Wendy Askew | |
|---|---|
| Senator forTasmania | |
| Assumed office 6 March 2019 | |
| Preceded by | David Bushby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Wendy Anne Bushby (1963-03-16)16 March 1963 (age 62) Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
| Party | Liberal |
| Relations | Max Bushby (father) David Bushby (brother) |
Wendy Anne Askew (néeBushby; formerlySummers; born 16 March 1963) is an Australian politician who is aSenator forTasmania, representing theLiberal Party. She was appointed to acasual vacancy on 6 March 2019 in place of her brotherDavid Bushby.
Askew was born inLaunceston, Tasmania.[1] Her fatherMax Bushby and brotherDavid Bushby were also Liberal politicians.[2] She was known as Wendy Summers until her marriage in September 2018.[3]
Prior to entering politics, Askew worked in a variety of roles in the public and private sectors. She was general manager of the St Giles Society, a disability services provider, and also spent 20 years in the banking industry, including roles withWestpac and theCommonwealth Bank.[4] She later worked as office manager to state MPMichael Ferguson and as an adviser to state MPSarah Courtney and federal MPAndrew Nikolic.[3] Immediately prior to her elevation to the Senate she was working as an adviser to federal education ministerDan Tehan.[2]
Askew held various senior positions in theTasmanian Liberals, serving on the state executive, as party treasurer, and as a senior vice-president of the party.[1] In 2018, it was reported that she would be a candidate for Senatepreselection for the2019 federal election.[5]
Askew's brotherDavid Bushby announced his retirement from the Senate in January 2019. She subsequently defeated seven other candidates to become the Liberal Party's nominee for thecasual vacancy caused by his resignation. She will serve the remainder of his six-year term, which expires in June 2022.[6] Askew was temporarily appointed to the Senate on 6 March 2019 by state governorKate Warner under the provisions ofsection 15 of the constitution, as the state parliament was not in session.[4][7] A joint sitting of the state parliament on 20 March 2019 formalised her appointment to the Senate.[8]
Askew is the fourth woman to represent the Tasmanian Liberals in federal parliament and the first sinceJocelyn Newman retired in 2002.[9]
After the Coalition's defeat at the2022 federal election, Askew was appointedChief Opposition Whip in the Senate - her brother had previously served as the Coalition's chief whip when they were in government.[1]
Askew is affiliated with theNational Right faction of the Liberal Party,[10] after previously being factionally unaligned during theMorrison government years.[11]
