Steph Key

The Honourable
Steph Key
BA JP MHA
Minister for Social Justice
In office
6 March 2002  5 March 2004
Succeeded by Jay Weatherill
Minister for Housing
In office
6 March 2002  5 March 2004
Preceded by Dean Brown
Succeeded by Jay Weatherill
Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education
In office
5 March 2004  23 March 2006
Preceded by Jane Lomax-Smith
Succeeded by Paul Caica
Minister for Youth
In office
6 March 2002  23 March 2006
Preceded by Mark Brindal
Succeeded by Paul Caica
Minister for the Status of Women
In office
2 March 2002  23 March 2006
Preceded by Diana Laidlaw
Succeeded by Gail Gago
Member of the South Australian Parliament
for Ashford
Assumed office
2002 (seat created)
Member of the South Australian Parliament
for Hanson
In office
1997  2002 (abolished)
Preceded by Stewart Leggett
Personal details
Born (1954-12-13) 13 December 1954
Woodville, South Australia, Australia
Nationality Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party (SA)
Alma mater Flinders University

Stephanie (Steph) Wendy Key (born 13 December 1954) is an Australian politician and member of the South Australian House of Assembly for the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party since the 1997 election, representing the electorates of Hanson (1997–2002) and Ashford (2002–present).

Early life

Born at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide's western suburbs, Key attended the Largs Bay Primary, Port Adelaide Girls Technical and Marryatville Adult Education Schools before completing a Bachelor of Arts majoring in politics and sociology at Flinders University, where she was elected as the first female general secretary of the Flinders University Students Association.

Before entering parliament, Key worked as waitress, cook, cleaner and clerk, as well as a number of positions within the Transport Workers Union,[1] the Australian Council of Trades Unions (ACTU) and the United Trades and Labour Council of South Australia (UTLC).

Key also served as the director of the Working Women's Centre and as a member of the South Australian Housing Trust's board of directors.

Parliament

Key was elected as member for the electoral district of Hanson at the 1997 election, and immediately assumed shadow ministerial responsibilities for industrial affairs, youth affairs and assisting in multicultural and ethnic affairs. Changes in the shadow cabinet during 2000 saw her responsibilities change to housing and urban development, employment and training, local government and youth affairs.

The 2002 election saw they seat of Hanson abolished and Key was re-elected to parliament as member for Ashford.

With the election of the Rann government in 2002, Key became Australia's first Minister for Social Justice, with further portfolio responsibilities for community and disability services, ageing, housing, youth and the status of women.[2] Key has been attempting to decriminalize prostitution in South Australia., [3][4][5] SIN is supporting her efforts.

Key oversaw a comprehensive overhaul of South Australia's child protection laws and strategies to improve and sharpen the way in which Government responds to the needs and welfare of children in care.[6] During Key's term as Social Justice Minister, South Australian also saw the redrafting of anti-discrimination legislation and the Equal Opportunity Act.

Following a mid-term cabinet reshuffle in 2004, Key became the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education while also retaining the youth and status of women portfolios.[7]

During her time in parliament, Key has pushed for progressive legislation. She is from the Labor Left faction.[8]

Electoral results

Key defeated Liberal Stewart Leggett in the seat of Hanson at the 1997 election with a 55.6 percent two-party vote. Hanson was abolished before the 2002 election and was replaced by Ashford which Key retained with an increased 53.7 percent two-party vote from a 0.8-point swing. Key increased her two-party vote to 66.1 percent, a two-party swing of 12.4 points, at the 2006 election. Key retained her seat at the 2010 election with a 54.8 percent two-party vote, despite suffering a 10.4-point swing. Key's two-party vote was reduced to 50.6 percent in a redistribution however she retained the seat at the 2014 election with an increased 51.9 percent two-party vote from a 1.3-point swing.

References

South Australian House of Assembly
Preceded by
Stewart Leggett
Member for Hanson
1997–2002
Succeeded by
Seat abolished
Preceded by
Seat recreated
Member for Ashford
2002–present
Incumbent
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