Wendy Askew
{{short description|Australian politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Senator
| name = Wendy Askew
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| title = Senator for Tasmania
| term_start1 = 6 March 2019
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = David Bushby
| successor1 =
| birth_name = Wendy Anne Bushby
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|3|16|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| party = Liberal
| relations = Max Bushby (father)
David Bushby (brother)
| occupation=
}}
Wendy Anne Askew (née Bushby; formerly Summers; born 16 March 1963) is an Australian politician who is a Senator for Tasmania, representing the Liberal Party. She was appointed to a casual vacancy on 6 March 2019 in place of her brother David Bushby.
Personal life
Askew was born in Launceston, Tasmania.{{cite news|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=281558|title=Senator Wendy Askew|publisher=Parliament of Australia|access-date=15 March 2019}} Her father Max Bushby and brother David Bushby were also Liberal politicians.{{cite news|url=https://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/liberal-senator-david-bushby-to-be-replaced-by-his-sister-wendy-askew/news-story/e3fcabec8bf97c9322fce4d0440093f8|title=Liberal senator David Bushby to be replaced by his sister, Wendy Askew|newspaper=The Mercury|date=2 February 2019|access-date=16 February 2019}} She was known as Wendy Summers until her marriage in September 2018.{{cite news|url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5883402/david-bushbys-sister-wendy-askew-will-replace-him-in-federal-senate/|title=David Bushby's sister Wendy Askew will replace him in Federal senate|first=Frances|last=Vinall|date=2 February 2019|access-date=16 February 2019|newspaper=The Examiner}}
Politics
Prior to entering politics, Askew worked in a variety of roles in the public and private sectors. She was general manager of the St Giles Society, a disability services provider, and also spent 20 years in the banking industry, including roles with Westpac and the Commonwealth Bank.{{cite news|url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5940101/meet-tasmanias-newest-senator-wendy-askew/?src=rss|title=Tasmanian Liberal Senator Wendy Askew officially takes up role in Australian Parliament|first=Matt|last=Maloney|newspaper=The Examiner|date=6 March 2019|access-date=6 March 2019}} She later worked as office manager to state MP Michael Ferguson and as an adviser to state MP Sarah Courtney and federal MP Andrew Nikolic. Immediately prior to her elevation to the Senate she was working as an adviser to federal education minister Dan Tehan.
Askew held various senior positions in the Tasmanian Liberals, serving on the state executive, as party treasurer, and as a senior vice-president of the party. In 2018, it was reported that she would be a candidate for Senate preselection for the 2019 federal election.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-27/moderate-richard-colbeck-conservative-liberal-party-challenge/10168042|title=Conservative Liberals moving against newly promoted moderate Richard Colbeck|publisher=ABC News|date=27 August 2018|access-date=16 February 2019}}
=Senate=
Askew's brother David Bushby announced his retirement from the Senate in January 2019. She subsequently defeated seven other candidates to become the Liberal Party's nominee for the casual vacancy caused by his resignation. She will serve the remainder of his six-year term, which expires in June 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/5896144/tasmania-will-have-one-less-senator-when-federal-parliament-resumes/|title=Tasmania will have one less Senator when Federal Parliament resumes|first=Sue|last=Bailey|newspaper=The Advocate|date=10 February 2019|access-date=16 February 2019}} Askew was temporarily appointed to the Senate on 6 March 2019 by state governor Kate Warner under the provisions of section 15 of the constitution, as the state parliament was not in session.{{cite web|url=https://www.premier.tas.gov.au/releases/governor_appoints_wendy_askew_to_fill_casual_senate_vacancy|title=Governor appoints Wendy Askew to fill casual Senate vacancy|publisher=Premier of Tasmania|date=6 March 2019|access-date=9 November 2022}} A joint sitting of the state parliament on 20 March 2019 formalised her appointment to the Senate.{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ParliamentSearch/isysquery/6978c49e-f31b-4ede-8809-5a2d63cb2ca7/3/doc/|title=Senate Casual Vacancy|website=Parliament of Tasmania|date=20 March 2019|access-date=9 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108221925/https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ParliamentSearch/isysquery/6978c49e-f31b-4ede-8809-5a2d63cb2ca7/3/doc/|archive-date=8 November 2022|url-status=live}}
Askew is the fourth woman to represent the Tasmanian Liberals in federal parliament and the first since Jocelyn Newman retired in 2002.{{cite news|url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5884194/askew-the-fourth-liberal-woman-to-represent-tasmanian-federally-ever/|title=Wendy Askew the fourth Liberal woman to represent Tasmanian federally, ever|newspaper=The Examiner|date=4 February 2019|access-date=16 February 2019}}
After the Coalition's defeat at the 2022 federal election, Askew was appointed Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate.
Askew is affiliated with 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 |access-date=4 December 2023}} after previously being factionally unaligned 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}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Australian Senators}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Askew, Wendy}}
Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia
Category:Members of the Australian Senate
Category:Members of the Australian Senate for Tasmania