Emma Jayne Kealy (born 29 May 1977^{[citation needed]}) is an Australian politician. She has been aNational Party member of theVictorian Legislative Assembly since November 2014, representing the Legislative Assembly seat ofLowan.^[1]

Kealy was born and raised inEdenhope, Victoria, where six generations of her family have worked as farmers. She gained a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from theUniversity of South Australia, before living in theNorthern Territory,Melbourne andHamilton, Victoria, and then moving back to Edenhope to work as chief executive of the Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital.^[2]

Since being elected, Kealy has established a moderate record in parliamentary votes and on policy generally. Despite her reticence towards expressing a view on abortion prior to the 2014 election,^[3] Kealy was a supporter of legislation to legalise euthanasia,^[4] same-sex adoption,^[5] and to restrict protests in the vicinity of abortion clinics.^[6] Kealy is also an advocate for a greener approach to climate change and has openly disavowed the more cautious approach of her federal leaderBarnaby Joyce.^[7]

Prior to the2018 Victorian state election, Kealy became embroiled in controversy over her use of taxpayer-funded printing entitlements. Deputy PremierJames Merlino referred Kealy to the State Ombudsman, alleging that Kealy had asked a local newspaper in her electorate, theHamilton Spectator, to falsify invoices to enable taxpayer-funded advertising to run in the newspaper during November 2018 contrary to the prohibition against the use of MP allowances during the caretaker election period.^[8][9] Blame for the affair was ultimately placed on the shoulders of an inexperienced advertising consultant at theHamilton Spectator, and no further disciplinary action was taken against Kealy.^{[citation needed]}

After the 2018 Victorian state election, Kealy continued in her role as Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Prevention of Family Violence, and Women. Despite being expected to advocate for the rights and status of women in her capacity as Shadow Minister for Women, Kealy surprised some observers by failing to join local female leaders in condemning Hindmarsh Shire Mayor, Ron Ismay, for using what theABC chose to describe as sexist language, in introducing Kealy to an audience of young families and children at the opening ceremony for Nhill skate park in October 2019.^[10] Hindmarsh Shire Council passed a motion formally apologising to Kealy, and local women's groups condemned the language for reducing women to their physical appearance and reinforcing gender stereotypes. Kealy herself opted not to comment any further on the matter.^{[citation needed]}

Kealy was appointed deputy leader of the Victorian Nationals in July 2022,^[11] but was overlooked for the leadership in November 2024 when Danny O'Brien seized the party leadership from Peter Walsh. Kealy denied being disappointed and told media that she had nominated O'Brien for the role.^[12]

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