Lyn Allison
Encyclopedia
Lynette Fay "Lyn" Allison (born 21 October 1946) is an Australia
n politician. She was a member of the Australian Senate
from 1996 to 2008, representing the state of Victoria
. She was the last federal parliamentary leader of the Australian Democrats
.
, Victoria
, and was educated at the University of Melbourne
. She was an administrator, secondary school teacher and Director of the Employment and Economic Development Corporation before entering politics. She was a councillor of the Port Melbourne City Council 1992–94. Allison is an atheist who spoke first for the affirmative in a 2008 Australian Radio National
debate "Would We Be Better Off Without Religion?".
in 1996.
Between 1998 and 2006, Lyn Allison served on the Legislation and References Committees for Environment, Recreation (later Information Technology), Communications and the Arts; and for Community Affairs. She served as Senate Select for Superannuation (1996–98); the Victorian Casino Inquiry (1996); the Lucas Heights Reactor (2000); Medicare (2003–04); and Mental Health (2005). In 2002 she was a member of the Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand.
She was Deputy Leader of the Australian Democrats 2002-04. On 3 November 2004, following the resignation of Andrew Bartlett
after the October 2004 election, she was elected unopposed as Leader. She took over the leadership at a time when the Democrats were at their lowest ever public opinion rating since the party was founded in 1977.
On December 5, 2006, Allison introduced into the Senate a bill titled the Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill 2006
, which if enacted would prevent Australia from using, possessing and manufacturing cluster munitions. Two months earlier, she had travelled to Lebanon
to survey the damage caused by cluster munition use in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War. Senator Allison, a leading feminist in the Australian parliament, was also among a cross-party group of female parliamentarians who introduced legislation into parliament in 2006 which effectively legalised the supply of the abortion pill RU486.
Senator Allison chaired an inquiry into the health effects of mobile phone towers from 1999 to 2001. She also established a reputation as a strong advocate of federal government funding for public schools and as an advocate for nuclear disarmament
.
In 2007 Senator Allison is also the Australian Democrats spokesperson on Health and Ageing, Education and Resources, Energy and Infrasctructure. The independent voters' advocacy group FairGo rated Senator Allison as a 'star performer' in parliament and the most responsive to voters in the Senate and in Victoria, second overall only the Independent MP in New South Wales, Tony Windsor
:
This assessment typified Senator Allison's reputation as a hard worker in parliament and the range of portfolios and causes she has held and promoted during her parliamentary career.
and Andrew Bartlett
, Lyn Allison's seat was up for election in this round, and commentators agreed that she faced a serious challenge, particularly from the Greens, Family First and the major parties for her Senate seat, which was considered highly vulnerable after the Democrats disappointing performance in the 2004 election when the last Senate seat was won by Family First. As a result of that election where the government gained control of the senate for the first time in over 25 years, there was significant attention to the Senate contest.
During the 2007 election campaign, Lyn Allison announced a national preference deal with the Greens to increase the chance of a progressive party taking the balance of power
in the Senate. Senator Allison also joined Bob Brown
and Kate Lundy
in a joint political advertisement sponsored by GetUp! urging voters to prevent the Senate from becoming a rubber stamp
for the government of the day.
During the 2007 election campaign Lyn Allison received the support of a number of community and interest groups such as the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
who gave her an A+ for her support for refugees and asylum seekers; the Friends of the ABC for promoting public broadcasting, as well as endorsements by prominent women and feminists such as Barbara Spalding and Anne Summers.
During 2007 Senator Allison also noticeably increased the representation of young people in the party, with a third of Victorian candidates for the House of Representatives aged under thirty years of age.
In the 2007 federal election, the Democrats, however, failed to retain their position in the Senate, with Lyn Allison among the casualties. Her seat was won by the resurgent Labor Party. Senator Allison's term expired on 30 June 2008.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. She was a member of the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
from 1996 to 2008, representing the state of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. She was the last federal parliamentary leader of the Australian Democrats
Australian Democrats
The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...
.
Early life and background
Lyn Allison was born in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, and was educated at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. She was an administrator, secondary school teacher and Director of the Employment and Economic Development Corporation before entering politics. She was a councillor of the Port Melbourne City Council 1992–94. Allison is an atheist who spoke first for the affirmative in a 2008 Australian Radio National
Radio National
ABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
debate "Would We Be Better Off Without Religion?".
Australian Senate
An outspoken campaigner on women's issues, Allison won pre-selection on the Democrats ticket, and was elected to the Australian SenateAustralian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
in 1996.
Between 1998 and 2006, Lyn Allison served on the Legislation and References Committees for Environment, Recreation (later Information Technology), Communications and the Arts; and for Community Affairs. She served as Senate Select for Superannuation (1996–98); the Victorian Casino Inquiry (1996); the Lucas Heights Reactor (2000); Medicare (2003–04); and Mental Health (2005). In 2002 she was a member of the Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand.
She was Deputy Leader of the Australian Democrats 2002-04. On 3 November 2004, following the resignation of Andrew Bartlett
Andrew Bartlett
Andrew John Julian Bartlett is an Australian politician. He was formerly an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate from 1997 to 2008, representing the state of Queensland. He was the leader of the Democrats from 2002 to 2004, and deputy leader from 2004 to 2008.-Early life and...
after the October 2004 election, she was elected unopposed as Leader. She took over the leadership at a time when the Democrats were at their lowest ever public opinion rating since the party was founded in 1977.
