Jaala Pulford

Jaala Pulford (born 14 February 1974) is an Australian politician. She has been a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council since 2006, representing Western Victoria Region.

The Honourable Jaala Pulford MLC
Minister for Roads
In office 30 November 2018 – 22 June 2020
Preceded by	Luke Donnellan
Succeeded by	Ben Carroll
Minister for Agriculture
In office 4 December 2014 – 30 November 2018
Preceded by	Peter Walsh
Succeeded by	Jaclyn Symes
Minister for Regional Development
In office 4 December 2014 – 30 November 2018
Preceded by	Peter Ryan
Succeeded by	Jaclyn Symes
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
In office 4 December 2014 – 30 November 2018
Preceded by	Wendy Lovell
Succeeded by	Jaclyn Symes
Member of the Victorian Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 25 November 2006
Constituency	Western Victoria Region
Personal details
Born	14 February 1974 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Labor Party
Alma mater	Deakin University
Website	http://www.jaalapulford.com.au/

Pulford was Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional Development and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council between 4 December 2014 and 30 November 2018 following the election of the Andrews Labor Government. She was appointed Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC, and Fishing and Boating on 30 November 2018.

Early life

Pulford grew up in Castlemaine and attended Bendigo Senior Secondary College.[1] She worked as an Organiser for the National Union of Workers Victorian Branch between 1994 and 2006.[1]

Pulford has a Bachelor of Applied Management from University of Ballarat[1] and has since completed a Masters of Public Policy at Deakin University.

Political career

Pulford has held a number of roles within the ALP, including State and National Conference delegate, Junior Vice-President of the Victorian Branch, National Labor Women's Network secretary, and President of the ALP Women's Policy Committee.[1]

In November 2006, she was elected, at the age of 32, as a member of the Victorian Legislative Council, representing the Western Victoria Region. As a member of the Brumby Government, she served as Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations (August 2007 – January 2010) and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Development, Industry and Trade (January – November 2010).[1]

Following the Labor government's loss at the 2010 state election, Pulford was appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition (Legislative Council) and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Development.[1]

On 4 December 2014, Pulford was appointed Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional Development and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council as part of the Labor Government led by Daniel Andrews.[2] She was Victoria's first female Agriculture Minister, and oversaw significant reform, including the establishment of Regional Partnerships and a medicinal cannabis industry, the mandatory electronic tagging of sheep, Victoria's first digital agriculture program, greater animal welfare protection, and attracting recreational fishers to Victoria.

On 30 November 2018, Pulford was appointed Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC, and Fishing and Boating in the re-elected Andrews Government.[3]

Personal life

Pulford is married with a son and lives in Ballarat. Her daughter Sinead died of cancer in 2014, aged 13.[4]

References

1. http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/details/1622-hon-jaala-pulford
2. http://www.stockandland.com.au/news/agriculture/general/politics/ag-minister-jaala-pulford-sworn-in/2718991.aspx
3. https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5786610/jaala-pulford-gets-tac-and-roads-boating-and-fishing.
4. Labor MP Jaala Pulford lost her daughter Sinead to cancer shortly after the election, Herald Sun, 23 January 2015

External links

• www.jaalapulford.com.au
• Parliamentary voting record of Jaala Pulford at Victorian Parliament Tracker