-times/cities-of-wanneroo-and-joondalup-welcome-new-councillors-after-local-government-elections-c-915159 |url-status=live }} In October 2019, she was elected to a third term as mayor, with 68.82% of the vote.{{cite web |title=New Councillors welcomed to City of Wanneroo |url=https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/news/article/1065/new_councillors_welcomed_to_city_of_wanneroo |website=City of Wanneroo |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=22 October 2019 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804120359/https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/news/article/1065/new_councillors_welcomed_to_city_of_wanneroo |url-status=live }} Her term expires in October 2023.{{cite web |title=Mayor Tracey Roberts JP |url=https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/mayor |website=City of Wanneroo |access-date=15 November 2021 |archive-date=13 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613103449/https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/mayor |url-status=live }}
In September 2015, she was elected Deputy President of the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA).{{cite web |title=City of Wanneroo Mayor elected Deputy President of the "voice" of WA |url=https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/news/article/174/city_of_wanneroo_mayor_elected_deputy_president_of_the_voice_of_wa |website=City of Wanneroo |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=3 September 2015 |archive-date=29 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829222253/http://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/news/article/174/city_of_wanneroo_mayor_elected_deputy_president_of_the_voice_of_wa |url-status=live }} She was elected vice president of the Australian Local Government Association in 2018. In 2019, she was awarded life membership of WALGA.{{cite web |title=Mayor awarded lifetime WALGA honour |url=https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/news/article/1025/mayor_awarded_lifetime_walga_honour |website=City of Wanneroo |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=9 August 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Jarvis |first1=Lucy |title=Mayor honoured for service to local government |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/community-news/wanneroo-times/mayor-honoured-for-service-to-local-government-c-888312 |website=Perth Now |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=7 August 2019 |archive-date=17 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417065206/https://www.perthnow.com.au/community-news/wanneroo-times/mayor-honoured-for-service-to-local-government-c-888312 |url-status=live }} Roberts was elected President of WALGA on 4 March 2020, following the expiration of previous president Lynne Craigie's four-year term.{{cite web |title=About WALGA |url=https://walga.asn.au/About-WALGA |website=WALGA |access-date=15 November 2021 |archive-date=30 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030043425/https://walga.asn.au/About-WALGA |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=New President for WALGA |url=https://walga.asn.au/News,-Events-and-Publications/Media/New-President-for-WALGA |website=WALGA |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=5 March 2020 |archive-date=19 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419133415/https://walga.asn.au/News,-Events-and-Publications/Media/New-President-for-WALGA |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=City of Wanneroo Mayor announced as new WALGA president |url=https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/news/article/1139/city_of_wanneroo_mayor_announced_as_new_walga_president |website=City of Wanneroo |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=5 March 2020 |archive-date=2 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402034715/https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/news/article/1139/city_of_wanneroo_mayor_announced_as_new_walga_president |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Wanneroo mayor elected to lead WALGA |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/community-news/wanneroo-times/wanneroo-mayor-elected-to-lead-walga-c-899115 |website=Perth Now |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=6 March 2020 |archive-date=17 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417040915/https://www.perthnow.com.au/community-news/wanneroo-times/wanneroo-mayor-elected-to-lead-walga-c-899115 |url-status=live }}
She was appointed by the state government to the State Recovery Advisory Group in May 2020 as a representative of WALGA, to guide the state's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |title=Tracey Roberts |url=https://www.alp.org.au/our-people/our-people/tracey-roberts/ |website=Australian Labor Party |access-date=20 December 2021}}{{cite web |title=State Recovery Advisory Group to guide WA's COVID-19 recovery |url=https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2020/05/State-Recovery-Advisory-Group-to-guide-WAs-COVID-19-recovery.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613192149/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2020/05/State-Recovery-Advisory-Group-to-guide-WAs-COVID-19-recovery.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 June 2020 |website=Media Statements |access-date=20 December 2021 |date=27 May 2020 }}
In August 2021, Roberts was endorsed by the Australian Labor Party as their candidate for the division of Pearce at the 2022 Australian federal election. The division of Pearce covers much of the same area as the City of Wanneroo. This came as the seat's incumbent, Liberal Party MP Christian Porter, faced controversies, including a rape allegation and legal action against the ABC. Porter won the seat with a margin of 7.5% at the 2019 election, but a redistribution between the two elections removed all of the seat's rural territory, reducing the Liberal margin to 5.3%. The seat has never been won by the Labor Party in its 31-year existence. The West Australian said that "the battle for Pearce will be one of the most highly scrutinised during the next Federal election".{{cite web |last1=Scarr |first1=Lanai |title=Wanneroo mayor Tracey Roberts endorsed by Labor Party to take on Christian Porter in the electorate of Pearce |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/state-politics/wanneroo-mayor-tracey-roberts-endorsed-by-labor-party-to-take-on-christian-porter-in-the-electorate-of-pearce-ng-b881965600z |website=The West Australian |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=11 August 2021 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=12 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812224731/https://thewest.com.au/politics/state-politics/wanneroo-mayor-tracey-roberts-endorsed-by-labor-party-to-take-on-christian-porter-in-the-electorate-of-pearce-ng-b881965600z |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Parker |first1=Gareth |title=Wanneroo mayor Tracey Roberts to take on Christian Porter at next election |url=https://www.6pr.com.au/wanneroo-mayor-tracey-roberts-to-take-on-christian-porter-at-next-election/ |website=6pr |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=12 August 2021 |archive-date=12 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812010537/https://www.6pr.com.au/wanneroo-mayor-tracey-roberts-to-take-on-christian-porter-at-next-election/ |url-status=live }} Roberts was not a Labor member until shortly before being endorsed by the Labor Party, instead being picked by the party due to her high profile in Pearce.{{cite web |last1=Law |first1=Peter |title=Zaneta Mascarenhas looks set to be Labor's candidate for Federal seat of Swan |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-politics/zaneta-mascarenhas-looks-set-to-be-labors-candidate-for-federal-seat-of-swan-ng-b881904662z |website=The West Australian |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=18 June 2021 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=18 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618072937/https://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-politics/zaneta-mascarenhas-looks-set-to-be-labors-candidate-for-federal-seat-of-swan-ng-b881904662z |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Hastie |first1=Hamish |title=Labor's Porter rival 'vindicated' after council bullying claims dismissed |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-s-porter-rival-vindicated-after-council-bullying-claims-dismissed-20210915-p58rtb.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=15 September 2021 |archive-date=7 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007221155/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-s-porter-rival-vindicated-after-council-bullying-claims-dismissed-20210915-p58rtb.html |url-status=live }} She has said that she has always endeavoured to be apolitical as mayor.
