Jenny Macklin

Jenny was born in Brisbane. She grew up in country Victoria before going to university in Melbourne. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours. Jenny was an adviser to the Victorian Minister for Health and from 1990 to 1993 she was responsible for the National Health Strategy, a national review of Australia's health system. From 1994 to 1996, Jenny was the director of another major policy review for the Federal Labor Government on urban and regional development.

She was elected to Federal Parliament in 1996 and during her first term held the Shadow Ministerial portfolios of Social Security, the Aged, Family and Community Services and Status of Women. After re-election in 1998, she became the Shadow Minister for Health and the Status of Women. Jenny was elected to the ALP National Executive in 1998 and in 2000 was elected as the Senior Vice-President of the ALP.

Following the 2001 federal election, Jenny was elected unopposed as Deputy Leader of the Opposition on 22 November 2001 and held that position until 4 December 2006.

Upon the election of the Labor Government in 2007, Jenny was appointed the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
 
In this role Jenny oversaw the historic apologies to the Stolen Generations and the Forgotten Generation. Jenny was also responsible for the most significant reforms to Australia's pension system in its 100 year history. These reforms delivered pension increases, a new pension supplement, a pension Work Bonus and a new indexation system.
 
In September 2010 Jenny was re-appointed Minister as part of the Gillard Government and oversaw the implementation of Australia's first National Paid Parental Leave Scheme.
 
In December 2011 Jenny was appointed the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Minister for Disability Reform, reflecting Jenny's strong personal commitment to reforming the disability services sector in Australia.