Sarah Jane Courtney (born 1979) is an Australian financial analyst, viticulturist and a former politician. She was elected to the

Tasmanian House of Assembly The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Tasmanian Legislative Council, Legislative Council or Upper House. It sits in Parliament House, Hobart, Parliament Hou ...

for the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

in the

Division of Bass The Division of Bass is an Divisions of the Australian House of Representatives, Australian electoral division in Tasmania. It includes most of the city of Launceston, Tasmania, Launceston and its surrounds. It has traditionally been a margin ...

at the 2014 state election. As a Senior Minister in the Second Hodgman Ministry, First Gutwein Ministry, and Second Gutwein Ministry, Courtney was responsible for the policy development, service delivery and overall governance of a significant part of the public sector, including accountability for the multibillion-dollar health and education budgets.

Political career

Sarah Courtney unsuccessfully stood for the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

in the

2013 Australian federal election The 2013 Australian federal election to elect the members of the 44th Parliament of Australia took place on Saturday, 7 September 2013. The centre-right Coalition (Australia), Liberal/National Coalition Opposition (Australia), opposition led by ...

prior to her entry into state politics. In March 2018, Courtney was appointed to the Second Hodgman Ministry as Minister for Primary Industries and Water, and Minister for Racing. In October 2018, she stepped down from the role of Minister for Primary Industries and Water while an investigation was carried out, after informing the Premier that she was engaged in a extramarital relationship with John Whittington, the secretary of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment that she oversaw. The inquiry found that there was no inappropriate decision making by Courtney and that all official duties, decisions and actions of the Minister followed appropriate protocols and procedures but that she had breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct. Courtney was moved to became Minister for Resources and Minister for Building and Construction to avoid any conflict of interest. Whittington was moved on to the research sector. Courtney and Whittington later married in 2020. In July 2019, Courtney was appointed Minister for Health and Minister for Women. As Health Minister, Courtney steered Tasmania through the COVID-19 pandemic, while concurrently overseeing the commissioning of K-Block at the Royal Hobart Hospital; the largest health infrastructure development ever delivered by the Tasmanian Government. After the 2021 state election, Courtney was appointed Minister for Education, Minister for Skills, Training and Workforce Growth, Minister for Children and Youth, Minister for Hospitality and Events and Minister for Disability Services. As Minister for Children and Youth, Courtney drove the transition for the Ashley Youth Detention Centre to a new therapeutic model and oversaw the development of a nation-leading Youth Justice reform process. In late January 2022, Courtney contracted

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

while holidaying in France and didn't return to Tasmania to oversee the back-to-school preparations for the start of the school year. She was publicly criticised by opposition parties for "holidaying in Europe for several weeks while stressed parents were preparing to send their children back to school". On 10 February 2022, Courtney announced her resignation from parliament and from the education portfolio. She denied her resignation was related to the criticism she faced for her holiday in France, but instead "was to spend more time with family". Her seat in Bass was filled by

Lara Alexander Lara Maria Alexander (born 13 July 1967) is an Australian politician. She was a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for the division of Bass since 2022, serving as a member for the Liberal Party before moving to the crossbench as an indepen ...

in a countback of votes from the 2021 state election. On 1 April 2022, Courtney was granted the right to retain the title "

The Honourable ''The Honourable'' (Commonwealth English) or ''The Honorable'' (American English; American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, see spelling differences) (abbreviation: ''Hon.'', ''Hon'ble'', or variations) is an honorific Style ...

" for life for her eight years in office.

Corporate career

Prior to her political career, Sarah Courtney worked as an Institutional Sales & Equities Analyst at Lodge Partners, and as a Business Development Manager at Regal Funds Management. In September 2009, Courtney established Fish Hook Wines, a boutique vineyard in the

Tamar Valley, Tasmania The Tamar Valley is a valley in Tasmania, Australia (lutruwita). It runs north-west from the northern city of Launceston to the coast either side of the Tamar River, a distance of approximately 70 km. There are more than 20 vineyards lining ...

growing

Pinot Noir Pinot noir (), also known as Pinot nero, is a red-wine grape variety of the species ''Vitis vinifera''. The name also refers to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the French language, French words fo ...

. In 2024, Courtney was announced as the chair of th
Tasmanian Forest Products Association
a timber industry lobby group.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Courtney, Sarah 1979 births Living people Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Tasmania Members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly Women members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly University of Sydney alumni University of Melbourne alumni 21st-century Australian politicians 21st-century Australian women politicians