Sheena Watt Explained

Sheena Watt
Honorific-Suffix:	MLC
Office:	Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Northern Metropolitan Region
Term Start:	13 October 2020
Predecessor:	Jenny Mikakos
Birth Place:	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Party:	Labor Party
Website:	https://sheenawatt.com.au/
Constituency:	Northern Metropolitan Region

Sheena Watt is an Australian politician, who has been a member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Northern Metropolitan Region since 13 October 2020. A Yorta Yorta woman, she is the first Indigenous Australian woman to represent the Australian Labor Party in the Parliament of Victoria.^[1] She previously held the roles of Parliamentary Secretary for Housing since June 2022 and Parliamentary Secretary for Volunteers since December 2022.^[2]

During the 2023 referendum Watt campaigned tirelessly for a "Yes" vote, having fought for formal recognition of Indigenous peoples for much of her career.^[3]

Watt is currently the Parliamentary Secretary for Climate action since October 2023^[4] and the Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services since May 2024^[5]

Watt is a member of the Labor Left faction of the Labor Party.^[6]

Notes and References

1. News: Kolovos . Benita . Sheena Watt makes Victorian Labor history . 13 October 2020 . The Canberra Times . 13 October 2020 . en.
2. Web site: Ms Sheena Watt . Parliament of Victoria . 19 June 2023.
3. Web site: Phillips . Mark . 2023-07-19 . ‘This is unfinished business for me’ . 2024-06-12 . Brunswick Voice . en-AU.
4. Web site: Sheena Watt Parliament of Victoria . 2024-06-12 . www.parliament.vic.gov.au . en.
5. Web site: Statement From The Premier Premier of Victoria . 2024-06-12 . www.premier.vic.gov.au . en-AU.
6. News: Ilanbey . Sumeyya . Fowler . Michael . Sheena Watt to become Labor's first female Indigenous state MP as Premier defends intervention . 19 June 2023 . The Age . 3 October 2020 . en.