Verity Firth

Firth became a member of the Labor Party at the age of 15. She studied at North Sydney Girls High between 1986 and 1991, before studying Arts/Law at the University of Sydney between 1992 and 1998.{{cn|date=November 2023}} While at university, she was active in student politics. After graduating, she worked as a political staffer, prior to working as an articled clerk at Slater & Gordon in 2001; she then worked as a campaign organiser for the Australian Labor Party (2001–2004). Between 2004 and 2007, she practised as a solicitor with Slater & Gordon, specialising in asbestos litigation and industrial law.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Firth was elected as a councillor of the City of Sydney in 2004. During her tenure on Council, she served for a period as Deputy Lord Mayor. Prior to entering state politics, she served on the board of the Law and Justice Foundation and Aidwatch.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Firth was elected to the new seat of Balmain on 24 March 2007. Though there was a swing away from the Labor, she won the seat with a majority of just below 4%. She was sworn in on 2 April 2007, receiving simultaneous appointment as Minister for Women, Minister for Science and Medical Research, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer) and Minister Assisting the Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water (Environment).{{cite NSW Parliament |title=The Hon. Verity Helen Firth (1973- ) |id=2194 |former=Yes |access-date=23 September 2019}}

On 22 February 2008, Phil Koperberg, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, resigned from cabinet due to ill health. Firth was subsequently appointed as Minister for Environment and Climate Change.{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23256939-5001021,00.html | work=The Daily Telegraph |location=Australia | title='Sick' Phil Koperberg resigns from NSW Cabinet | first1=Simon | last1=Benson | date=22 February 2008 }}

Following the caucus election of Nathan Rees as Leader of the NSW Labor Party and Premier in September 2008 and ensuing New South Wales government reshuffle, Firth was appointed as Minister for Education and Training. She won early praise for her demand to the federal government that it fund state public schools to the same level as private schools. During her tenure as Education Minister, she was regarded as a future Labor leader.{{cite news | last =Parker| first =Maralyn| title =Minister Firth asks Rudd for More Money for Public Schools | work =The Daily Telegraph | location=Australia |date =15 September 2008| url =http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/maralynparker/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/minister_firth_asks_for_more_money_for_nsw_public_schools/| access-date = 2008-09-20 }} Firth retained the Education portfolio under Rees' successor, Kristina Keneally.

During early 2009, the then Rees Labor Government announced the CBD Metro project. Controversial from the start, the CBD Metro project dominated the Sydney news for much of the year. Firth received media coverage for her opposition to the CBD metro, in the event that it would mean a bus interchange at Rozelle (due to the urban density of the area).{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/firth-takes-an-axe-to-pillar-of-cbd-metro-20091210-kmbs.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Firth takes an axe to pillar of CBD Metro | last=West | first=Andrew | date=11 December 2009 }} Firth was also perceived as being at odds with economically conservative sections of the NSW Cabinet after her opposition to the privatisation of Sydney Ferries became public; at the time, the option of privatising Sydney's ferry fleet was examined by the NSW government against the opposition of unions and some residents.{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/divisions-deepen-as-minister-opposes-sydney-ferries-sale-20091112-ich2.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Divisions deepen as minister opposes Sydney Ferries sale | last=West | first=Andrew | date=13 November 2009 }} The Keneally government subsequently announced that the ferries would not be privatised.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Firth was defeated by Jamie Parker (representing the NSW Greens) as the Member for Balmain at the 2011 state election. After her defeat, Firth considered returning to work as a solicitor. Instead, however, she was appointed as CEO of the Public Education Foundation, an advocacy organisation providing scholarships for students in need of financial assistance.{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/life-not-a-popularity-contest-outside-bearpit-20110729-1i4a4.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Life not a popularity contest outside the bear pit | last=Patty | first=Anna | date=30 June 2011 | access-date= 19 October 2011 }}

In May 2014, Firth again won Labor preselection in the seat of Balmain for the 2015 state election.{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/verity-firth-wins-community-preselection-for-seat-of-balmain-20140503-zr41m.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Verity Firth wins community preselection for seat of Balmain | last=Needham | first=Kirsty | date=3 May 2014 | access-date= 6 May 2014 }} She lost the election to then sitting member, Jamie Parker.{{Cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-state-election-2015/nsw-election-2015-greens-pull-ahead-of-labor-to-secure-seat-of-balmain-20150328-1m9h3k.html|title=NSW Election 2015: Greens pull ahead of Labor to secure seat of Balmain|date=28 March 2015}}

