Vanessa Goodwin Explained

Vanessa Goodwin
Office1:Member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council for Pembroke
Predecessor1:Allison Ritchie
Successor1:Jo Siejka
Term Start1:1 August 2009
Term End1:2 October 2017
Birth Date:22 April 1969
Birth Place:Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Death Place:Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Nationality:Australian
Party:Liberal Party
Alma Mater:University of Tasmania
Profession:Lawyer, criminologist

Vanessa Goodwin (22 April 1969 – 3 March 2018) was an Australian politician. She was the Liberal Party member for the seat of Pembroke in the Tasmanian Legislative Council from the Pembroke by-election on 1 August 2009 until her resignation due to brain cancer on 2 October 2017.

Early life

Goodwin was born in Hobart, Tasmania.[1] She received a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania, a Master of Philosophy (Criminology) from the University of Cambridge, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Tasmania.[2] [3]

Career

Goodwin was a criminologist and lawyer who had worked for the Department of Police and Public Safety.[1] She had previously worked as an Associate to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, as the Public Affairs Officer for the local Australian Hotels Association branch and as a research assistant for the Tasmanian Governor.[2]

Goodwin unsuccessfully contested the state seat of Franklin at the 2006 Tasmanian election, and the federal seat of Franklin at the 2007 federal election.[2]

In 2009, Tasmanian Legislative Council member for Pembroke, Allison Ritchie, resigned, causing a by-election.[1] Goodwin stood as the Liberal candidate, and won by a large margin.[4] She was re-elected in 2013.[5]

After the 2014 Tasmanian election, Goodwin was appointed Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Corrections and Minister for the Arts, as well as Leader for the Government in the Legislative Council.[6] [7]

Goodwin resigned on 2 October 2017 for health reasons. Her seat was filled in a by-election, which was won by Labor's Jo Siejka.[8]

Health and death

On 25 March 2017, Goodwin was hospitalised with multiple brain tumours.[9] On 6 April, Premier Will Hodgman informed the parliament that she was not expected to recover.[10]

She died from brain cancer on 3 March 2018, aged 48, on the day of the 2018 Tasmanian state election.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/LC/goodwin/goodwin.htm Biographical details
  2. http://www.abc.net.au/elections/tas/2009/legislativecouncil/pembroke.htm Pembroke 2009 by-election candidates
  3. Web site: Wing. Don. Don Wing. University of Tasmania Graduates and State Parliament: Don Wing. University of Tasmania. 3 March 2018.
  4. Web site: Pembroke by-election. Antony Green. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 May 2016.
  5. Web site: 2013 Tasmanian Legislative Council Elections. Antony Green. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 May 2016.
  6. http://www.willhodgman.com.au/media-releases/strong-team-to-deliver-our-long-term-plan-for-tasmania Strong team to deliver our long-term Plan for Tasmania
  7. http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/HA/Cabinet.htm The Ministry
  8. News: Pembroke by-election next month. 2 October 2017. The Mercury. 2 October 2017.
  9. http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/attorneygeneral-vanessa-goodwin-hospitalised-with-multiple-brain-tumours/news-story/63c315127f54639db5af8261a6da6a2f Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin hospitalised with multiple brain tumours
  10. News: Vanessa Goodwin not expected to recover from cancer, Tasmanian Premier announces. 6 April 2017. ABC News. 6 April 2017. en-AU.
  11. News: Former Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin dies after a battle with brain cancer. 3 March 2018. The Mercury. 3 March 2018.