Marielle Catherine Smith (born 30 December 1986), also known as Marielle Feuerherdt Smith, is an Australian politician. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has served as a Senator for South Australia since 2019.
Marielle Smith | |
|---|---|
| Senator for South Australia | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Marielle Catherine Smith 30 December 1986 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Citizenship |
|
| Political party | ALP |
| Alma mater | Australian National University London School of Economics |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
editMarielle Catherine Smith,[1] also referred to as Marielle Feuerherdt Smith,[2][3] was born on 30 December 1986 in Sydney.[4] Her mother was born in the United Kingdom and she held British citizenship by descent until renouncing it in 2018 prior to running for parliament.[2]
Smith attended University Senior College in Adelaide, South Australia.[5][6] She holds the degrees of Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University and Master of Science from the London School of Economics.[4]
Career
editAfter graduating from ANU she joined the Australian Public Service through the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's graduate program.[5]
Smith has undertaken volunteer work with non-government organisations in Ghana and Sierra Leone.[5] She is a former board member of Transit Systems, a bus company co-founded by her father Neil.[7][8] She can drive articulated buses.[9]
Politics
editALP
editSmith joined the Australian Labor Party (ALP) at a young age. She worked for Labor MP Kate Ellis as a researcher (2005–2008) and ministerial adviser (2010–2012), and later as a senior policy adviser to Prime Minister Julia Gillard. She regards both Ellis and Gillard as mentors.[10]
In 2017, Smith was elected to the ALP state executive and state council. She also served as a delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference.[4] In 2018, she was a preselection candidate for the Division of Adelaide.[11]
Senate
editSmith was elected to the Senate at the 2019 federal election. She is a member of several Senate committees.[4] She has been identified as a member of the Labor Right faction.[11]
In her maiden speech to the Senate, Smith called for Labor to retain its 2019 election policy of funding preschool for three-year-olds "to ensure all children can access world-leading early education and care, regardless of what their parents do, how much they earn or where they live."[12]
Personal life
editSmith is married with two children and three step-children.[13] Her husband Clint Feuerherdt is the managing director of SeaLink Travel Group and former CEO of Transit Systems.[14][15]
References
edit- ^ "His Excellency the Administrator in Executive Council has been pleased to appoint the undermentioned to the State Procurement Board... Marielle Catherine Smith" (PDF). The South Australian Government Gazette. 4 October 2017. p. 4222.
- ^ a b Smith, Marielle. "Qualification Checklist" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "Smith, Marielle Feuerherdt". Parliamentary Handbook. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Senator Marielle Smith". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ^ a b c "USC Old Scholars Update: Marielle Smith (Class of 2004)". University Senior College. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2020. [dead link]
- ^ "Semester 2 Newsletter" (PDF). University Senior College. 2020. p. 9.
- ^ "Transit Systems new depot". Australasian Bus & Coach. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ^ "In Transit". Coach & Bus. 14 May 2014. pp. 32–34. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ^ Mayfield, Greg (25 January 2019). "Labor candidate Marielle Smith visits Pirie auto-shop". The Recorder. Archived from the original on 6 February 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ Gailberger, Jade (20 May 2019). "Meet SA's newest Labor Senator, Marielle Smith". The Advertiser. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ a b Harmsen, Nick (13 April 2018). "New South Australia electoral boundaries serve Labor food for thought as Mark Butler waits on a seat". ABC News. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
Marielle Smith, a one-time adviser to Ms Ellis and a current adviser to former Prime Minister Julia Gillard has confirmed to the ABC she intends to nominate for the seat when preselection opens.
- ^ Gailberger, Jade (11 September 2019), "Expand, don't abandon preschool policy, Senator Marielle Smith warns in maiden speech", The Advertiser, retrieved 24 August 2020
- ^ "Marielle Smith". Australian Labor Party. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ^ "SeaLink gears up for $635m buyout of Transit Systems". AdelaideNow. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ Robin, Myriam (19 April 2022). "Family ties still fiendish for Marielle Smith". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 11 June 2024.