Louise Kingston | |
---|---|
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for South West Region | |
Assumed office 19 September 2023 | |
Preceded by | James Hayward |
Personal details | |
Born | Louise Maree Kingston 8 June 1965 Albany, Western Australia[1] |
Political party | Nationals |
Residence | Manjimup[2] |
Louise Kingston (born 8 June 1965)[3] is an Australian politician serving as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council to represent the Western Australian National Party for the South West Region.
Kingston was born in Albany. She previously worked as the state secretary of Timber Communities Australia,[4][5] and as an executive officer for the Small Business Centre and the Warren Blackwood Alliance of Councils.[5] Before being elected, Kingston worked as the manager of the Manjimup Community Resource Centre.[1][4][6] She also ran an engineering business and farm with her husband.[2][6][5]
Kingston first stood for election at the 2017 state election in second place on the Nationals ticket for the South West region of the Legislative Council.[7] At the 2019 federal election, Kingston ran for the Senate in third place on the Nationals ticket.[8] She ran in the second place on the Nationals ticket for the South West region of the Legislative Council at the 2021 state election, but was not elected.[2][1]
Although Kingston was unsuccessful at the 2021 election, fellow Nationals candidate James Hayward did win the seat, but was convicted in August 2023 of child sex offences, disqualifying him from parliament.[4] After his disqualification, a recount was to be performed to determine the next most popular candidate.[1][6] The recount was performed by the Western Australian Electoral Commission on 19 September 2023, resulting in Kingston's election.[5][9] She was sworn in on 28 September 2023.[10]
Kingston was immediately elevated to the shadow cabinet as the shadow minister for climate action and shadow minister for regional cities.[11][12] Following the defection of Merome Beard from the Nationals to the Liberals, Kingston also took up the tourism portfolio.[13]
Kingston moved to Manjimup in 2001.[5] She is married, with four children and three grandchildren.[2][1]