Meegan Fitzharris

Meegan Fitzharris MLA
Minister for Higher Education, Training and Research
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 January 2016
Leader	Andrew Barr
Minister for Transport and Municipal Services
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 January 2016
Leader	Andrew Barr
Preceded by	Shane Rattenbury
Assistant Minister for Health
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 January 2016
Leader	Andrew Barr
Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 January 2015
Preceded by	Katy Gallagher
Constituency	Molonglo
Personal details
Born	1972 (age 43–44) Wellington, New Zealand
Citizenship	Australian
Nationality	New Zealand
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Pierre Huetter
Children	Three
Alma mater	University of Otago University of Auckland
Occupation	Politician, political staffer, public servant
Website	www.meeganfitzharris.com

Meegan Fitzharris (born 1972) is an elected Member for the Molonglo electorate in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, as of 15 January 2015. She won a countback to fill the Legislative Assembly seat vacated by former Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher.^[1][2] She is also the Minister for Transport and Municipal Services, Minister for Higher Education, Training and Research and Assistant Minister for Health.^[3]

Life and career

Meegan Fitzharris was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1972. She was educated at the University of Otago and the University of Auckland, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters in International Development.^[2]

Fitzharris moved to Australia in 1998.^[1] She has three children.^[2]

Before commencing a political career, Fitzharris worked for New South Wales Police, Australian Federal Police and the Attorney-General's Department.^[1]

Politics

2012 General Election

Fitzharris was an Australian Labor Party candidate in the Australian Capital Territory general election, 2012. When she did not win a seat, she became the chief of staff and senior adviser for then Minister, later Chief Minister, Andrew Barr.^[2]

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher resigned from the Assembly on 23 December 2014 to pursue a seat in the Australian Senate,^[2] ahead of Gallagher's resignation, media predicated that Fitzharris would be the most likely candidate to take Gallagher's Assembly seat.^[4]

On 15 January 2015, ACT Electoral Commissioner Phil Green announced Fitzharris had been elected as the new member for Molonglo in the Legislative Assembly, after holding a countback of the 2012 Legislative Assembly election.^[1][2]

References

1. Labor staffer Meegan Fitzharris wins countback for ACT Legislative Assembly seat, ABC News Online, 15 January 2015
2. Gorrey, Megan (15 January 2015). "Meegan Fitzharris to fill Katy Gallagher's ACT Legislative Assembly spot". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 17 January 2015.
3. "Fitzharris, Meegan - ACT Legislative Assembly". www.parliament.act.gov.au. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
4. Towell, Noel (5 December 2014). "Katy Gallagher resigns: Meegan Fitzharris most likely to her spot - if she wants it". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 26 December 2014.