Kerrynne Liddle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kerrynne Liddle
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Liddle c. 2019
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| Senator for South Australia | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2022 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 October 1967 Alice Springs, Northern Territory |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Other political affiliations |
Labor (2006–2007) |
| Alma mater | University of South Australia University of Adelaide |
| Occupation | Journalist Politician |
Kerrynne Liddle was born on October 7, 1967. She is an important Australian politician. She made history as the first Indigenous person from South Australia to become a federal Member of Parliament.
Kerrynne is an Arrernte woman. She is a member of the Liberal Party. She was chosen to join the Senate in the 2022 election. Her term started on July 1, 2022. Before politics, she worked as a journalist and a business manager.
Early Life and Education
Kerrynne Liddle was born in Alice Springs on October 7, 1967. She grew up with four brothers and sisters. Her parents, Geoff and Jean Liddle, were both Arrernte people. Her father worked in construction. Her mother was a nurse who later helped high school students.
Kerrynne's family has many inspiring people. Her sister, Leanne, was the first Indigenous woman to become a police officer in South Australia. Her aunt, Lorraine Liddle, was the first Indigenous lawyer in the Northern Territory.
Kerrynne went to high school in Alice Springs. She also studied at Katherine Rural College and Roseworthy Agricultural College. Early in her career, she worked as a jillaroo, which is a trainee on a cattle station. Later, as an adult, she went back to university. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in management from the University of South Australia. She also got a Master of Business Administration from the University of Adelaide.
Professional Career
Kerrynne Liddle started her career as a journalist. She worked for the ABC, which is a big Australian news company. She reported on both radio and television. She also worked for Channel 7 Adelaide, another TV station.
After journalism, Kerrynne started her own business. It was called Precise Media Management. This company helped other businesses with their public relations. In 2010, she joined a special group. This group looked at how the Australian government invested in Indigenous broadcasting and media.
In 2011, Kerrynne took on a new role. She became the Aboriginal participation manager for Santos Limited. This is a large energy company. Later, she worked for Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia. She was a manager at the Ayers Rock Resort. She was in charge of over 1000 staff members. About 400 of these employees were Indigenous.
Kerrynne also served on many important boards. These boards help guide different organizations. She was on the board for GP training (GPEX) and the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress. She also led the Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute. She was a board member for the South Australian Housing Trust, Aboriginal Hostels Limited, and Indigenous Business Australia. She also served on the councils for the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia.
Political Journey
Kerrynne Liddle first joined the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in 2006. She later said she was only a member for one year. She only went to one meeting. After that, she joined the Liberal Party.
In 2016, she was chosen to be a candidate for the Senate. She was sixth on the Liberal Party's list for South Australia. In 2019, Kerrynne started working for Senator Anne Ruston. She was a staffer, helping the Senator with her work.
In February 2021, Kerrynne was chosen again to run for the Senate. This time, she was third on the Liberal Party's list for South Australia. She won this spot with support from different parts of the party.
At the 2022 federal election, Kerrynne Liddle was elected to the Senate. Her term began on July 1, 2022, and will last for six years. This was a very important moment. She became the first Indigenous Australian to represent South Australia in the Senate. She is also the first Indigenous woman to win a parliamentary seat in South Australia at either the state or federal level.
Kerrynne Liddle is part of the Centrist group within the Liberal Party.
