 | This article's subject isstanding for re-election to theAustralian House of Representatives on 3 May, and has not been an MP since thedissolution of the house on 28 March. This article may be out of date during this period. Feel free toimprove it (updates without reliable references will be removed) or discuss changes on thetalk page. |
Angie Bell | |
|---|---|
| Member of theAustralian Parliament forMoncrieff | |
| Assumed office 18 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Steven Ciobo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1968-07-11)11 July 1968 (age 56) Adelaide, South Australia |
| Political party | Liberal (LNP) |
| Occupation | Musician and retail manager |
Angie Marion Bell[1] (born 11 July 1968)[2] is an Australian politician who has been a member of theHouse of Representatives since the2019 federal election, representing theDivision of Moncrieff inQueensland. She is a member of theLiberal National Party of Queensland and sits with theLiberal Party in federal parliament.
Bell was born inAdelaide.[2] She attendedGawler High School, where she learned thetenor saxophone and came to the attention of jazz musicianDon Burrows. She subsequently won a scholarship from Rotary International to study music in Denmark. When she returned to Australia she enrolled in theElder Conservatorium of Music, studying jazz, saxophone, and voice.[3]
Prior to entering politics, Bell worked as a professional musician for 35 years.[3] She also worked as a sales agent across several Australian states before settling in Queensland in 2002, where she worked with the National Retail Association as a consultant and workplace trainer.[2] From 2010 she worked for Paint Place asvisual merchandising manager (2010–2015) and national business development manager (2015–2018). Bell attendedGriffith University as a mature-age student, completing a graduate certificate in marketing. In 2014 she wrote a book on rebranding and marketing for small businesses.[2][3]
Bell joined theLiberal National Party of Queensland (LNP) at the age of 45.[3] She served as president of LNP Women Queensland from 2017 to 2019.[2]
In April 2019, Bell won LNPpreselection for theDivision of Moncrieff, replacing the retiring MPSteven Ciobo. According toThe Australian, she defeated eight other candidates in an "upset victory".[4] She retained Moncrieff for the Liberals at the2019 federal election, with a small positive swing to the party.[5]
Bell is a member of theModerate/Modern Liberal faction of the Liberal Party.[6][7]
Bell is in a long-term relationship with her partner Ros, who has four adult children.[3] She is the first openly gay woman to represent a major party in the House of Representatives, the second overall after independentKerryn Phelps, and the fifth gay woman in federal parliament.[8]
Bell supports theGold Coast Suns in theAustralian Football League (AFL).[9]
| Parliament of Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member for Moncrieff 2019–present | Incumbent |