On 1 December 2021, Porter announced he would not contest the seat of Pearce at the 2022 election, and he will retire from politics.{{cite web |last1=Mckenzie |first1=Matt |title=Porter to leave parliament |url=https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Porter-to-leave-parliament |website=Business News |access-date=20 December 2021 |date=1 December 2021 |url-access=subscription}} On 20 December 2021, City of Wanneroo councillor Linda Aitken was chosen to be the Liberal Party's candidate for Pearce.{{cite web |last1=Law |first1=Peter |title=Pearce pre-selection: Linda Aitken chosen as Liberal candidate for Christian Porter's seat |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-politics/pearce-pre-selection-linda-aitken-chosen-as-liberal-candidate-for-christian-porters-seat-c-5024656 |website=The West Australian |access-date=21 December 2021 |date=21 December 2021 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |last1=Giannini |first1=Dominic |title=Perth councillor Linda Aitken to stand as candidate in Christian Porter's seat of Pearce |url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/12/21/perth-councillor-christian-porter-pearce/ |website=The New Daily |access-date=21 December 2021 |date=21 December 2021}}
At the 2022 election on 21 May, Roberts won the seat of Pearce on 59.4 percent of the two-party vote, a swing of 14.6 percent.{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Antony |title=Pearce (Key Seat) – Federal Election 2022 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2022/guide/pear |website=ABC News |access-date=21 May 2022}} She is part of the Labor Left faction.{{cite web |last1=Massola |first1=James |title=The power behind the PM – who are Labor's powerbrokers in government? |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/federal/the-power-behind-the-pm-who-are-labor-s-powerbrokers-in-government-20220624-p5awc2.html |website=WAtoday |access-date=26 June 2022 |date=26 June 2022}}
Personal life
Roberts renounced her United Kingdom citizenship in 2021 ahead of the 2022 election in order to comply with Section 44 of the Constitution of Australia.{{cite web |title=Qualification Checklist: Tracey Roberts |url=https://www.aec.gov.au/election/files/data/qc/27966_WA_H_PEAR_37326_ROB.pdf |website=Australian Electoral Commission |access-date=28 April 2022}} In 2008, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.{{cite web |title=Local Champion to Fight for WA as Labor Candidate for Pearce |url=https://www.miragenews.com/local-champion-to-fight-for-wa-as-labor-612311/ |website=Mirage News |access-date=15 November 2021 |date=12 August 2021 |archive-date=15 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115153524/https://www.miragenews.com/local-champion-to-fight-for-wa-as-labor-612311/ |url-status=live }} Her first husband died of Hodgkin's disease in 1995. She has since remarried. She has had one son with each husband.{{cite web |title=Federal Election |url=https://www.emilyslist.org.au/federal_election |website=Emily's List Australia |access-date=15 November 2021 |archive-date=15 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115153525/https://www.emilyslist.org.au/federal_election |url-status=live }} In 2025, she announced a recent diagnosis of multiple systems atrophy affecting her mobility and speech. {{Cite web |last=McInnes |first=Anita |date=2025-02-14 |title=Pearce MHR’s health announcement |url=https://www.yanchepnewsonline.com.au/pearce-mhrs-health-announcement/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Yanchep News Online |language=en-AU}} She committed to serving her full term following the 2025 Australian federal election. {{Cite web |date=2025-02-13 |title=‘I won’t stop’: Labor MP opens up about shock diagnosis |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-politics/im-not-a-stopper-labor-mp-tracey-roberts-opens-up-about-shock-diagnosis-but-pledges-to-run-again-c-17706920 |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=The West Australian |language=en}}
References
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{{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Wanneroo|years=2011–2022}}
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{{s-bef|before=Christian Porter }}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for Pearce |years=2022–present}}
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{{Current Western Australia Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Tracey}}
Category:Mayors of places in Western Australia
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Pearce
Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia
Category:People who lost British citizenship
Category:English emigrants to Australia
Category:Labor Left politicians
Category:Politicians from Manchester
Category:Women members of the Australian House of Representatives
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives
Category:Women mayors of places in Perth, Western Australia
Category:21st-century Australian women politicians