| Ella Haddad | |
| Honorific-Suffix: | MP |
| Constituency Mp: | Clark |
| Parliament: | Tasmanian |
| Term Start: | 28 September 2018 |
| Constituency Mp1: | Denison |
| Parliament1: | Tasmanian |
| Term Start1: | 3 March 2018 |
| Term End1: | 28 September 2018 |
| Occupation: | politician |
| Party: | Labor Party |
| Alma Mater: | University of Tasmania |
Eloise Rafia "Ella" Haddad is an Australian politician. She was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly for the Labor Party in the Division of Denison at the 2018 state election, reelected at the 2021 Tasmanian state election and is currently the member for Clark after Denison was renamed.[1]
Haddad graduated with degrees in arts and law from the University of Tasmania before working in the office of the federal member for Denison, Duncan Kerr . Haddad also worked for several Labor members of the Tasmanian Parliament as a legal and policy adviser. These included roles in the offices of former Attorneys-General of Tasmania, Judy Jackson and her successor, Steve Kons, Lisa Singh when she was a member of the Tasmanian Parliament, and Rebecca White MP. She has served as Secretary of the Tasmanian Branch of the International Commission of Jurists, including participating in international conferences. Haddad has also served as President of the Tasmanian branch of the Fabian Society, a think tank researching progressive political ideas and public policy reform. Haddad commenced further study as a postgraduate student at the University of Tasmania.[2]
Haddad served on the boards of several Tasmanian community organisations over many years including the Tasmanian Council of Social Services (TasCOSS), Women's Health Tasmania (then Hobart Women's Health Centre), TasCAHRD, TasDeaf and Ten Lives Cat Centre (then the Hobart Cat Centre).[3]
At the 2018 Tasmanian state election, Haddad was elected to the seat of Denison, alongside Scott Bacon with a swing to the Tasmanian Labor Party in the seat of 8.1%.[4] Following the renaming of the seat to Clark, Haddad recontested the 2021 Tasmanian state election and held her seat with a 4.4% swing. In the new opposition, Haddad is Shadow Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Shadow Minister for Corrections, Shadow Minister for Housing, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Shadow Minister for Equality[5]
Since Haddad entered Parliament she has been known to champion progressive policy, with a focus on law reform,[6] housing[7] [8] and human rights.[9] [10] [11]
As Shadow-Attorney General, Haddad has drafted legislation to improve recognition and respect of transgender rights in the State, including removing laws that forced transgender Tasmanians to undergo invasive reassignment surgery before being able to have the gender marker on their birth certificate.[12] [13]
In February 2024, Haddad was shortlisted for the 2023 McKinnon Prize in the category of State and Territory Political Leader of the Year.[14]
Haddad was reelected in the 2024 Tasmanian election, topping the poll and taking on the health portfolio in Dean Winter's ministry.[15]