Katrine Hildyard

Katrine Anne Hildyard is an Australian politician representing the electoral district of Reynell in the Parliament of South Australia as a member of the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party since the 2014 state election. Hildyard was appointed to the Cabinet of South Australia in September 2017 as Minister for Disabilities;[1] and served in this role until the 2018 state election.

The Honourable Katrine Hildyard MP
Member of the South Australian Parliament for Reynell
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 March 2014
Preceded by	Gay Thompson
Majority	10%
Personal details
Born	Katrine Anne Hildyard
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Charles Wright
Education	Flinders University
Profession	Trade union leader, company director, clerical worker, cleaner

Background and early career

Hildyard was born in Adelaide and grew up in Netley with her brother and two sisters. During Hildyard's childhood her mother was the victim of domestic violence from her estranged father, which shaped her passion on the issue in later life.[2] Hildyard attended Plympton High School and studied a Bachelor of Arts at Flinders University as a mature age student. She worked as a cleaner, shop assistant, lecturer, and clerical worker.[2] She later graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and was a Fellow of the Governor's Leadership Foundation.[3]

Hildyard joined the Labor Party in the 1990s and became a member of the Labor Left.[2][4] She worked for ALP Senator Nick Bolkus between 1994 and 1996.[2]

In 1996 Hildyard began working for the South Australian branch of the Australian Services Union (ASU), where she was elected Assistant Secretary in 2006[5] and later Secretary in 2009.[2] As Secretary the ASU campaigned for overwhelmingly female community sector workers to have their wages increased to match their mainly-male private sector counterparts.[6] An equal pay case before Fair Work Australia was successful in 2012, and the State Government committed to increasing wages between 19 and 41 per cent.[7] The ASU also committed to supporting same-sex marriage and lobbying the Labor Party to change its policy, which at the time was opposed to any change.[8]

In 2008 Hildyard participated in the social inclusion stream of the Australia 2020 Summit.[9] She was appointed to the Premier's Council for Women in 2011.[10] As part of the 2012 Australia Day honours she received the 'Women Hold Up Half The Sky' award, recognising women who advance and enrich society, for the ASU's community sector equal pay campaign.[11]

Political career

At the 2014 state election Hildyard was elected as the Labor member for Reynell, replacing retiring member Gay Thompson. In her maiden speech, Hildyard said her priorities included reducing domestic violence, supporting equal pay for women, maintaining high quality mental health services, and recognising Indigenous Australians in the constitution.[2]

Hildyard lobbied Attorney-General John Rau to include paid domestic violence leave as an industrial right for 120,000 public sector employees.[12]

In February 2015 Hildyard was promoted to the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier.[13] She also led a taskforce on Women in Sport, composed of athletes, administrators and event managers, to help close the pay gap for women athletes and encourage investment in women's sport.[14] She joined fellow MPs Nat Cook and Chris Picton, located in Adelaide's southern suburbs, to oppose the government's proposed changes to emergency department services at the Noarlunga Hospital.[15] Hildyard pledged to update the Equal Opportunity Act to prevent discrimination against victims of domestic violence, and to provide paid annual leave to victims so they can attend medical and police appointments, and move house if necessary.[16] She also launched a parliamentary anti-domestic violence group with Liberal MP Dan Van Holst Pellekaan.[17]

Hildyard was elected the President of the South Australian Labor Party in October 2015.[18] Hildyard also co-sponsored a bill to remove discrimination against same-sex parents being listed on the birth certificate of a child.[19] Hildyard was appointed to cabinet in September 2017 as Minister for Disabilities;[1] and served in this role until the 2018 state election.

Personal life

Hildyard lives in Christies Beach with her husband, Charles, and two children.[5] She is a practising Catholic.[2]

She is a long-time supporter of the Southern Football League, and provides live commentary of games from that competition in a weekly radio broadcast during the football season.[20]

References

1. "Assistant ministers elevated after Leesa Vlahos, Jack Snelling resignation from SA Cabinet". ABC News. Australia. 18 September 2017.
2. "House of Assembly, Address in Reply". Hansard. Parliament of South Australia. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
3. "Profile: Ms Katrine Hildyard". Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
4. Bowe, William. "South Australian Election 2014: Reynell". The Poll Bludger. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
5. "South Australian Labor Party - Katrine Hildyard". sa.alp.org.au. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
6. Jenkin, Cara (11 June 2010). "Rally draws 400 female workers seeking action". The Advertiser. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
7. Novak, Lauren (2 February 2012). "Big pay rise a boost for women". The Advertiser. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
8. Potts, Andrew (28 July 2011). "Union to join marriage fight". www.starobserver.com.au. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
9. "Bio: Katrine Hildyard". e-volanteerism.com. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
10. "Hildyard appointed to Council for Women". The Advertiser. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
11. "Awards and Honours". Office for Women. Department of Communities and Social Inclusion. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
12. Novak, Lauren (24 November 2014). "State Government to give all public sector workers domestic violence training". The Advertiser. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
13. "SA ministry reshuffle: Rau gets child protection task, Kyam Maher moved into Cabinet, Katrine Hildyard elevated". ABC News. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
14. Novak, Lauren (27 August 2015). "Campaign seeks gender pay parity, more spectator and monetary following for women in sport". The Advertiser. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
15. "SA Labor MPs warn against hospital changes". The Advertiser. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
16. Novak, Lauren (25 November 2015). "Discrimination: Women being forced out of jobs, missing promotions for being in an abusive relationship". The Advertiser. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
17. "SA MPs to oppose domestic violence". The Advertiser. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
18. Puddy, Rebecca (26 October 2015). "ALP branch reins in unions on ballot picks". The Australian. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
19. Donnollan, Angelique (29 October 2015). "SA mums push for recognition on birth certificates for same-sex parents". ABC News. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
20. Broadstock, Amelia (7 October 2014). "Southern Football League to launch weekly radio show providing live coverage of a match each week". Southern Times Messenger. Retrieved 20 January 2016.

External links

• Parliamentary Profile: SA Parliament website
• Parliamentary Profile: SA Labor website