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Joan Sheldon | |
|---|---|
| 26th Deputy Premier of Queensland | |
| In office 19 February 1996 – 26 June 1998 | |
| Premier | Rob Borbidge |
| Preceded by | Tom Burns |
| Succeeded by | Jim Elder |
| Shadow Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations | |
| In office 19 June 2000 – 17 February 2001 | |
| Leader | Rob Borbidge |
| Preceded by | Santo Santoro |
| Succeeded by | Vince Lester |
| 42nd Treasurer of Queensland | |
| In office 19 February 1996 – 26 June 1998 | |
| Premier | Rob Borbidge |
| Preceded by | Keith De Lacy |
| Succeeded by | David Hamill |
| Shadow Treasurer of Queensland | |
| In office 2 November 1992 – 19 February 1996 | |
| Leader | Rob Borbidge |
| Preceded by | Doug Slack |
| Succeeded by | David Hamill |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Queensland | |
| In office 2 November 1992 – 19 February 1996 | |
| Leader | Rob Borbidge |
| Preceded by | Brian Littleproud |
| Succeeded by | David Watson |
| Leader of theQueensland Liberal Party Elections:1992,1995,1998 | |
| In office 11 November 1991 – 23 June 1998 | |
| Deputy | David Watson (1991–1992) Santo Santoro (1992–1995) Denver Beanland (1995–1998) |
| Preceded by | Denver Beanland |
| Succeeded by | David Watson |
| Member of theQueensland Legislative Assembly forCaloundra Landsborough (1989–1992) | |
| In office 28 July 1990 – 7 February 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Ahern |
| Succeeded by | Mark McArdle |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1943-04-29)29 April 1943 (age 82) |
| Party | Liberal Party |
| Alma mater | University of Queensland |
| Occupation | Physiotherapist |
Joan Mary SheldonAM (born 29 April 1943) is an Australian politician. She was aLiberal Party member of theLegislative Assembly of Queensland from 1990 to 2004, representing the electorates ofLandsborough (1990–1992) and thenCaloundra (1992–2004).[1] She was the state Liberal leader from 1991 to 1998, and served asDeputy Premier in theBorbidge government from 1996 to 1998.[1]
Sheldon was born inBundaberg,Queensland, and attended St Bernadette's Primary School and Soubirous College. She studied physiotherapy at theUniversity of Queensland and subsequently studied for a time atTrinity College London. Sheldon operated a physiotherapy practice inBrisbane from 1978 to 1984, when she moved toCaloundra.[2]
A long-time member of the Liberal Party, she contested and won preselection for the National-held seat ofLandsborough upon the 1990 resignation of former PremierMike Ahern. She won an upset victory after Labor declined to stand a candidate, winning a 15% swing in her favour.[3] In November 1991, she defeatedDenver Beanland for the Liberal leadership, becoming the first female party leader in Queensland.
An ally of Liberal state presidentPaul Everingham, she was seen as less hostile to the National Party than her predecessor.[4]
Sheldon led the party to a resounding defeat in the1992 state election, losing a seat to Labor amidst high-profile tensions with the National Party.[5][6]
She supported proposals for a merger or coalition in the wake of the loss, and subsequently led the Liberal Party back into coalition with the National Party in November 1992, after nine years apart.[7][8]
She subsequently served as Shadow Treasurer under Borbidge in the lead-up to the1995 state election, which resulted in a one-seat victory for Labor. The result was reversed in February 1996 when acourt-ordered by-election resulted in a Liberal victory, and the Liberal-National Coalition gained office with the support of an independent. Sheldon was thus sworn in as Deputy Premier and Treasurer under Borbidge and became the first woman in Queensland to hold these roles. During the transition period of 19 to 26 February 1996, she held several ministries includingAttorney-General.[9]
After theBorbidge Ministry lost office after the1998 election Sheldon stood down as Liberal leader, with former deputyDavid Watson succeeding her.
She remained on the backbench until 1999 when she became Shadow Minister for The Arts, Fair Trading and Consumer Affairs which after June 2000 became Shadow Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations and The Arts.
From when the Coalition agreement with the Nationals was reinstated in 1992 to her retirement from the assembly in February 2004, she served as Shadow Minister for Tourism and Shadow Minister for the Arts.
Sheldon was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2005 Australia Day Honours for "service to the Queensland Parliament, to support for a range of cultural organisations, and to issues affecting women".[10]
| Parliament of Queensland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member forLandsborough 1990–1992 | Abolished |
| New seat | Member forCaloundra 1992–2004 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Parliamentary Leader of the Liberal Party in Queensland 1991–1998 | Succeeded by |
