Margaret Reid (politician)
Margaret Elizabeth Reid AO (née McLachlan; born 28 May 1935) is a former Australian politician who served as a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory from 1981 to 2003, representing the Liberal Party. She is the only woman to have served as President of the Senate, holding that office from 1996 to 2002.[1]
Margaret Reid AO | |
|---|---|
| President of the Australian Senate | |
| In office 20 August 1996 – 18 August 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Beahan |
| Succeeded by | Paul Calvert |
| Senator for Australian Capital Territory | |
| In office 5 May 1981 – 14 February 2003 | |
| Preceded by | John Knight |
| Succeeded by | Gary Humphries |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Margaret Elizabeth McLachlan 28 May 1935 Crystal Brook, South Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Alma mater | University of Adelaide |
| Profession | Barrister |
Early years
Born Margaret McLachlan[2] at Crystal Brook near Adelaide, South Australia, Reid was educated at the University of Adelaide, obtaining a LLB. There she joined the Liberal Party, becoming the first female president of the Australian Liberal Students Federation. After graduating, Reid became a barrister, specialising in family law; and moved to Canberra in 1965.
Political career
On 5 May 1981, Reid was elected by a joint sitting of the Australian Parliament to fill a casual vacancy in the representation of the Australian Capital Territory in the Senate, following the sudden death of her close friend, Senator John Knight. This was the first of only two occasions on which a Senate casual vacancy was filled in this manner, as the law was later changed to provide for a replacement senator to be appointed by the relevant territory (ACT or NT) legislative assembly.[3]
Reid became Liberal Whip in the Senate in 1987 and held the office until 1995. In 1996, she was elected President of the Senate, retiring from the position in 2002 after six years. Reid resigned from the Senate on 14 February 2003, and was replaced by the former ACT Chief Minister, Gary Humphries.
Honours and awards
In 2004 she was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia for her service to the Australian Parliament and the community.
Personal life
She married in 1966 Tom Reid MBE, a widower with four children, who was Director of Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station during it involvement in the Apollo program. She adopted his children; they had no further children.[4]
Reid is an active patron of over 80 community organisations in Canberra. She is the patron of the Australian Women's History Forum with Mary Sexton.[5] She was inaugural President of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture.
External links
References
- "Senate Brief No 6". The President of the Senate. Commonwealth of Australia. October 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Rules for Joint Sittings" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- Emma Macdonald, "Rising above the genteel rumble of the pink palace", Canberra Sunday Times, 7 January 2001, Sunday Focus, p. 18
- About Archived 22 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine Australian Women's History Forum, accessed 18 August 2011.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Michael Beahan |
President of the Australian Senate 1996–2002 |
Succeeded by Paul Calvert |
| Parliament of Australia | ||
| Preceded by John Knight |
Senator for the Australian Capital Territory 1981–2003 Served alongside: Susan Ryan, Bob McMullan, Kate Lundy |
Succeeded by Gary Humphries |
