Michaelia Cash

Senator The Honourable Michaelia Cash
File:Michaelia Cash March 2014.jpg
Minister for Employment
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 September 2015
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Eric Abetz
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Public Service
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 September 2015
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Eric Abetz
Minister for Women
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 September 2013
Prime Minister	Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Tony Abbott
Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
In office 18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015
Prime Minister	Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Kate Lundy
Succeeded by	Office Abolished
Senator for Western Australia
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 July 2008
Preceded by	Ross Lightfoot
Personal details
Born	Michaelia Clare Cash (1970-07-19) 19 July 1970 Subiaco, Western Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse(s)	Richard Price
Parents	The Hon George Cash AM
Alma mater	Curtin University; University of London; University of Western Australia
Profession	Lawyer; Politician

Michaelia Clare Cash (born 19 July 1970) is an Australian politician. She was promoted to cabinet as Minister for Employment and Minister for Women in the Turnbull Government from 21 September 2015. Cash has been a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Australian Senate since July 2008, representing the state of Western Australia.

Background and early career

Cash was born in the Perth suburb of Subiaco in Western Australia. She was educated at Iona Presentation College in Mosman Park.

In 1990 she graduated from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Arts with a triple major in public relations, politics, and journalism. She also holds an Honours Degree in Law from the University of London and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Western Australia (1998).

Cash is a long-standing member of the Liberal Party of WA. She was an executive member of the Curtin University Young Liberals from 1988 to 1990 and then the Western Australian Young Liberal Movement, where she held numerous positions including State Vice-President.

She was a long time member of the Liberal Party of Western Australia’s State Council and was the President of the Moore Division. She has also served on the Party's state executive.

Before commencing as a Senator for Western Australia, Cash was a Senior Associate with the law firm Freehills, where she worked from 1999 to 2008. She practised in all areas of employment and industrial law including industrial relations, employee relations, occupational health and safety, equal opportunity, executive employment and unfair dismissal.

Political career

See also: Abbott Government and Turnbull Government

Cash won preselection for the Liberal Party Senate ticket in 2007 and went on to be elected to the Federal Parliament at the 2007 federal election. She contested the election as the number three candidate of the Liberal Senate ticket in Western Australia.

Since entering Federal Parliament Cash has served on many Senate Committees.

• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances from 2.2.10 to 7.2.13.
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Education, Employment and Workplace Relations from 1.7.08 to 14.5.09; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation Committee from 14.5.09 (Deputy Chair from 2.2.10) to 23.8.11 and References Committees from 14.5.09 (Chair from 2.2.10) to 23.8.11.
• Senate Select: Men's Health from 3.2.09 to 12.5.09; Climate Policy from 17.3.09 to 15.6.09.
• Joint Statutory: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity from 16.3.12 to 5.8.13.
• Joint Standing: Treaties from 1.7.08 to 7.7.11; Migration from 1.7.11 to 5.8.13.
• Joint Select: Christmas Island Tragedy from 3.3.11 to 29.6.11; Australia's Immigration Detention Network from 22.6.11 to 30.3.12.

Cash was also a Temporary Chair of Committees from 2.2.10 to 28.9.10.

In September 2010, while in opposition, Cash was promoted to the positions of Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Status of Women and the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration. At this time Cash was also appointed Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate.

After the election of the Abbott Coalition Government in September 2013, Cash was sworn in as the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, as well as the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women.

Following a leadership change, Cash was appointed the Minister for Employment and the Minister for Women on 20 September 2015

Personal

Cash is married to Richard Price, a barrister and the brother of late political journalist Matt Price. She is the daughter of former Western Australian state MP, Minister and President of the Legislative Council, the Hon George Cash AM .

External links

• Parliamentary biography
• Senator Cash's first speech
• Summary of parliamentary voting for Senator Michaelia Cash on TheyVoteForYou.org.au

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Ross Lightfoot	Senator for Western Australia 2008–present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Julie Collins as Minister For The Status of Women	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women 2013–2015	Succeeded by Herself as Minister for Women
Preceded by Jason Clare as Minister for Home Affairs	Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection 2013–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Kate Lundy as Minister for Multicultural Affairs