Kelly O'Dwyer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Kelly O'Dwyer
Official portrait, 2017
Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations
In office 24 August 2018 – 11 April 2019
Prime Minister	Scott Morrison
Preceded by	Michaelia Cash
Succeeded by	Christian Porter (Industrial Relations) Michaelia Cash (Jobs)
Minister for Women
In office 20 December 2017 – 11 April 2019
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison
Preceded by	Michaelia Cash
Succeeded by	Marise Payne
Minister for Revenue and Financial Services
In office 19 July 2016 – 24 August 2018
Preceded by	Herself (as Assistant Treasurer)
Succeeded by	Stuart Robert (as Assistant Treasurer)
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
In office 20 December 2017 – 24 August 2018
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Michaelia Cash
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Minister for Small Business
In office 21 September 2015 – 19 July 2016
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Bruce Billson
Succeeded by	Michael McCormack
Assistant Treasurer
In office 21 September 2015 – 19 July 2016
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Josh Frydenberg
Succeeded by	Herself (as Minister for Revenue and Financial Services)
Member of the Australian Parliament for Higgins
In office 5 December 2009 – 11 April 2019
Preceded by	Peter Costello
Succeeded by	Katie Allen
Personal details
Born	Kelly Megan O'Dwyer (1977-03-31) 31 March 1977 (age 48) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Jon Mant
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Melbourne
Profession	Lawyer

Kelly Megan O'Dwyer (born 31 March 1977) is a former Australian politician. She was a member of the House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019. During this time, she represented the Liberal Party. She also held important government jobs, called ministerial roles, from 2015 to 2019.

Before becoming a politician, Kelly O'Dwyer worked as a lawyer and an adviser to a senior politician. She also held an executive role at a big bank called National Australia Bank (NAB). She was elected to parliament in 2009 when she was 31 years old. She took over from Peter Costello. In 2014, she became a parliamentary secretary, which is a junior government role.

Kelly O'Dwyer was promoted to the Cabinet in 2015. The Cabinet is a group of senior ministers who make important decisions. She served as Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer from 2015 to 2016. Later, she became Minister for Revenue and Financial Services (2016–2018) and Minister for Women (2017–2019). In 2017, she made history by becoming the first Australian Cabinet minister to give birth while in office. She finished her political career as Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations and left politics before the 2019 federal election.

Early Life and Career

Kelly O'Dwyer was born in Box Hill, Australia. She went to Presbyterian Ladies' College and the University of Melbourne. There, she earned degrees in Arts and Law.

After university, she worked as a lawyer for a company called Freehills in Melbourne. She then spent four years as a senior adviser to Peter Costello. He was the politician for the area of Higgins and the Federal Treasurer. Later, she worked as an executive at the National Australia Bank.

Political Journey

Kelly O'Dwyer in Parliament in 2016

Becoming a Federal Politician

In 2009, Peter Costello decided he would not run for parliament again. On 17 September 2009, Kelly O'Dwyer was chosen by the Liberal Party to be their candidate for Higgins. Peter Costello then announced he was leaving parliament in October 2009. He said his retirement would help bring new people into the Liberal Party.

A special election, called a by-election, was held on 5 December 2009. Kelly O'Dwyer was expected to win easily. This was especially true because the Labor Party did not put forward a candidate for the seat.

Kelly O'Dwyer was the first woman to be chosen by the Liberal Party for a "safe seat" in a major city like Melbourne. A safe seat is an area where a party is almost certain to win. During the selection process, some people claimed there was unfair treatment against her. They said that a "leadership seat" like Higgins was not suitable for a woman. They also suggested that being elected to parliament might harm her marriage.

Serving as a Minister

Kelly O'Dwyer was a Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer from December 2014. This was during the government led by Tony Abbott. In September 2015, there was a change in leadership within the Liberal Party. Malcolm Turnbull became the new Prime Minister.

Turnbull changed many roles in the government. Kelly O'Dwyer was appointed to the Cabinet. She became the Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer. After the government was re-elected in 2016, she became the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services. In December 2017, she received two more important jobs. She became the Minister for Women and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service. When Scott Morrison became Prime Minister, Kelly O'Dwyer became the Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations. She also continued her role as Minister for Women.

In 2018, Kelly O'Dwyer was named one of BBC's 100 Women. This list highlights inspiring and influential women from around the world.

On 19 January 2019, Kelly O'Dwyer announced she would not run in the next election. She explained that her two children were getting close to primary school age. She wanted to focus on her family and hoped to have a third child.

Family Life

Kelly O'Dwyer is married to Jon Mant, who works as a business executive. She has two sisters and one brother. Her first daughter was born in 2015.

In 2017, she gave birth to her second child. This made her the first Cabinet Minister in Australia to have a baby while holding office.

In April 2022, Kelly O'Dwyer joined a company called Barrenjoey Capital Partners. She became a non-executive director there, which means she helps guide the company without being involved in daily operations.