Firth was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 Australia Day Honours.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-25 |title=Australia Day 2023 Honours: Full list |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-day-2023-honours-full-list-20230124-p5cf79.html |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

Firth grew up in West Pymble and in Glebe.{{Cn|date=February 2025}} She lives in Glebe with her husband Matthew Chesher and their two children.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Her brother is Charles Firth, a comedian and member of The Chaser. Her aunt is Meredith Burgmann, the former NSW upper house president.{{cite news| url=http://blogs.smh.com.au/sit/archives/2007/02/crossroads_short_shift.html |title=Crossroads: Short shift |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=27 February 2007 |access-date=14 August 2012}} Firth is the great-granddaughter of Anglican Bishop Ernest Burgmann.

In January 2011 Firth's husband, Matthew Chesher, was charged by police for possession of the illegal drug, ecstasy. Chesher resigned immediately as chief of staff to Minister for Roads David Borger. Firth said she was "angry, hurt and very disappointed".{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/verity-firths-husband-charged-with-drug-possession-20110129-1a8tr.html |title=Verity Firth's husband charged with drug possession |agency=AAP |date=29 January 2011 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=2011-01-29 }} Verity refused to say how many tablets Chesher was buying and refused to say whether she had ever taken drugs.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-news/cant-say-no-why-verity-firth-is-far-from-ecstatic/story-e6freuzi-1225999787243 |title=Can't say no: Why Verity Firth is far from ecstatic |access-date=14 August 2012}} Chesher was charged with the possession of one ecstasy tablet and subsequently placed on a 12-month good-behaviour bond with no conviction being recorded.{{cite news |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/verity-firths-husband-on-bond-for-drugs-20110401-1cnzb.html |title=Verity Firth's husband on bond for drugs |last=Scheikowski |first=Margaret |date=1 April 2011 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=2 April 2011}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083610/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/LA20070508047 Inaugural Speech to Parliament]
• [https://www.facebook.com/verityforbalmain Facebook page]
• [https://twitter.com/VerityFirth Twitter account]

{{s-start}}

{{s-civ}}

{{s-bef| before= John McInerney}}

{{s-ttl |title= Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney | years = 2005 – 2006}}

{{s-aft|after= Chris Harris}}

{{s-par|au-nsw-la}}

{{s-new|district}}

{{s-ttl |title= Member for Balmain| years = 2007{{spaced ndash}}2011}}

{{s-aft| after=Jamie Parker}}

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef |before= Sandra Nori }}

{{s-ttl |title= Minister for Women| years = 2007{{spaced ndash}}2009 }}

{{s-aft|after= Linda Burney }}

{{s-bef |before= Frank Sartor }}

{{s-ttl |title= Minister for Science and Medical Research
Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer)| years = 2007{{spaced ndash}}2008 }}

{{s-aft|after= Tony Stewart }}

{{s-bef |before= Phil Koperberg }}

{{s-ttl |title= Minister for Climate Change and the Environment| years = 2008 }}

{{s-aft|after= Carmel Tebbutt }}

{{s-bef |before= John Della Bosca }}

{{s-ttl |title= Minister for Education and Training| years = 2008{{spaced ndash}}2011}}

{{s-aft|after= Adrian Piccoli|as=Minister for Education}}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Firth, Verity}}

Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly

Category:Australian chief executives

Category:21st-century Australian lawyers

Category:Labor Left politicians

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Sydney

Category:1973 births

Category:Members of the Order of Australia

Category:People educated at North Sydney Girls High School

Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales

Category:21st-century Australian politicians

Category:Women members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly

Category:Deputy lord mayors of Sydney

Category:21st-century Australian women politicians

Category:Women's ministers of Australia

Category:University of Sydney alumni

Category:Australian solicitors

Category:Ministers for climate change (New South Wales)

Category:Ministers for education (New South Wales)

Category:Ministers for the environment (New South Wales)