The Honourable Jeannette McHugh |
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Member of the Australian Parliament for Phillip |
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In office 5 March 1983 – 13 March 1993 |
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Preceded by | Jack Birney |
Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
Member of the Australian Parliament for Grayndler |
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In office 13 March 1993 – 29 January 1996 |
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Preceded by | Leo McLeay |
Succeeded by | Anthony Albanese |
Personal details | |
Born |
Jeannette Goffet 18 December 1934 Kandos, New South Wales |
Nationality | Australian |
Political party | Australian Labor Party |
Spouse(s) | Michael McHugh (m. 1960) |
Alma mater | University of Sydney |
Occupation | Teacher |
Jeannette McHugh (born 18 December 1934), Australian politician, is a former Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Divisions of Phillip (1983–1993) and Grayndler (1993–96) in New South Wales.
Born in Kandos, New South Wales, McHugh was educated at the University of Sydney where she resided at The Women's College.
She worked as a languages teacher and on social justice issues for many years through her involvement in housing, environment, anti-nuclear, peace and women's organisations before gaining ALP pre-selection for the Division of Phillip, a seat she won at the Australian federal election, 1983, making her the first woman from New South Wales to sit in the federal parliament.
She was made Minister for Consumer Affairs in 1993, making her the first female federal minister from NSW. When the Division of Phillip was abolished after redistribution, it was arranged for McHugh (as a minister) to move to the Division of Grayndler (the sitting member Leo McLeay agreed to move to the new neighbouring electorate of Watson).
McHugh announced her retirement from parliament, to be effective at the time of the 1996 Australian federal election, at which the ALP lost government. Anthony Albanese won pre-selection for Grayndler, and retained the seat during the election.
McHugh is Chair of the Jessie Street Trust, and was Secretary of the Evatt Foundation until November 2006.
Jeannette McHugh is married to former High Court of Australia justice Michael McHugh.