Senator the Honourable Kate Lundy
Note: The Prime Minister announced changes to the Ministry on 2 March 2012, this biography will be updated shortly.
Minister for Sport; Minister for Multicultural Affairs; Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation; Senator for the Australian Capital Territory
Senator Kate Lundy was first elected to the Senate for the Australian Capital Territory in 1996. Following the 2010 Federal Election, she was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Citizenship. In February 2011, Kate’s title was updated to Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural affairs. This change followed the launch of The People of Australia policy and the announcement that she would have a renewed focus on multicultural affairs in her role as Parliamentary Secretary assisting the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.
Prior to the 2010 election, Kate was Chair of the Joint Standing Committee for the National Capital and External Territories, a long-standing member of the Senate Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee and one of the Federal Parliament’s representatives on the Advisory Council of the National Archive of Australia.
Kate held many portfolios in Opposition including Information Technology, Sport and Recreation, Manufacturing, Consumer Affairs, Local Government and Health Promotion.
Senator Kate Lundy
Australian Capital Territory
Kate is passionate about her home town of Canberra and has an interest in the National Capital Plans and their relevance to a vibrant 21st century city. Kate is committed to working to ensure our national capital is a place for all Australians to share and enjoy.
Canberra’s inspiring landscape and remarkable geometry makes the city itself a work of art and reflects Griffin’s plan for our national capital.
Kate is also an enthusiastic rower and enjoys rowing out on Lake Burley Griffin as much as possible.
Information Technology
Senator Lundy has participated in every Senate Inquiry relating to telecommunications and Information Technology over the last fifteen years, and has spearheaded Gov 2.0 initiatives such as her Public Sphere events which facilitate online public collaboration on policy development.
In September 2009 Senator Lundy was recognised for her leadership in Gov2.0 online innovation with her Public Sphere initiative when she was ranked 13th in a short list of 25 global leaders by the International Centre for E-democracy and Politics Online.
In 2010 Senator Lundy was awarded the most influential person changing the world of Internet and politics, and accepted the award at the World eDemocracy Forum in France.
Senator Lundy continues to be a strong advocate for the use of the Internet, digital technology and ICT innovation to strengthen the Australian economy for future growth, to transform public engagement in government processes and to enhance social inclusion within our communities.
Senator Lundy is also patron for CASE: Computer Assistance Support Education, a non-profit group that provides smart, open technology support to community organisations.
Personal interests and family
Senator Lundy is an active sportswoman, participating in hockey, soccer, rowing and netball when time permits. Her love of sport includes being patron for Canberra Rowing Club and co-patron of Majura Junior Soccer Club. In her own time, she is also the independent Chair of Canberra United, Canberra’s team in the FFA’s National Women’s Football League.
Kate Lundy also enjoys gardening, watercolour painting and most of all, spending time with her 3 children, her husband David, their blended family of 5 and much-loved german shepherd, zuki.
History
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 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 have been active in the party and have 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 established a national Rank and File Drug and Alcohol Program 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 prior to the recession in the early nineties.
I later became the union’s training co-ordinator 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.
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 nine 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.
