Biography          (click here for brief bio)

Between 1998 and 2007 Kate Lundy was a Shadow Minister, covering various portfolios throughout this time including Sport, Health Promotion, Information Technology, Local Government, Manufacturing, Consumers Affairs and Youth.

Kate is an active member of several Parliamentary Committees, including the Senate Committees on Environment, Communications and the Arts, Community Affairs, the Select Committee on Housing Affordability.

She is also on the Joint Standing Committee for the National Capital and External Territories, Public Accounts and Audit and a member of the Presiding Officers’ Information Technology Advisory Committee.

Kate is an internet enthusiast and still publishes her own web site.  In the past, she has been recognised by the Australian Computer Society as the "Most Computer Literate Politician" and in 2001, Kate made the Australian Financial Review's top five Power List in the IT&T industry.

Kate is a strong advocate for her home town, Canberra, which in addition to being a beautiful national capital, is a wonderful place to live, work and bring up kids.

on a more personal note....

Kate Lundy is a passionate sportswoman. She is a member and patron of the Canberra Rowing Club, and patron of a number of other sports and charity organisations.

Kate lives in North Canberra with her husband David.  They have a blended family of five children.

She was born in Sydney and spent the early part of her childhood in Quirindi, NSW. The Lundy family then moved to Canberra in 1975. Kate began her working career as a labourer in the construction industry at age 16 and became active in the Building Workers Industrial Union (now the CFMEU), later becoming a workplace delegate and a full-time union organiser.

In 1987, Kate was elected Vice-President of the ACT branch of the BWIU and in 1993 she became the first woman to be elected as President of the ACT Trades and Labour Council. She held this position until her election to the Senate in 1996.

In 1996, after being elected to the Senate, Kate became a foundation member of Emily's List, an organisation established by Labor women to support the election of more Labor women to Parliament.

Being sworn in as Senator for the ACT on 30 April 1996.

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Curriculum Vitae

Kate Lundy

Senator for the Australian Capital Territory

Parliamentary Service

Committee Service

Senate and Joint House Committees

Current: (from Feb. 2008)

Previous (Prior 2007 Election)

Conferences, Delegations and Visits

Parliamentary Party Positions

Party Positions

Personal

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

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More background on Kate Lundy...

I was born in Sydney in 1967, and spent my early childhood in Quirindi, New South Wales.  My family moved to Canberra in 1975. 

Growing up in Canberra, I attended Latham Primary School, Ginninderra High  and Copland College.  My main interests at school were science, art and just about any sport, particularly netball and basketball. My very first job was at McDonalds, where I worked for a short time as a casual.

When I was 16, I left college to enter the workforce as a labourer in the building and construction industry. My first job was removing asbestos from buildings. This established my continuing concern for workplace health and safety.  My political awareness grew on the job and I became a workplace delegate for the Building Workers Industrial Union (later to become the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union: CFMEU).

I became politically active as a result of my experiences in the workplace and joined the Australian Labor Party when I was 18.  I was active in the party and held  a number of positions within my sub-branch and policy committees over the years.

In 1986, I joined the union as a full-time organiser, working extensively in occupational health and safety, sustainable industry development and later, communications and information technology.   In 1987, I was elected Vice-President of the ACT Branch of the BWIU and was proud to be the first woman ever to hold an executive position for the BWIU in Australia. 

During my time with the union, I was involved in the establishment of the ACT Occupational Health and Safety Act when we moved to self government and was a member of the OH&S Council.  I also established a national Rank and File Drug and Alcohol Program here in the ACT. This program allows workers to confront and deal with this sensitive issue amongst themselves.  I also worked on a 'Jobs for Canberra' campaign which sought to establish some job security for thousands of building workers as construction work started to wind down in the early nineties.

I was also the union's training co-ordinator, particularly in the area of occupational health and safety and had responsibility for the design and publishing of the quarterly publication, "The Building Worker". It was in this capacity that I was introduced to the Internet during the early stages of its commercialisation. I was struck by the social potential of the internet and was convinced it would change how we lived, learnt and communicated.

In 1988, I had joined the executive of the ACT Trades and Labour Council.  Later, in 1993 I became the youngest person and first woman elected as President of the Council.   As a member of the TLC Executive, I was appointed to several government and community boards, covering issues ranging from workplace health and safety, cultural heritage, health promotion and regional economic development.

My favourite pastime is spending time with my family.  I have three children, two lovely teenage girls and a feisty 6 year old boy. I also have two wonderful steps sons who live in Wangaratta with their mum. 

My husband David is busy too, so we try to help each other out. We like keeping fit and have an 'advanced open water diver' licence - I love scuba diving - the Sapphire Coast is incredible. We also have motorbike licences and like to go bush on our dirt bikes with the kids.

When I was 25, I learnt to row. This has turned into a passion and I used to row most mornings at dawn. It is harder to find the time for rowing now, but I try to get out on Lake Burley Griffin a couple of times a week.  I am a member of Canberra Rowing Club and still try to find the time to compete in local and masters regattas. 

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Brief Bio

Kate Lundy was elected as the Labor Senator for the Australian Capital Territory in March 1996, at age 28. 

Between 1998 and 2007 Kate Lundy was a Shadow Minister, covering various portfolios throughout this time including Sport, Health Promotion, Information Technology, Local Government, Manufacturing, Consumers Affairs and Youth.

As a government Senator, Kate is an active member of several Parliamentary Committees, including the Senate Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts,  the Joint Standing Committee for the National Capital and External Territories, Public Accounts and Audit and a member of the Presiding Officers’ Information Technology Advisory Committee.

Kate is an internet enthusiast and still publishes her own web site.  In the past, she has been recognised by the Australian Computer Society as the "Most Computer Literate Politician" and in 2001, Kate made the Australian Financial Review's top five Power List in the IT&T industry.

Kate is a strong advocate for her home town, Canberra, which in addition to being a beautiful national capital, is a wonderful place to live, work and bring up kids.

She is a passionate sportswoman and a member and patron of the Canberra Rowing Club, as well as patron of a number of other sports and charity organisations.

Kate lives in North Canberra with her husband David.  They have a blended family of five children.