Sarah Hanson-Young facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah Hanson-Young
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| Senator for South Australia | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Manager of Greens Business in the Senate | |
| Assumed office 10 June 2022 |
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| Leader | Adam Bandt Larissa Waters |
| Greens Spokesperson on Environment and Water | |
| Assumed office 17 June 2022 |
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| Leader |
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| Greens Spokesperson on Arts and Communications | |
| Assumed office 17 June 2022 |
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| Leader |
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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 Coral Hanson-Young is an Australian politician. She has been a Senator for South Australia since July 2008. She represents the Australian Greens political party.
When she was first elected, Sarah Hanson-Young was the youngest woman to join the Parliament of Australia. She was 25 years old when she won the election and 26 when she started her job. She was also the youngest person ever elected to the Senate.
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Early Life and Education
Sarah Hanson-Young was born in Melbourne, Australia. She grew up in a place called East Gippsland. In 1999, she received an award for Young Citizen of the Year for her area.
She went to the University of Adelaide. In 2002, she earned a degree called a Bachelor of Social Sciences. While studying, she was involved in student groups. She was the Environment Officer and later the President of the university's Students' Association.
Career in Politics
Before becoming a senator, Sarah Hanson-Young worked in different roles. She was a bank teller for a short time. From 2004 to 2008, she worked for Amnesty International Australia. There, she was a Campaign Manager for South Australia and the Northern Territory.
She also worked as an advisor for a politician named Mark Parnell. She helped with his election campaign in 2006. She also campaigned for refugee rights.
Becoming a Senator
In 2006, Sarah Hanson-Young ran for a state election in South Australia. She was a candidate for the Greens party.
She was then elected as a senator for South Australia in the 2007 Australian federal election. She was the first Greens senator from that state. She was also the youngest person ever popularly elected to the Australian Senate.
Important Moments in Parliament
In 2009, something notable happened in the Senate. The rules at the time did not allow politicians to bring their children into the main meeting room. Sarah Hanson-Young's two-year-old daughter was asked to leave the Senate chamber. This event started a big discussion across Australia. People debated if workplaces should be more flexible for parents.
This discussion eventually led to a change in the rules. Now, members of parliament and senators can care for their children in the chamber for short times.
Sarah Hanson-Young has been re-elected to the Senate several times. She won elections in 2013, 2016, and 2019.
In 2013, she helped create a group with other senators from different parties. This group worked together on the topic of marriage equality.
As of 2021, Sarah Hanson-Young is a spokesperson for several important areas for the Greens. These include Arts, Media & Communications, Tourism, Transport and Infrastructure, Environment & Water, and Gambling.
After the 2025 Australian Federal Election, she became the Manager of Greens Business.
Court Case
In 2018, there was a disagreement between Sarah Hanson-Young and another senator, David Leyonhjelm. This disagreement led to a court case. Sarah Hanson-Young sued him for defamation, which means saying something untrue that harms someone's reputation.
The court ruled in favor of Sarah Hanson-Young in 2019. She was awarded money in damages, which she said she would donate to charity.
Awards and Recognition
In 2021, Sarah Hanson-Young was chosen as a Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst. This program brings together leaders from around the world. She attended a special forum and retreat as part of this program.
Personal Life
Sarah Hanson-Young was married to Zane Young, and they have one child. They divorced in 2011.
In April 2022, she married Ben Oquist. He is the director of a research group called The Australia Institute.
