Senator
Linda White
Senator for Victoria
In office
1 July 2022 – 29 February 2024
Preceded byKim Carr
Succeeded byTBC
Personal details
Born1959/1960[1]
Died29 February 2024 (aged 64)
Political partyLabor
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
OccupationSolicitor

Linda White (1959/1960 – 29 February 2024) was an Australian politician. She was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and was elected to the Senate as the party's lead candidate in Victoria at the 2022 federal election, to a term beginning on 1 July 2022. She was a lawyer and trade unionist before entering politics, including serving as the assistant national secretary of the Australian Services Union (ASU) from 1995 till 2020.[2]

Early life

White studied law and commerce at the University of Melbourne.[3]

Career

White worked as a solicitor for ten years before joining the Australian Services Union (ASU).[4] She served as assistant national secretary with responsibility for "the union's national strategy in the private sector including the airline industry, IT and call centre industries and the non-government social and community services (SACS) sector".[5]

In 1993, White became a director of the Victorian Legal Industry Superannuation Scheme, which later merged into LegalSuper. She has also served as a director of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image[3] and Statewide Super from 2019 to 2022.[6]

Politics

White was elected to the Australian Labor Party National Executive in 2006. She was appointed to the board of the Chifley Research Centre, the party's think tank, in 2013 and became chair in 2015.[3] She was a prominent organisational power broker from Labor Left, representing the Victorian Socialist Left Faction.[7]

In March 2022, White won ALP preselection as the party's lead Senate candidate in Victoria at the 2022 federal election[8] and was elected to a term commencing on 1 July 2022.[9] She replaced one of her political rivals, Senator Kim Carr, on the ticket after his retirement. She received the support of the United Workers Union, the Australian Services Union, and grassroots members of the Socialist Left in her preselection contest against Josh Bornstein and Ryan Batchelor.[10]

Death

In February 2024, White took leave from parliamentary work to deal with major health issues.[11] She died in office on 29 February 2024.[12] Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced her death and paid tribute to Senator White.[13] He had visited her in hospital.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Former unionist Linda White odds-on to replace Labor's outgoing Kim carr". The Australian. 27 March 2022. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  2. ^ ASU. "Statement on the Appointment of Emeline Gaske as new Assistant National Secretary of the ASU". www.asu.asn.au. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Who we are". Chifley Research Centre. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Linda White". Australian Labor Party. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Linda White". ACMI. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Former Senator Linda White". Parliament of Australia. 29 February 2024. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Factional friction: who to watch at Labor's national conference". Australian Financial Review. 16 August 2023. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Labor finalise crucial election candidates". 7News. 28 March 2022. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Senator Linda White". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  10. ^ Karp, Paul (14 March 2022). "Unionist Linda White leads race to replace Victorian Labor senator Kim Carr". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  11. ^ Bovill, Monte (29 February 2024). "'Our hearts are broken': Victorian Labor senator Linda White dies". ABC News. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Victorian Labor senator Linda White dies". Canberra Times. 29 February 2024.
  13. ^ Victorian Labor Senator Linda White dies, Sky News Australia, 29 February 2024, retrieved 1 March 2024
  14. ^ Ireland, Olivia (1 March 2024). "Labor senator Linda White dies after health battle". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.

 

Parliament of Australia Preceded byKim Carr Senator for Victoria 2022–2024 Succeeded byTBC
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