Heidi Victoria Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Heidi Victoria
Constituency Am:Bayswater
Assembly:Victorian Legislative
Term Start:25 November 2006
Term End:24 November 2018
Predecessor:Peter Lockwood
Successor:Jackson Taylor
Birthname:Heidi Mitterlehner
Birth Date:1967 10, df=yes
Birth Place:Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Nationality:Australian
Party:Liberal Party
Alma Mater:Phillip Institute of Technology
Occupation:Photographer
Website:heidivictoria.com.au

Heidi Victoria (born Heidi Mitterlehner[1] on 12 October 1967) is a professional photographer and former Australian politician. She was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, representing Bayswater for the Liberal Party from 2006 to 2018.

Early life

Victoria was born in Melbourne to an Austrian father and a New Zealand mother.[2] She completed her HSC in 1984, and went on to complete her BA in Fine Art Photography in 1988 at the Phillip Institute of Technology (now part of RMIT University).[3] Prior to her election, Victoria owned and operated her own photography business,[3] specialising in portraits and event photography.[4]

Political career

Within the Liberal Party, Victoria has served as branch president, vice-president and secretary; state and federal electorate council delegate; fundraiser; branch development officer; and State council and Federal conference delegate.[3] [5] She was elected to the seat of Bayswater at the November 2006 election.[3] In November 2009, she was named Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Arts, following her strong involvement in the campaign to prevent the proposed changes to the Victorian College of the Arts.

After Ted Baillieu resigned as Premier in March 2013, Victoria was given the ministerial portfolios of Arts, Women's Affairs and Consumer Affairs within the Denis Napthine cabinet.[6]

Controversies

In July 2009, Victoria was asked to apologise for using unparliamentary language during a late night parliamentary debate.

In early November 2014, multiple election campaign signs for Heidi Victoria were defaced with swastikas and offensive language throughout the Heathmont and Bayswater area. Victoria was quoted saying “The other reason this is really disappointing is that we pride ourselves in Australia as being a free country and democratic society"[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eisingerich . Thorsten . Politician and Photographer: Heidi Victoria . Austrian Information: The Zine . Austrian Press & Information Service in the United States . 2018-11-14 . 14 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181114182212/http://www.austrianinformation.org/spring-summer-2015/4mn6a9zfgggd72q937hlxl5be3hkxn . live .
  2. News: Tomazin. Farrah. 'Elusive' minister here all the time – and ready to talk. 15 November 2014. The Age. Fairfax Media. 31 March 2013. 31 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150831033500/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/elusive-minister-here-all-the-time--and-ready-to-talk-20130330-2h0a2.html. live.
  3. 68 . The Hon. Heidi Victoria . 25 August 2022.
  4. News: Green. Antony. Election Guide: Bayswater. 15 November 2014. Victorian State Election 2014. ABC News. 10 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141110075653/http://www.abc.net.au/news/vic-election-2014/guide/bays/. live.
  5. Web site: Victoria, Heidi - Woman - The Australian Women's Register. National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of. Melbourne. 28 December 2016. 28 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161228195531/http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE2729b.htm. live.
  6. Web site: New ministers sworn in after reshuffle. Richard Willingham, Henrietta. Cook. 28 December 2016. 10 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140910095311/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/new-ministers-sworn-in-after-reshuffle-20130313-2fzjc.html. live.
  7. Web site: Swastikas used to deface candidate's signs. 28 December 2016. 3 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403023558/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria-state-election-2014/campaign-signs-for-bayswater-state-liberal-mp-defaced-with-nazi-symbol/story-fnoqgl2v-1227120598273. live.