Susan Ryan

Ryan in 2013

Susan Maree Ryan AO (10 October 1942 – 27 September 2020) was an Australian public servant and politician. She was the Age Discrimination Commissioner from 2011 to 2016, within the Australian Human Rights Commission. She was a member of the Labor Party. She served as a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory between 1975 and 1987.

Ryan also served as a minister in the Hawke Government. In 1983, she became the first female Labor minister when she became the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women and Minister for Education and Youth Affairs. She was involved in the creation of the Sex Discrimination Act, 1984 (Cth) and the Affirmative Action (Equal Opportunities in Employment) Act 1986 (Cth). She was also Special Minister of State from 1987 to 1988.

Ryan was born in Sydney, New South Wales. She was married to government official Richard Butler from 1963 to 1972. The couple had two children.[1]

On 25 September 2020, Ryan was hospitalized in intensive care at a hospital near Sydney after swimming.[2] She died two days later on 27 September, aged 77.[3][4]

References

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  1. ↑ "Ryan, Susan Maree (1942–)". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  2. ↑ Ritchie, Emily (27 September 2020). "Former Hawke minister Susan Ryan dead at 77". The Australian. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Pioneer of Sex Discrimination Act Susan Ryan dead aged 77". www.abc.net.au. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  4. ↑ Henriques-Gomes, Luke (27 September 2020). "Susan Ryan, pioneering Labor senator and campaigner on discrimination, dies aged 77". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2020.