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.
Electorate Profile
Jagajaga
State:
VIC
Name Derivation:
Named after three principal Aboriginal elders who signed a treaty with John Batman in 1835 which gave the white settlers 500 000 acres of land at the north west end of Port Phillip Bay and 100 000 acres around Geelong.
Area and Location Description:
Jagajaga covers an area of approximately 87 sq km from Warrandyte in the north to Ivanhoe in the south. The main suburbs include Bundoora (part), Eltham (part), Greensborough (part), Heidelberg, Heidelberg West, Ivanhoe, Macleod (part), Montmorency, Research (part), Rosanna, Viewbank, North Warrandyte, Watsonia and Yallambie.
Products/Industries of the Area:
This is a light industrial area which contains Simpson Army Barracks and Austin Hospital.
First Proclaimed/Election:
1984
Demographic Rating:
Outer Metropolitan
Members:
- Macklin, J (ALP) 1996-
- Staples, P R (ALP) 1984-1996