Tanya Gadiel

The Honourable
Tanya Gadiel
3rd Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
In office
23 September 2008 – 4 March 2011
SpeakerRichard Torbay
Preceded byTony Stewart
Succeeded byThomas George
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Parramatta
In office
22 March 2003 – 26 March 2011
Preceded byGabrielle Harrison
Succeeded byGeoff Lee
Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Premier on Community and Veterans Affairs, and Assisting the Minister for Police
In office
8 May 2007 – 5 September 2008
Personal details
Born
Tanya Rachelle Barber

21 November 1972
Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyLabor Party
ChildrenLiviya and Tahlia
OccupationUnion organiser

Tanya Rachelle Gadiel, née Barber (born 21 November 1972), a former Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 2003–2011, representing the electorate of Parramatta for the Labor Party. During her term in Parliament, Gadiel was Deputy Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in the Kristina Keneally Labor Government.[1] On 8 December 2010, Gadiel announced that she would not contest the 2011 state election.[2]

Early years and background

Gadiel was born in Cessnock, New South Wales and attended public schools, including Cessnock High School.

She studied arts and law at university before becoming involved in the trade union movement, serving as an organiser with the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia and as an industrial officer with the Australian Workers' Union. She was subsequently employed as a senior policy adviser to then-Police Minister Michael Costa. She was married, but has been divorced for a number of years.[3]

State politics

In late 2002, Gabrielle Harrison, the Member for Parramatta, announced she would retire from parliament at the upcoming 2003 state election. Harrison conceded that she had lost support among her branch members.[4] It was reported that,

Right-wing party bosses want to replace former sports minister Gabrielle Harrison in Parramatta with Tanya Gadiel, a member of the staff of Police Minister Michael Costa...... Mrs Gadiel [does not] have the support to win local rank-and-file preselection ballots.[5]

Gadiel was preselected to take her place after a bitter internal contest against Parramatta Lord Mayor David Borger.[6] In 2007, Borger went on to be elected as the Member for Granville. With Borger not contesting the election, Gadiel had a relatively clear run, as the protest vote split between an independent and the Green candidate. While many commentators predicted a larger swing considering the amount of adverse press coverage, it nevertheless caused a small swing to the Liberal Party in what was otherwise a landslide victory for Labor.[7]

Gadiel was re-elected at the 2007 state election and, in December 2010, announced her decision to not seek re-election at the 2011 state election, citing family reasons. Gadiel was the 19th NSW Labor member to stand aside at the March 2011 state election.[8]

Post-political career

Since leaving politics, Gadiel has been the CEO of Community Services at Parramatta Mission.

References

  1. ^ "The Hon. Tanya Rachelle Gadiel". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  2. ^ AAP (8 December 2010). "Make that 19: NSW Labor MP Tanya Gadiel quits". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  3. ^ "Parramatta State Labor MP Tanya Gadiel: I believe what counts most is grassroots". Parramatta Advertiser. News Limited. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  4. ^ West, Andrew (15 September 2002). "On your bike, Gabi". The Sun-Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  5. ^ Mitchell, Alex (22 December 2002). "Labor factions white-ant key seats". The Sun-Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  6. ^ "Labor infighting over Parramatta pre-selection". PM transcript. ABC radio. 25 February 2003. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  7. ^ "Parramatta". 2007 New South Wales Election. ABC News. 11 April 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  8. ^ Mullins, Lisa (8 December 2010). "Parramatta MP Tanya Gadiel: I quit". Parramatta Advertiser. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 December 2010.

 

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Parramatta
2003–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
2008–2011 		Succeeded by