On December 5, 2006, Allison introduced into the Senate a bill titled the Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill 2006
Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill 2006
The Cluster Munitions Bill 2006 is a bill for an act to ensure that civilians in conflict zones are not maimed, killed or put at risk as a result of Australians possessing, using or manufacturing cluster munitions. Senator Lyn Allison, leader of the Australian Democrats, introduced the bill into...
, which if enacted would prevent Australia from using, possessing and manufacturing cluster munitions. Two months earlier, she had travelled to Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
to survey the damage caused by cluster munition use in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War. Senator Allison, a leading feminist in the Australian parliament, was also among a cross-party group of female parliamentarians who introduced legislation into parliament in 2006 which effectively legalised the supply of the abortion pill RU486.
Senator Allison chaired an inquiry into the health effects of mobile phone towers from 1999 to 2001. She also established a reputation as a strong advocate of federal government funding for public schools and as an advocate for nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament refers to both the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons and to the end state of a nuclear-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated....
.
In 2007 Senator Allison is also the Australian Democrats spokesperson on Health and Ageing, Education and Resources, Energy and Infrasctructure. The independent voters' advocacy group FairGo rated Senator Allison as a 'star performer' in parliament and the most responsive to voters in the Senate and in Victoria, second overall only the Independent MP in New South Wales, Tony Windsor
Tony Windsor
Antony Harold Curties "Tony" Windsor , an Australian politician, is an independent member of the House of Representatives since 2001, representing the Division of New England, New South Wales...
:
"Voters from all over the country have valued her assistance on many issues, particularly mental health, refugees and migration, parenting, childcare funding, alcohol labelling, the environment, debt forgiveness, anti-terror laws and fair trial for David HicksDavid HicksDavid Matthew Hicks is an Australian who was convicted by the United States of America Guantanamo Military Commission under the Military Commissions Act of 2006, on charges of providing material support for terrorism...
. A very consistent advocate for voters, Sen. Allison has risen from 4th best Political Performer in the 2004 ratings to 2nd place in 2007."
This assessment typified Senator Allison's reputation as a hard worker in parliament and the range of portfolios and causes she has held and promoted during her parliamentary career.
The 2007 Election
The 2007 federal election, including a half-Senate election was called for the 24th November, and the Democrats national campaign launched in Melbourne, Sen. Allison's home state, on 10 November. The official slogan 'bring back balance' referred to the contest for the balance of power in the Senate. Along with three other Democrats senators Natasha Stott-Despoja, Andrew MurrayAndrew Murray
Andrew or Andy Murray may refer to: * Andrew Murray, often spelt Andrew Moray, leader of the Scots during the Scottish Wars of Independence...
and Andrew Bartlett
Andrew Bartlett
Andrew John Julian Bartlett is an Australian politician. He was formerly an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate from 1997 to 2008, representing the state of Queensland. He was the leader of the Democrats from 2002 to 2004, and deputy leader from 2004 to 2008.-Early life and...
, Lyn Allison's seat was up for election in this round, and commentators agreed that she faced a serious challenge, particularly from the Greens, Family First and the major parties for her Senate seat, which was considered highly vulnerable after the Democrats disappointing performance in the 2004 election when the last Senate seat was won by Family First. As a result of that election where the government gained control of the senate for the first time in over 25 years, there was significant attention to the Senate contest.
During the 2007 election campaign, Lyn Allison announced a national preference deal with the Greens to increase the chance of a progressive party taking the balance of power
Balance of power (parliament)
In parliamentary politics, the term balance of power sometimes describes the pragmatic mechanism exercised by a minor political party or other grouping whose guaranteed support may enable an otherwise minority government to obtain and hold office...
in the Senate. Senator Allison also joined Bob Brown
Bob Brown
Robert James Brown is an Australian senator, the inaugural Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens and was the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia...
and Kate Lundy
Kate Lundy
Kate Alexandra Lundy is a member of the Australian Senate, representing the Australian Capital Territory.Born in Sydney, Lundy dropped out of Year 11 without telling her parents and went to work on a construction site...
in a joint political advertisement sponsored by GetUp! urging voters to prevent the Senate from becoming a rubber stamp
Rubber stamp
Rubber stamping, also called stamping, is a craft in which some type of ink made of dye or pigment is applied to an image or pattern that has been carved, molded, laser engraved or vulcanized, onto a sheet of rubber. The rubber is often mounted onto a more stable object such as a wood, brick or an...
for the government of the day.
During the 2007 election campaign Lyn Allison received the support of a number of community and interest groups such as the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre is the largest asylum seeker support organisation in Australia. The ASRC, based in West Melbourne, provides aid, justice and empowerment programs to over 1000 asylum seekers living in the community seeking refugee protection.The ASRC...
who gave her an A+ for her support for refugees and asylum seekers; the Friends of the ABC for promoting public broadcasting, as well as endorsements by prominent women and feminists such as Barbara Spalding and Anne Summers.
During 2007 Senator Allison also noticeably increased the representation of young people in the party, with a third of Victorian candidates for the House of Representatives aged under thirty years of age.
In the 2007 federal election, the Democrats, however, failed to retain their position in the Senate, with Lyn Allison among the casualties. Her seat was won by the resurgent Labor Party. Senator Allison's term expired on 30 June 2008.