Suzanne Mary Ellery (born 12 May 1962) is an Australian politician who has been a Labor Party member of the

Legislative Council A legislative council is the legislature, or one of the legislative chambers, of a nation, colony, or subnational division such as a province or state. It was commonly used to label unicameral or upper house legislative bodies in the Brit ...

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

since 2001, representing South Metropolitan Region. A senior figure in WA Labor, Ellery held a range of ministerial portfolios over two decades in Parliament. Most recently, she served as Minister for Finance,

Commerce Commerce is the organized Complex system, system of activities, functions, procedures and institutions that directly or indirectly contribute to the smooth, unhindered large-scale exchange (distribution through Financial transaction, transactiona ...

, and Women’s Interests in the

McGowan McGowan is an Irish and Scottish surname. It is an anglicisation of the Irish ''Mac Gabhann'' and Scottish ''Mac Gobhann'', both of which mean 'son of (the) smith'. Belonging to the Uí Echach Cobo, located in modern-day western County Down ...

and Cook governments. Ellery was previously Minister for Education and Training (2017–2022), and earlier served in the Carpenter Ministry as Minister for Child Protection,

Community Services Community service is unpaid work performed by a person or group of people for the benefit and betterment of their community contributing to a noble cause. In many cases, people doing community service are compensated in other ways, such as gettin ...

, Women’s Interests, and Seniors and Volunteering (2007–2008). She retired from Cabinet following the 2025 state election and will conclude her parliamentary service with the changeover of the Legislative Council on 21 May 2025.

Early life

Ellery was born in

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

to Rosemarie (née Gellard) and Peter Ellery. She attended Newman College before going on to the

University of Western Australia University of Western Australia (UWA) is a public research university in the Australian state of Western Australia. The university's main campus is in Crawley, Western Australia, Crawley, a suburb in the City of Perth local government area. UW ...

, graduating with a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

degree. She joined the Labor Party while at university, and in 1983 was the national women's officer for the

Australian Union of Students The Australian Union of Students (AUS), formerly National Union of Australian University Students (NUAUS), was a representative body and lobby group for Australian university and college of advanced education students. It collapsed in 1984 and ...

. Prior to entering politics, Ellery worked in the trade union movement, including as an industrial advocate for the Liquor, Hospitality, and Miscellaneous Workers' Union.Suzanne (Sue) Mary Ellery
– Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2016.

Politics

Ellery entered parliament at the 2001 state election, as the lead candidate on the Labor Party's ticket in South Metropolitan Region. She was a parliamentary secretary in the government of

Geoff Gallop Geoffrey Ian Gallop (born 27 September 1951) is an Australian academic and former politician who served as the 27th premier of Western Australia from 2001 to 2006. He is currently a professor and director of the Graduate School of Government at ...

in 2003, and continued on when Alan Carpenter replaced Gallop as premier in January 2006. Ellery was elevated to the ministry in March 2007, becoming Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Community Services,

Minister for Women's Interests Minister for Women's Interests is a position in the government of Western Australia, currently held by Sue Ellery of the Labor Party. The position was first created after the 1983 state election, for the government of Brian Burke, and has exis ...

, and Minister for Seniors and Volunteering. She held her positions until the Labor government's defeat at the 2008 state election. After that election, Ellery continued on as a shadow minister, and was also elected leader of the Labor Party in the Legislative Council.Hon. Suzanne (Sue) Mary Ellery MLC
Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2016. She has been identified as a member of the party's

Labor Left The Labor Left (LL), also known as the Progressive Left, Socialist Left or simply the Left, is one of the two major political factions within the Australian Labor Party (ALP). It is nationally characterised by social progressivism and democra ...

faction. From 2017 to 2022, she was the minister for education and training. In December 2022, she requested a change in ministries during a cabinet reshuffle. She became the minister for finance, minister for commerce, and

minister for women's interests Minister for Women's Interests is a position in the government of Western Australia, currently held by Sue Ellery of the Labor Party. The position was first created after the 1983 state election, for the government of Brian Burke, and has exis ...

. Ellery shared a close professional relationship with Premier

Mark McGowan Mark McGowan (born 13 July 1967) is an Australian former politician and naval officer who served as the 30th premier of Western Australia from 2017 until his retirement in 2023. He was the leader of the Western Australian branch of the Austr ...

throughout his political career. During McGowan’s resignation announcement on 29 May 2023, Ellery was seen wiping away tears as he delivered his remarks. Her presence at the press conference, alongside other senior cabinet ministers, reflected her long-standing role as a senior figure within the WA Labor Government and her loyalty to McGowan’s leadership. Ellery will retire from politics at the 2025 election.

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Ellery, Sue 1962 births Living people Women members of the Western Australian Legislative Council Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Western Australia Trade unionists from Perth, Western Australia Members of the Western Australian Legislative Council People educated at Newman College, Perth Politicians from Perth, Western Australia University of Western Australia alumni 21st-century Australian politicians 21st-century Australian women politicians Labor Left politicians Ministers for education (Western Australia)

Early life

Politics

See also

References