Katy Gallagher

The support provided to Gallagher by the Labor Party and union movement inspired her to run for pre-selection as one of the Labor candidates for the electorate of Molonglo for the 2001 ACT general election.[8] At the time, Labor had two incumbent members in the Assembly representing Molonglo. Long-serving independent Michael Moore retired at the election. The election saw Labor come to power, led by Jon Stanhope. Despite Gallagher winning just 4.38% of the first preference vote,[10] following distribution of preferences, Gallagher was elected as the fifth member to the seven member seat, behind Humphries, Tucker, Corbell, and Quinlan.[11]

Gallagher was appointed to the second arrangement of the first Stanhope ministry on 23 December 2002,[12] when she was given the portfolios of education, youth and family services; women; and industrial relations. A minor change on 26 May 2004 saw Gallagher's ministry for education, youth and family services divided into separate responsibilities.[13]

At the 2004 ACT general election, Gallagher polled strongly, generating 11.59% of the first preference vote[14] and was the first candidate elected to represent Molonglo in the Assembly, ahead of both Labor colleagues, Quinlan and Corbell.[15]

Gallager's ministerial responsibilities were unchanged in the first arrangement of the second Stanhope ministry and, on 20 April 2006, following the retirement of Ted Quinlan, she was promoted to Deputy Chief Minister with ministerial responsibilities including health, disability and community services, and women.[16] The ministry for children and young people was restored to Gallagher's responsibilities on 17 April 2007.[16]

At the 2008 ACT general election, Gallagher again polled strongly, generating 15.78% of the first-preference vote[17] and was the second candidate elected to represent Molonglo in the Assembly, behind Liberal leader, Seselja.[18] In the third Stanhope ministry, Gallagher took on ministerial responsibility for treasury, in addition to retaining both health and women;[19] whilst a subsequent reshuffle on 9 November 2009 saw her resume ministerial responsibility for industrial relations and lose the portfolio of women.[20]

Amid allegations of bullying, it was reported in early 2010 that nine obstetricians had resigned from Canberra Hospital in the preceding 13 months.[21] The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists called on Gallagher to conduct an external, transparent review of the hospital; and, although initially denying the claims,[22] Gallagher agreed to two external reviews, one to look at workplace issues and the other to investigate patient outcomes.[23] The patient outcome review, when handed down in August 2010, sharply criticised hospital management with regards to workload, but stated that patient care was adequate.[24][25] A number of months earlier, Gallagher faced pressure from the Catholic Church, following an agreement that the ACT Government would purchase Calvary Hospital (in Bruce) from the Little Company of Mary Health Care (LCMHC) – an independent arm of the Church – for $77m. Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell claimed that the Government's motives were ideological and driven by anti-Christian elements.[26] Gallagher denied the claims. A dispute subsequently arose between LCMHC and the Government over an accounting concession[27] and the government withdrew from the purchase.[28] The culmination of these matters led the Liberal leader, Zed Seselja, on 17 August 2010, to move a no confidence vote in the Assembly against Gallagher as Minister for Health as follows:[29]

That this Assembly no longer has confidence in the Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher, for her continued neglect of the Health portfolio, most particularly... management failure, staff bullying, over working, and poor processes; ... complete failure in the Calvary Hospital purchase; ... and many instances of attacking those who made complaints, ignoring those who gave advice, and dealing with the problems through denial and neglect; ... and the ongoing poor performance of the ACT health system ...

The motion was defeated (five in favour, nine against), with the ACT Greens supporting the government.[30]

On 12 May 2011, while Gallagher was deputy chief minister, the current chief minister at the time, Jon Stanhope, resigned. On 16 May 2011, Gallagher was elected by the Assembly as the ACT's 6th Chief Minister and 3rd female Chief Minister.[31] The ALP won an additional seat in the 2012 Australian Capital Territory general election, and remained in government after securing the support of the sole remaining Green MLA.

During her term as Chief Minister, Gallagher welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the ACT on their Australian tour in April 2014.[32]

On 5 December 2014 Gallagher announced that she would resign as chief minister to pursue the upcoming Senate vacancy left by the resignation of Kate Lundy.[33] She resigned as Chief Minister and her former deputy Andrew Barr was elected as her replacement on 11 December 2014.[5]