Sarah Hanson-Young facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah Hanson-Young
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Hanson-Young in 2019
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| Senator for South Australia | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2008 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sarah Coral Hanson
23 December 1981 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | Greens |
| Spouse |
Zane Young
(m. 2002; div. 2011)Ben Oquist
(m. 2022) |
| Children | 1 |
| Residences | Daw Park, Adelaide |
| Alma mater | University of Adelaide (BSS) |
| Signature |  |
Sarah Hanson-Young was born on 23 December 1981. She is an Australian politician who has been a Senator for South Australia since July 2008. She is part of the Australian Greens political party. When she was elected, she was the youngest woman to join the federal parliament. She won her election at age 25 and started her job at 26.
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Early Life and Education
Sarah Hanson-Young was born in Melbourne. She grew up in a place called Orbost in East Gippsland. In 1999, she received an award for being the Young Citizen of the Year for her area.
She went to the University of Adelaide. In 2002, she finished her studies with a degree in Social Sciences. While at university, she was involved in student groups. She was the Environment Officer and later the President of the Students' Association.
Her Career Journey
Before Politics
Before becoming a politician, Sarah Hanson-Young worked in different jobs. In 2004, she worked as a bank teller. From 2004 until 2008, she worked for Amnesty International Australia. There, she was a Campaign Manager for South Australia and the Northern Territory.
She also helped with political campaigns. She was an advisor for Mark Parnell, a Greens politician, in 2006. She also worked with a group called Justice for Refugees.
Becoming a Senator
In 2007, Sarah Hanson-Young was elected as a Senator for South Australia. This was a big moment because she was the first Greens Senator from that state. She was also the youngest person ever elected to the Australian Senate by popular vote.
Important Moments in Parliament
In 2009, something interesting happened in the Senate. The person in charge asked her two-year-old daughter to leave the room during a vote. At that time, the rules did not allow children in the Senate chamber. This event started a big discussion about parents bringing their children to work. Seven years later, the rules changed. Now, politicians can care for their children for short times in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Sarah Hanson-Young has been re-elected to the Senate many times. She was re-elected in 2013, 2016, and again in 2019.
In 2013, she helped start a group with politicians from different parties. This group worked together on the topic of marriage equality.
Her Main Roles
As a Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young speaks for her party on many important topics. As of 2021, she is the spokesperson for:
- Arts, Media & Communications
- Tourism
- Transport and Infrastructure
- Environment & Water
- Gambling
A Legal Case
In 2019, Sarah Hanson-Young was involved in a legal case. She took another politician to court for saying things about her that were not true. This is called a defamation case. She won the case, and the court awarded her money for the harm caused by the untrue statements. She said she would give this money to charity.
Awards and Recognition
In 2021, Sarah Hanson-Young was chosen as a Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst. This program recognizes people who are making a difference in the economy. As part of this, she attended special events in Singapore.
Personal Life
Sarah Hanson-Young was married to Zane Young. They divorced in 2011 and have one child together. In April 2022, she married Ben Oquist. He is the director of a research group called The Australia Institute.
