Carol Brown | |
|---|---|
 Brown in 2022 | |
| Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport | |
| In office 1 June 2022 – 29 July 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Anthony Albanese |
| Senator forTasmania | |
| Assumed office 25 August 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Sue Mackay |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1963-07-19)19 July 1963 (age 62) Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Relations | Allison Ritchie (niece) Meg Brown (niece) |
| Occupation | Political adviser Public servant |
Carol Louise Brown (born 19 July 1963) is an Australian politician. She is a member of theAustralian Labor Party (ALP) and has been aSenator forTasmania since 2005. She was an assistant minister in theAlbanese government from 2022 to 2024.
Brown was born inHobart,Tasmania.[1] She is the eighth of thirteen children born to Julia and Rex Brown. In her maiden speech she recalled "a proud history, on both sides of my family, of union and Labor activism". Her great-grandmother Mary Butler was a founding member of the Hobart branch of the ALP, her uncle Leo Brown was state president of the ALP, one niece (Allison Ritchie) served in theTasmanian Legislative Council,[2] and another niece (Meg Brown) is currently a member of theTasmanian House of Assembly.[3]
Brown grew up in the suburb ofWarrane.[2] She joined the ALP at a young age and worked as an administrative officer with the party from 1984 to 1996. She later worked as an adviser to SenatorSue Mackay (1996–1998) and then held various positions with the Tasmanian state government, including portfolio services manager within the Department of Premier and Cabinet (1998–2002), office manager for the Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment (2002–2004), and office manager for the Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (2004–2005). She served as an assistant secretary of theAustralian Labor Party (Tasmanian Branch) and acted as state secretary in 2000.[1]
Brown was appointed to the Senate on 25 August 2005 to fill acasual vacancy caused by the resignation ofSue Mackay. She was elected in her own right at the2007 federal election and re-elected in 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2025.[1] She is a member of the ALP'sleft faction.[4]
Brown was electedDeputy Government Whip following the2010 election. Following the 2013 election she was added toBill Shorten'sshadow ministry as a shadowparliamentary secretary. She was promoted to Shadow Minister for Disability and Carers in 2016, but in 2019 was returned to the rank of shadowassistant minister.[1]
With Labor winning government in the2022 Federal election, Brown was appointed Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport in theAlbanese government.[5] In July 2024, she announced she would step down from the assistant ministry for health reasons,[6] with effect from 29 July 2024. In August 2024 she was appointed chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters.[1]
Prime Minister:Anthony Albanese | ||
| Cabinet | .jpg) | |
| Outer Ministry | ||
| Assistant Ministers | ||
| Resigned | ||
