Danna Vale
Craig Kelly | |
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Personal details | |
Born | Danna Sue Ward 14 November 1944 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
Political party | Liberal |
Spouse | Robert Vale |
Occupation | Solicitor |
Danna Sue Vale (née Ward; born 14 November 1944) is a former Australian politician. A member of the Liberal Party, she served as Minister for Veterans' Affairs in the Howard government from 2001 to 2004, the first woman to hold the position. She was a member of the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2010, holding the New South Wales seat of Hughes.
Early life
Vale was born in Sydney on 14 November 1944.[1] She was the oldest of six children born to Albert and Delma Ward; her father was a World War II veteran and her maternal grandfather Donald Dempsey was killed in World War I, along with two of his brothers. She grew up in the suburb of Sylvania, leaving school at the age of 14 and working as an office girl. By working multiple jobs she saved money to take flying lessons, achieving a pilot's licence at the age of 20.[2] Following her marriage Vale was a stay-at-home mother for a number of years, eventually enrolling to study law at the University of Sydney in 1984. She graduated in 1988 with the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws, subsequently working as a solicitor until her election to parliament.[1]
Political career
Vale joined the Liberal Party in 1993 and soon became president of the Gymea branch. She was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1996 federal election, defeating the incumbent Australian Labor Party (ALP) member and Keating government minister Robert Tickner. She was subsequently re-elected on four occasions.[1]
After serving on various House
In 2004, Vale unwittingly became involved in the "cash for comment affair" when she mistakenly faxed a letter of support, meant for radio talkback host Alan Jones of 2GB, to Jones' former station 2UE. At the time, questions were being raised about the impartiality of David Flint, the head of the Australian Broadcasting Authority, when a letter of praise from Flint to Jones was revealed after the ABA had cleared Jones of wrongdoing.[5] Vale's letter, urging Jones to "stay brave and true", was lampooned by the ABC TV program Media Watch, which adopted "Stay Brave and True" as its unofficial motto.[6]
After losing her ministry, Vale joined the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Science and Innovation
In August 2009 Vale announced she would not re-contest her seat at the 2010 federal election.[11]
Political views
Vale notably opposed several of the
In 2006, Vale suggested that Australia is going to become a Muslim nation, as a result of Australians "aborting themselves out of existence"
Personal life
Vale raised four sons with her husband Bob.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Hon Danna Vale MP". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Maiden speech". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. 20 June 1996. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ Willis, Louise (14 February 2003). "Review of veterans' entitlements". AM. ABC. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "SA RSL gives Vets Minister thumbs down". ABC News. 7 October 2003. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ Vale misdirects letter of support for Jones, ABC News, 29 April 2004.
- ^ Brave and true (and magnetic), Media Watch (ABC TV), 10 May 2004.
- ^ Current members Archived 8 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Standing Committee on Science and Innovation, Parliament of Australia, 17 October 2007.
- ^ Between a Rock and a Hard Place the science of geosequestration Archived 29 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine, House Standing Committee on Science and Innovation, Parliament of Australia, 13 August 2007.
- ^ Crabb, Annabel: Aliens in the house from the Planet Propaganda, The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 August 2007.
- ^ "Your View", St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, 28 August 2007.
- ^ "Danna Vale to quit politics at next poll". The Age. 4 August 2009.
- ^ Danna Vale to quit politics at next poll: Turnbull, The Sydney Morning Herald, 5 August 2009.
- ^ Narushima, Yuko: Regret, redemption as MPs put end to detention debt, The Sydney Morning Herald, 26 June 2009.
- ^ Muslim nation 'not possible': Vanstone, The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 February 2006.
- ^ MP raises Islamisation fear in RU486 debate, ABC News, 13 February 2006.
External links
- Personal website
- Search or browse Hansard for Danna Vale at OpenAustralia.org
- Official Parliamentary biography