Helen Polley
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Senator Helen Polley |
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| Senator for Tasmania | |
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Assumed office 1 July 2005 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
9 February 1957 Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Website | www |
Helen Beatrice Polley (born 9 February 1957) is an Australian politician and is an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian Senate, representing the state of Tasmania.
Polley spent time working for The Hon. Michael Field MHA, two Tasmanian Senators in the 1980s, then as adviser to the former Premier of Tasmania, the late The Hon. Jim Bacon MHA and his successor, The Hon. Paul Lennon MHA.
Senator Polley has had various other occupations, including administrative roles and work in finance, transport and manufacturing. Senator Polley is a member of the Australian Workers' Union (AWU). Polley is linked with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA).
She was the first female President of the Tasmanian branch of the ALP from 1992-1995, before being elected as Senator for Tasmania at the 2004 Federal Election.
Polley took up her position on 1 July 2005 and retained her Senate seat at the 2010 Federal Election.
Senator Polley is Chair of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, Deputy-Chair of the Finance and Public Administration References Committee and a Committee Member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, Joint Committee on the National Broadband Network and Law Enforcement – Parliamentary Joint Committee.
Polley has been a staunch advocate for the initial rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN) in Tasmania. Senator Polley is on the record as saying that the NBN is crucial to Tasmania's economic future, stating in 2013 that "the NBN is the most important investment in Tasmania's future."
Senator Polley has actively campaigned for several years for the institution of "Baby Safe Havens" in all Australian States and Territories. She is quoted as saying that: "There are women and babies who require safe havens. Consequently, there is no reason why we should not be able to provide them with this service. It is not about removing the responsibility of child birth, it is about assisting women who are desperate. Women who are not psychologically, emotionally or financially equipped to take care of their babies. Government must act to ensure mothers and their babies are provided this essential service."
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Wikipedia