Senator Bridget McKenzie |
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McKenzie in July 2014
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Senator for Victoria | |
Assumed office 1 July 2011 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
Alexandra, Victoria, Australia |
27 December 1969
Nationality | Australian |
Political party | The Nationals |
Children | 4 |
Residence | Ballarat, Victoria |
Occupation | Federal Senator |
Profession | Politician |
Bridget McKenzie (born 27 December 1969) is an Australian politician and The Nationals member for Victoria in the Australian Senate. She was elected to the Australian Senate representing Victoria at the 2010 federal election. She is the National Party’s only Victorian senator.
McKenzie attended Deakin University, where she was the President of the student union as the head of a multipartisan ticket made up of a mixture of independents, Labor, Liberal, and Green members, where she spearheaded a nonpartisan, student-led campaign against then Prime Minister John Howard's cuts to higher education and funding for student unions. She remains an Honorary Life Member of the student union for her efforts.
After graduating, she was employed as a teacher and later lectured at Monash University.
McKenzie's electorate office is in the regional Victorian city of Bendigo. McKenzie received media attention when it was revealed that she resided in a property in the inner-city Melbourne suburb of Elwood, however, this was a short term living arrangement and she has since moved back to regional Victoria.
Senator McKenzie is opposed to gay marriage, despite opposition from her gay brother, who wrote a letter to a local regional paper, the Bendigo Advertiser, to express his dismay.
Senator McKenzie is also a champion of guns and firearms, she enjoys hunting animals for sport, clay target shooting and opposed a ban on a particular type of lever-action shotgun.
Her ancestors were Scottish.