Senator Jan McLucas was born on the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland and was educated at her local primary school in Ravenshoe, and then at Clayfield College, Brisbane. She trained as a teacher at Townsville College of Advanced Education (now James Cook University), where she was Treasurer, then President of the Student Union.
Jan taught as a primary school teacher, mainly in North Queensland, for 10 years, and continues to have a strong interest in education, especially of children living in rural and remote areas. She maintains close involvement in the North Queensland community, with particular interest in health, the environment, child care and indigenous and women’s issues.
Jan began public life with her election as a Cairns City Councillor in 1995, and entered the Senate in July 1999. She has been a member of a number of Senate Committees. Jan chaired the two Senate Select Committees of Inquiry into Medicare and was the Chair of the Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee.
Jan is the Duty Senator for the Electorates of Leichardt, Kennedy, Herbert and Dawson.
From November 2004 to November 2007, Jan was the Shadow Minister for Ageing, Disabilities and Carers. She was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Ageing upon the election of the Labor Government in 2007 before relinquishing that role in 2009.
Electorate Profile
Herbert
State:
QLD
Name Derivation:
Named after Sir Robert Herbert (1831-1905), the first Premier of Queensland 1860-66.
Area and Location Description:
Herbert covers an area of approximately 946 sq km. It stretches west from the City of Townsville, predominantly north of the Ross River, but also includes Douglas and the defence establishment at Lavarack Barracks. The Division covers areas north of the Alice River through to the western Townsville City Council boundary. It encompasses Lynam to the west, and extends north from Townsville along the coast to Sleeper Log Creek. The division also includes Magnetic Island and Palm Islands. Townsville and its surrounding suburbs is the main population centre in the area.
Products/Industries of the Area:
Copper, nickel and zinc refineries, bulk sugar terminal, and tropical fruits, prawn and fishing industry, beef cattle and tourism. Townsville, noted for its port facilities, is also home to James Cook University, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and large defence establishments at Lavarack Barracks (Army) and Garbutt (RAAF).
First Proclaimed/Election:
1900/1901
Demographic Rating:
Provincial
Members:
- Jones, E (LNQ) 2010-
- Lindsay, P (LP) 1996-2010
- Lindsay, E J (ALP) 1983-1996
- Dean, A G (LP) 1977-1983
- Bonnett, R N (LP) 1966-1977
- Harding, E W (ALP) 1961-1966
- Murray, J (LP) 1958-1961
- Edmonds, W F (ALP) 1946-1958
- Martens, G W (ALP/FLP) 1928-1946
- Nott, L W (NAT) 1925-1928
- Bamford, F W (ALP/NAT) 1901-1925
Kennedy
State:
QLD
Name Derivation:
Named after Edmund Kennedy (1818-48), explorer.
Area and Location Description:
Kennedy covers an area of approximately 568,993 sq km from the Gulf of Carpentaria and Mareeba in the north, to Boulia in the south, and from the Queensland border in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. The main towns include Atherton, Babinda, Camooweal, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Georgetown, Gordonvale, Hughenden, Ingham, Innisfail, Mareeba, Mount Isa, Normanton and Tully.
Products/Industries of the Area:
Mainly primary production including grains (sorghum, sunflowers, wheat), beef cattle, cotton, coal mining, gemstones, sheep, sugar, agricultural services, copper, gold, silver, tin, lead, zinc, uranium, fishing (prawns, crabs, barramundi), marble, tobacco, fruit and vegetables, peanuts, dairy products and tourism.
First Proclaimed/Election:
1900/1901
Demographic Rating:
Rural
Members:
- Katter, B (IND/NP) 1993-
- Hulls, R J (ALP) 1990-1993
- Katter, R C (NP) 1966-1990
- Riordan, W J F (FLP/ALP) 1936-1966
- Riordan, D (FLP/ALP) 1929-1936
- Francis, G A (NAT) 1925-1929
- McDonald, C (ALP) 1901-1925