Mary-Anne Thomas Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Mary-Anne Thomas
Honorific-Suffix:MP
Office:Leader of the House
Premier:Daniel Andrews
Term Start:5 December 2022
Predecessor:Lizzie Blandthorn
Office1:Minister for Health Infrastructure
Premier1:Daniel Andrews
Jacinta Allan
Term Start1:5 December 2022
Predecessor1:Position created
Office2:Minister for Health
Premier2:Daniel Andrews
Jacinta Allan
Term Start2:27 June 2022
Office3:Minister for Ambulance Services
Term Start3:2 October 2023
Premier3:Jacinta Allan
Predecessor3:Gabrielle Williams
Term Start4:27 June 2022
Term End4:5 December 2022
Premier4:Daniel Andrews
Predecessor4:Martin Foley
Successor4:Gabrielle Williams
Office5:Minister for Regional Development
Premier5:Daniel Andrews
Term Start5:22 December 2020
Term End5:27 June 2022
Predecessor5:Jaclyn Symes
Successor5:Harriet Shing
Office6:Minister for Agriculture
Premier6:Daniel Andrews
Term Start6:22 December 2020
Term End6:27 June 2022
Predecessor6:Jaclyn Symes
Successor6:Gayle Tierney
Constituency Am7:Macedon
Assembly7:Victorian Legislative
Term Start7:29 November 2014
Predecessor7:Joanne Duncan
Birth Date:1963 2, df=yes
Party:Labor Party

Mary-Anne Thomas (born 26 February 1963) is an Australian politician. She has been a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since November 2014, representing the electorate of Macedon.[1] She has served as Victoria's Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services since June 2022. She was previously the Agriculture and Minister for Regional Development from December 2020.[2]

Education and early career

Thomas studied at Wodonga High School, and completed a teaching degree at the Melbourne College of Advanced Education. She holds a Graduate Diploma in Industrial Relations from Victoria University and a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Melbourne.

She worked for 25 years across public, private and community sectors. She began her career as a secondary teacher, then worked in the union movement before becoming an advisor to Lynne Kosky, the Minister for Post-Compulsory Education, Employment and Training. She has also held roles in the Victorian public service in Education, and the Department of Premier and Cabinet, where she was Head of Communications.

Prior to entering Parliament, she held senior roles at the National Australia Bank and Plan International, one of the world's leading child rights and international development agencies.

Political career

Thomas was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the Member for Macedon in November 2014. She had previously contested Labor pre-selection for the Federal seat of Batman, but lost to then Senator David Feeney.[3]

She was appointed Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Regional Development in the Andrews Labor Government in December 2020,[4] [2] having previously served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Health & Carers. In June 2022, she was appointed as Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Macedon Results. 4 December 2014. ABC News.
  2. Web site: Mary-Anne Thomas . mary-annethomas.com.au . 1 May 2021.
  3. Web site: Women challenge powerbroker David Feeney for prize Victorian seat of Batman. 4 December 2014. The Australian.
  4. Web site: Willingham . Richard . Jaclyn Symes sworn in to replace Jill Hennessy as Victorian Attorney-General . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 22 December 2020 . 19 June 2021.
  5. Web site: Statement On New Ministry. Premier of Victoria. 25 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220627065514/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/statement-new-ministry. 27 June 2022. live.