Ros Spence Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Ros Spence
Honorific-Suffix:MP
Constituency Am:Kalkallo
Assembly:Victorian Legislative
Term Start:26 November 2022
Predecessor:Seat established
Constituency Am1:Yuroke
Assembly1:Victorian Legislative
Term Start1:29 November 2014
Term End1:26 November 2022
Predecessor1:Liz Beattie
Successor1:Seat abolished
Birth Date:1970 12, df=y
Party:Labor Party
Spouse:Kos Samaras

Rosalind Louise Spence (born 16 December 1970) is an Australian politician. She has been a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since November 2014, representing Yuroke from 2014 to 2022, then Kalkallo from 2022 onwards.[1] [2]

Early life, education and career

Spence was raised in Eltham and graduated from Eltham High School in 1988. She later graduating with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tasmania in 2002.[3]

Prior to her election to Parliament, Spence worked as an electorate officer to various state and federal Members of Parliament, as operations manager for the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party, and as a volunteer solicitor at the Broadmeadows Legal Centre.[4] [5]

Political career

From 2008 to 2012, Spence served as a Councillor in the City of Hume, including as Mayor between 2011 and 2012. In 2013, she was selected as the Labor candidate for the seat of Yuroke and was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly at the 2014 Victorian state election.[6] She later re-elected at the 2018 Victorian state election.[7] Following the abolition of the Yuroke electorate, Spence won the seat of Kalkallo at the 2022 Victorian state election.[8]

Following her election, Spence served as Government Whip and later as Parliamentary Secretary for Public Transport and Parliamentary Secretary for Road Infrastructure. She has also served as the Chair of the Electoral Matters Committee.

In March 2020, Spence was elevated to the Second Andrews Ministry following the resignation of Gavin Jennings as the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Community Sport and Youth.[9] She was additionally appointed as Minister for Prevention of Family Violence in June 2022.[10]

Following the 2022 election, Spence was sworn in as Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Community Sport and Suburban Development.[11]

Spence is presently the Minister for Agriculture, Community Sport and Carers and Volunteers in the Allan ministry.

Personal life

Spence has one son and is married to former Victorian Labor assistant state secretary Kos Samaras.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yuroke Results. 4 December 2014. ABC News.
  2. Web site: Kalkallo Results. 28 November 2022. ABC News.
  3. Web site: About Ros Ros Spence MP . 2024-02-22 . www.rosspence.com.au . en.
  4. Web site: Member Profile: Ms Ros Spence (Yuroke). 24 March 2020. Parliament of Victoria.
  5. Web site: Ros Spence Joins Cabinet. 24 March 2020. Premier of Victoria.
  6. News: Savino. Natalie. Former Hume mayor Ros Spence endorsed as ALP candidate for Yuroke. 7 December 2014. Hume Leader. 10 January 2014.
  7. Web site: Yuroke Results 2018. 24 March 2020. ABC News.
  8. Web site: Kalkallo Results. 28 November 2022. ABC News.
  9. Web site: Vic cabinet shuffle after MP's retirement. 24 March 2020. The Weekly Times.
  10. 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.
  11. Web site: New Cabinet To Keep Doing What Matters. Premier of Victoria. 5 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221206041117/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-cabinet-keep-doing-what-matters. 6 December 2022. live.
  12. Web site: Member Profile: Key Victorian ALP strategist Kosmos Samaras to resign. 24 March 2020. The Australian.