Linda Lavarch

Who is Linda Lavarch?

Linda Denise Lavarch is an Australian politician and solicitor. She was a Labor Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1997 to 2009, representing the district of Kurwongbah.

Lavarch was first elected to the seat of Kurwongbah, situated in Brisbane's northern suburbs, in a by-election on 24 May 1997. On 28 July 2005, Lavarch was appointed Queensland's Attorney-General and Minister for Justice—the first woman Attorney-General in Queensland. Prior to being appointed Attorney-General, she held the position of parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Energy and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy, John Mickel.

Lavarch pursued an active reform agenda as Attorney-General particularly focusing on community justice initiatives and the treatment of vulnerable people in the criminal justice system. She retired at the 2009 state election.

Linda currently chairs the Australian Government's Not-For-Profit Sector Reform Council which provides advice to Government on not-for-profit sector issues.

Linda Lavarch was formerly married to Michael Lavarch.