Sue Lines was elected the President of the Senate on the day of the opening of the 47th Parliament. Sue has been a Senator for Western Australia since 2013.
Sue is the first female Labor President of the Senate since Federation and becomes the second only female President following the election of Liberal Senator Margaret Reid in 1996.
Sue was born in Western Australia attending Gosnells Primary School and Armadale Senior High School before obtaining a Bachelor of Education from Murdoch University.
Sue joined the Labor Party in 1983 while studying at university and began working at United Voice (now United Workers Union) in 1987 as an organiser. In 2000 she became the Assistant Branch Secretary of United Voice WA and then the National Assistant Secretary in 2007. She has also worked as a teacher and a community organiser.
In her time in the Senate, Sue has represented Australia at the United Nations Women’s Forum in New York City, delivered statements as national delegation leader at the Women Political Leaders Reykjavik Global Forum, produced reports calling for gender equality at the Inter Parliamentary Union and, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
As a Senator for Western Australia Sue has travelled extensively throughout regional and rural areas meeting in particular with First Nation women, farming groups, Aboriginal corporations, and community leaders.
Sue is honoured to have been chosen as the President of the 47th Parliament and looks forward to making a positive contribution. Sue wants to ensure the Parliament remains open to Australians as “the People’s House.” She is eager to utilise the role of President to highlight the work and endeavours of unsung Australian heroes.
She remains a proud member of United Workers Union.
