Caitlin Collins
MLA
Caitlin Collins at Bambara Primary School during the 2021 WA State Election.
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
for Hillarys
Assumed office
13 March 2021
Preceded byPeter Katsambanis
Personal details
Born (1988-07-22) 22 July 1988 (age 35)
Aberdeen, Scotland
Political partyLabor
Websitewww.caitlincollins.com.au

Caitlin Mary Collins (born 22 July 1988)[1] is an Australian politician. She has been a Labor member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since the 2021 state election, representing Hillarys.[2][3] Prior to her election, Collins taught politics and history at local High Schools.

Previously, she contested the 2017 state election in then-Premier Colin Barnett's seat of Cottesloe.[4]

Personal life

Born in Aberdeen, Scotland on 22 July 1988, Collins migrated to Australia, arriving in Victoria in 1992 and then moving to Perth, Western Australia in 1996.[1] She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2010 with a BA, majoring in history, politics and international relations.[5] She lives in Padbury with her partner Jack, and their dog Lenny.[6]

Early career

Collins studied history, politics and international relations at Notre Dame in Fremantle then pursued a teaching qualification in order to share her passion for civics.[6]

She has taught extensively in India, Colombia and Vietnam and completed a parliamentary internship in Ireland.[6] In her inaugural speech, she raised the issues of climate action, youth mental health and the power of education.[7]

Political career

Collins was endorsed as Labor candidate for the seat of Hillarys in July 2020.[8] In her election campaigns, she received mentoring from New South Wales politician, Rose Jackson, through EMILY's List Australia.[9]

At the 2021 election Collins gained one of the largest swings in the entire state, 19.3% as was elected as the first Labor Member to Hillarys since Pamela Beggs held the predecessor seat of Whitfords from 1983-1993.[10]

Collins is the 100th woman elected to the Western Australian Parliament being sworn in 100 years after the election of Edith Cowan, the first woman elected to any Parliament in Australia.[1]

Parliamentary appointments

Collins was appointed as a member of the Education and Health Standing Committee from 12 May 2021 and as an Acting Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 11 May 2022 to 13 June 2023.[1]

Collins was appointed as Secretary of the State Parliamentary Labor Party from 14 February 2023.

Election Results

2021 State Election

2021 Western Australian state election: Hillarys[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Caitlin Collins 15,671 61.4 +28.1
Liberal Peter Katsambanis 6,900 27.0 −11.0
Greens Greg Glazov 1,366 5.4 −3.9
Legalise Cannabis Katrina Winfield 582 2.3 +2.3
No Mandatory Vaccination W. Seeto 476 1.9 +1.9
Liberals for Climate Rick Tylka 339 1.3 +1.3
WAxit Zoran Jankulovski 184 0.7 +0.5
Total formal votes 25,518 97.0 +0.9
Informal votes 802 3.0 −0.9
Turnout 26,320 88.1 −0.3
Two-party-preferred result
Labor Caitlin Collins 17,597 69.0 +19.3
Liberal Peter Katsambanis 7,919 31.0 −19.3
Labor gain from Liberal Swing +19.3

2017 State Election

2017 Western Australian state election: Cottesloe[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Colin Barnett 13,264 56.7 −8.1
Labor Caitlin Collins 5,280 22.6 +10.4
Greens Greg Boland 2,826 12.1 +1.8
Independent Alida Lancee 1,332 5.7 +5.7
Christians Riaan Groenewald 226 1.0 −0.3
Micro Business Nicole Poppas 198 0.8 +0.8
Michael Watson 176 0.8 +0.8
Independent Dmitry Malov 103 0.4 +0.4
Total formal votes 23,405 96.6 +0.1
Informal votes 819 3.4 −0.1
Turnout 24,224 88.4 +0.1
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal Colin Barnett 14,799 63.3 −7.8
Labor Caitlin Collins 8,590 36.7 +7.8
Liberal hold Swing −7.8

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Ms Caitlin Mary Collins MLA BA (Hons), DipEd". Parliament of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  2. ^ "The WA election's biggest losers form a long blue line as Liberals reel from devastating loss". ABC News. 14 March 2021. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  3. ^ Burton, Jesinta (13 March 2021). "Hillarys key marginal in the north". Business News. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  4. ^ "2017 State General Election: Cottesloe District Profile". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Challenging the Political Status Quo". In Principio: 25. August 2017.
  6. ^ a b c "About Caitlin". caitlincollins.com.au. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Caitlin Collins Inaugural Speech" (PDF). 19 August 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 August 2021.
  8. ^ Brown, Tyler (21 July 2020). "Labor reveals Hillarys candidate". Joondalup Times. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  9. ^ "2021 Western Australia Election Candidates". EMILY's List Australia. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  10. ^ "WA Election 2021". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  11. ^ 2021 State General Election – Hillarys District Results, WAEC
  12. ^ Cottesloe District Profile and Results, 2017 State General Election, WAEC.
Western Australian Legislative Assembly Preceded byPeter Katsambanis Member for Hillarys 2021–present Incumbent


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