Jeanette Powell

Jeanette Powell (b. 4 February 1949) is the Nationals Member for Shepparton in the Victorian Parliament.

Powell was born in Prescot, England and emigrated to Australia as a child. After a short time in Preston, the family moved to Shepparton in regional Victoria.

Prior to entering parliament, Powell held a variety of occupations including film processor, television presenter, singer, marketing and sales, office manager and director of the family auto-electrics business. She was also a Local Government councillor from 1990 to 1994 in the Shire of Shepparton and served as Shepparton Shire president in 1993 and 1994. After council amalgamations Powell was appointed as a commissioner with the Shire of Campaspe from 1994 to 1996.

Powell was elected to the Legislative Council seat of North-East Province in 1996, becoming the first woman to represent the Nationals in Victoria. In 2002, she moved to the Legislative Assembly to represent Shepparton, narrowly defeating the Liberal Party candidate Stephen Merrylees with 54% of the two party vote. At the 2006 election, Powell increased her primary vote to 48% and her share of the two party vote to 67% against the same Liberal candidate (Stephen Merrylees) as 2002.

Powell is currently the Shadow Minister for Local Government and for Aboriginal Affairs. She has been the Deputy Chair of the Family & Community Development Committee since 1996, a member of the Parliamentary Library Committee since 1996 and the Standing Orders Committee since 2002.

Powell is married with two sons.

External links

* [http://home.vicnet.net.au/~powell/ Official website]
* [http://www.vic.nationals.org.au The Nationals - Victoria]