Mia Davies

Mia Jane Davies (born 3 November 1978) is an Australian politician who is the current leader of the National Party in Western Australia. She has been a member of the state Legislative Assembly since 2013, having previously served in the Legislative Council from 2009 to 2013. Davies was elected deputy leader of the Nationals in November 2013, and replaced Brendon Grylls as leader in March 2017 following his defeat at the 2017 state election.

The Honourable Mia Davies MLA
15th Leader of the National Party in Western Australia
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 March 2017
Deputy	Jacqui Boydell
Preceded by	Brendon Grylls
Deputy Leader of the National Party in Western Australia
In office 26 November 2013 – 11 March 2017
Leader	Terry Redman Brendon Grylls
Preceded by	Terry Redman
Succeeded by	Jacqui Boydell
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 March 2013
Preceded by	Brendon Grylls
Constituency	Central Wheatbelt
Member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia
In office 22 May 2009 – 12 February 2013 Serving with Benson-Lidholm, Chown, Ellis, Gardiner, Trenorden
Constituency	Agricultural
Personal details
Born	Mia Jane Davies 3 November 1978 Perth, Western Australia
Political party	National
Father	Dexter Davies
Alma mater	Murdoch University

Early life

Davies was born in Perth to Effie (née South) and Dexter Davies. Her father was also a National Party member of parliament. Davies was raised on her parents' farm in Yorkrakine, a small Wheatbelt town. She attended Wyalkatchem District High School before boarding at Methodist Ladies' College, Perth, and later completed a degree in marketing and media at Murdoch University.[1] From 1999 to 2001, Davies lived and worked in London. After returning to Australia, she began working for Max Trenorden (the state leader of the National Party at the time) as an administrative assistant and research officer. She continued on in a similar role when Brendon Grylls became leader in 2005, and later ran her own consulting business.[2]

Politics

At the 2008 state election, Davies was elected to parliament in third position on the National Party ticket for Agricultural Region. Her election was challenged by Anthony Fels, a Family First candidate, and the dispute was not settled until just two days before her term was set to begin (in May 2009).[2][3] She was 30 years old at the time of being sworn in, becoming the youngest member of the Legislative Council at the time (the "baby of the house").[2] At the 2013 state election, Davies transferred to the Legislative Assembly, winning the seat of Central Wheatbelt. Her predecessor in the seat was Brendon Grylls, the party leader, who had transferred to the seat of Pilbara. After the election, Davies was made parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Regional Development and the Minister for Lands, and also assistant minister to the Minister for State Development.[4]

In November 2013, Davies was elected deputy leader of the National Party, replacing Terry Redman (who had replaced Brendon Grylls as leader). Her only opponent for the deputy leadership was Wendy Duncan.[5] Davies was subsequently elevated to the ministry, becoming Minister for Water and Minister for Forestry.[4] She was 35 at the time, becoming the youngest-ever government minister from her party (and the eighth-youngest overall).[6] In December 2014, Davies was also made Minister for Sport and Recreation, replacing Terry Waldron.[4] She continued in cabinet until the Barnett government's landslide defeat at the 2017 state election, which also saw Brendon Grylls lose the seat of Pilbara. Despite this, Davies actually increased her share of the vote, with Central Wheatbelt becoming the safest non-government seat in the state.[7] Following the state election in March 2017; Davies was elected the Leader of the Parliamentary National Party (WA) and Mining and Pastoral MP, Hon Jacqui Boydell MLC became the Deputy Leader.

See also

• Women in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
• Women in the Western Australian Legislative Council

References

1. Mia Jane Davies – Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
2. Black, David and Phillips, Harry (2012). Making a Difference: Women in the Western Australian Parliament 1921–2012 (PDF). Parliament House, Perth, Western Australia: Parliament of Western Australia. pp. 512–519.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
3. "Fels loses appeal over Davies victory", ABC News, 21 May 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
4. Hon. Mia Jane Davies MLA BMM – Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
5. "Mia Davies chosen as Nationals deputy leader and will fill vacant Cabinet post", ABC News, 26 November 2013.
6. David Black (2014), The Western Australian Parliamentary Handbook (Twenty-Third Edition) Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine; Perth [W.A.]: Parliament of Western Australia; p. 240.