Kathy Sullivan

Who is Kathy Sullivan?

Kathryn Jean Martin "Kathy" Sullivan AM, Australian politician, was a Liberal member of the Australian Senate from 1974 to 1984, representing Queensland, and a member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Moncrieff, Queensland, from 1984 to 2001. She served longer in the Australian Parliament than any other woman, oustripping the record previously held by Dorothy Tangney. She was the first woman member of the parliament to have served in both houses.

Sullivan was born Kathryn Jean Martin in Brisbane, Queensland, and was educated at the University of Queensland, where she graduated in arts. She was a teacher, administrative officer and part-time lecturer before entering politics.

She was elected to the Senate at the 1974 election, and sat as Senator Kathy Martin. She resigned from the Senate in 1984 in order to contest the newly created lower house seat of Moncrieff at the 1984 election. Soon after entering the House of Representatives she changed her name to Kathy Sullivan.

Sullivan was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry and. She was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

She has been a vocal advocate for an increase in the number of women in parliament.