Lin Thorp

Lin Estelle Thorp (born 4 November 1953^[1]) is a former Australian politician. She was an Australian Labor Party member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council from 1999 until 2011, representing the electorate of Rumney, and serving as Minister for Human Services (2008–2010) and Minister for Education and Skills, Minister for Children, and Minister for Police and Emergency Management (2010–2011) in the Bartlett and Giddings governments. She was defeated for re-election to her state seat by independent Tony Mulder at the 2011 periodic elections, but was subsequently nominated to a casual vacancy for the Australian Senate in June 2012 caused by the resignation of Nick Sherry. She was defeated from the third position on the Tasmanian Labor Senate ticket at the 2013 federal election, and her term ended on 30 June 2014.

Early life

Thorp was born in Hobart, Tasmania. She studied education at the University of Tasmania and Tasmanian College of Advanced Education, and subsequently taught at Taroona High School and Hobart College.

Political career

Tasmanian Legislative Council

Her political interests include community support, women's issues, reconciliation, multiculturalism, the natural environment and social justice. During her time as Labor member she has announced a number of government achievements in information technology including; the opening of an online access centre in Clarendon Vale and the $4 million "Laptops for Teachers" program also speaking out against the Howard federal government's sale of Telstra. Other programs she has been a part of include: diabetes camps for teenagers, 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake aid efforts and Landcare Australia funding deals. In 2005 Lin Thorp quoted lyrics from John Lennon's "Imagine" song in tears as the government presented new anti-terrorism laws. She faced election in the division of Rumney on 7 May 2005. She won with an outright majority of 50.96% and there was no need to distribute preferences.

Thorp became Minister for Human Services on 17 September 2008.^[2]

As a Legislative Councillor she was not involved in the 2010 Tasmanian State Election; however, the resulting portfolio reshuffle on 21 April 2010, saw her become the new Minister for Education and Skills, Minister for Children, and Minister for Police and Emergency Management.^[3]

She was defeated by Tony Mulder at the elections held on 7 May 2011.^[4]

Australian Senate

Thorp won 89 per cent of the preselection vote to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of stalwart Nick Sherry.^[5] She was appointed to the Senate by a joint sitting of the Tasmanian Parliament on 20 June 2012, and sworn in on 21 June.

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