Marsha Rose Thomson (born 21 December 1955) is an Australian politician. She was a member of the

Victorian Legislative Assembly The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the states and territories of Australia, state lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria in Australia; the state upper house being the Victorian Legislative Council. Both houses sit at Parliament H ...

, representing the

electoral district of Footscray The electoral district of Footscray is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It lies just north of Melbourne, Victoria, Melbourne, covering the suburbs of Footscray, Victoria, Footscray, Maidstone, Victoria, Maidstone, Mar ...

for the Labor Party from 2006 to 2018; she previously served in the

Victorian Legislative Council The Victorian Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria, Australia, the lower house being the Victorian Legislative Assembly, Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit at Parliament House, Melbourne, Parliament ...

from 1999 to 2006. She was the first female

Jew Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...

ish minister in Australia.

Career

Thomson was an economic research officer, ministerial adviser, Implementation Manager with

V/Line V/Line is a statutory authority that operates Regional rail, regional passenger rail and Intercity bus service, coach services in the Australian state of Victoria (state), Victoria. It provides passenger train services on five Commuter rail, ...

and Executive Officer of Youth Policy Development Council before being elected to the Legislative Council for Melbourne North Province in September 1999. She was Minister for Consumer Affairs 1999–2002 and Minister for Small Business 1999–2005. She was Minister for Information and Communication Technology from February 2002 and Minister for Consumer Affairs from January 2005, until 2006. Due to the Upper House reforms, her former electorate of Melbourne North Province was abolished. As a result of Bruce Mildenhall's retirement from politics, Thomson ran for and won his electorate of Footscray at the 2006 State Election. She was Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts until the 2010 state election.

Personal life

Thomson was married to federal Labor MP

Kelvin Thomson Kelvin John Thomson (born 1 May 1955) is a former Australian politician. He served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives for the Australian Labor Party, representing the Division of Wills in Victoria, from March 1996 until Ma ...

and they have two children. They separated in 2003.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomson, Marsha 1955 births Living people Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Victoria Members of the Victorian Legislative Council Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly Jewish Australian politicians Politicians from Melbourne 21st-century Australian politicians 21st-century Australian women politicians Women members of the Victorian Legislative Council Women members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly People from Pascoe Vale, Victoria Ministers for small business (Victoria) Ministers for consumer affairs (Victoria)