Janice Ann Crosio (; born 3 January 1939) is an Australian politician from the Labor Party. She was a member of the

New South Wales Legislative Assembly The New South Wales Legislative Assembly is the lower of the two houses of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The upper house is the New South Wales Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House ...

, and became the first woman Cabinet minister in New South Wales. Later she was a member of the

Australian House of Representatives The House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameralism, bicameral Parliament of Australia, the upper house being the Australian Senate, Senate. Its composition and powers are set out in Chapter I of the Constitution of Australia. ...

, and a Parliamentary Secretary.

Early life

Crosio was born in the Sydney suburb of Granville and educated at Strathfield Girls High School. In 1957, she married Ivo Crosio and they have one son and twin daughters. She was an alderman of

Fairfield City Council The Fairfield City Council is a local government area in the west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The council was first incorporated as the "Municipal District of Smithfield and Fairfield" on 8 December 1888, and the coun ...

in suburban Sydney from 1971 to 1980 and Mayor from 1974 to 1975 and 1977 to 1980.

State politics

Crosio was the first woman elected to the

in thirty years, representing Fairfield from 1981 to 1988 and Smithfield from 1988 to 1990. She was the first woman Cabinet minister in New South Wales: Minister for Natural Resources from 1984 to 1986, Minister for Local Government from 1986 to 1988 and Minister for Water Resources from 1986 to 1988.

Federal politics

Crosio represented the

Division of Prospect The Division of Prospect was an Divisions of the Australian House of Representatives, Australian Electoral Division in the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales from 1969 to 2010. It was located in the western suburbs of ...

, in New South Wales, from the 1990 federal election until standing down prior to the 2004 election. Prospect was located in western

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

and centred on the areas she formerly represented in the New South Wales parliament, including Fairfield and Smithfield. She was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Arts and Administrative Services in 1993, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment, Sport and Territories 1993–94 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Security 1994–96. Crosio was Chief Opposition Whip 2001–04. She retired at the 2004 election.

Honours

Crosio was made a Member of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

for services to local government and the community in 1978. She was made Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1980 for services to the Italian Community. In 2006 she was made a Member (AM) in the General Division of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

in recognition of her service to the Parliaments of the Australian Commonwealth and of New South Wales, her service to her municipality and also for her pioneering of women's participation in politics.

References

, - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Crosio, Janice 1939 births Living people Members of the Australian House of Representatives Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Prospect Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Labor Right politicians Women members of the Australian House of Representatives Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales New South Wales local councillors Mayors of Fairfield, New South Wales Members of the Order of Australia Australian Members of the Order of the British Empire Knights of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic 21st-century Australian women politicians Women members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Women mayors of places in New South Wales 20th-century Australian women politicians Women local councillors in Australia Australian MPs 1990–1993 Australian MPs 1993–1996 Australian MPs 1996–1998 Australian MPs 1998–2001 Australian MPs 2001–2004