Ellie Whiteaker | |
|---|---|
| Senator for Western Australia | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Louise Pratt |
| Secretary of theWA Labor Party | |
| In office 11 July 2022 – July 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Tim Picton |
| Succeeded by | Mark Reed |
| Deputy secretary of theWA Labor Party | |
| In office 2018 – 11 July 2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Labor |
| Other political affiliations | Labor Left |
| Spouse | David Scaife |
Eleanor Elizabeth Margaret Whiteaker is an Australian politician who is a Senator for Western Australia, having been elected in the2025 federal election. Her six-year term began on 1 July 2025.
Prior to her election to the Senate, she is the first femaleParty Secretary of theWA State Branch of theAustralian Labor Party since July 2022, having served as its deputy secretary previously since 2018.
Whiteaker was born in Kalamunda, Western Australia. As a small child she moved with her family to Kalgoorlie, where she completed her primary school education. Whiteaker attended high school atComet Bay College, in Rockingham'sSecret Harbour.[1]
She initially attended theUniversity of Western Australia, but completed her studies atMonash University, graduating with aBachelor of Arts in 2018.[2][3] While a student, she was president ofWA Young Labor.[citation needed]
Whiteaker formerly worked as a campaign organiser for UnionsWA, as an organiser for the AMWU, and as an adviser to Senator Louise Pratt.[4]
In 2018, she was elected Assistant State Secretary to theWA State Branch of theLabor Party.[citation needed] She was re-elected in 2021. She assumed position of State Secretary upon resignation of then incumbent Tim Picton in the WA Labor state executive on 11 July 2022.[5][6][7] She also became the WA Labor Party's first female party secretary.[8]
In 2024, Whiteaker was preselected as a WA Labor candidate for theAustralian Senate in the2025 federal election and was selected for the number one spot on the ticket.[9][10][11] She was successfully elected and will begin her term on 1 July 2025.[12]
Whiteaker is affiliated with theAMWU and is part of theLabor Left. Her first speech highlighted support for policies promoting gender equality, workers’ rights, and public sector investment in health care and manufacturing. She is an advocate for women's health care access and has been public about her experience with endometriosis.[13]
Whiteaker is married toDavid Scaife, the state MLA for Cockburn with whom she shares a son, William.[14]
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