About Penny Sharpe

Brief Bio

You can find my one page bio here.  

In Parliament

I have been a Member of the NSW Legislative Council since October 2005. I am currently the Shadow Minister for Transport. Previously I was the Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, Roads and Parliamentary Secretary for Mining and Energy. 

Education & Work

I was born in Canberra where I attended public schools. At 19 I moved to Sydney to study Food Technology at UNSW. Fuelled by the desire to take action on issues that I felt passionate about, I joined the Labor Party and became active in student organisations campaigning for access to education, women's rights and the environment. After a year in Melbourne as the President of the National Union of Students, I developed training materials for workers in the public transport industry and then worked in vocational education and training assisting local communities, school and businesses to form partnerships so young people could gain real workplace experiences while still at school. Prior to being elected to parliament in October 2005, I worked as a policy advisor to a state minister in the areas of youth, juvenile justice, community development & support, social justice, homelessness, and vocational education & training.

Community & Labor Party Activity

From 2004-2008 I was a councillor on Marrickville Council. I have been a foster carer for young homeless women aged 15 - 17. I have been on the management committees of several childcare centres and a neighbourhood centre. In 2000 I was part of a team of four women who coedited a book called Party Girls - Labor Women Now. In the Labor Party I have held a variety of positions in local branches; been a delegate to state and national conferences, convened women's networks and coordinated policy development.

I am the Vice President of the Evatt Foundation, Co- convenor of NSW Parliamentary Group on Population and Development & the Reconciliation in Parliament Group.

Personal

My policy interests include education, human rights, transport, and using technology to improve democracy. I live with my partner and three children in Sydney's inner west. In my spare time I read crime fiction, cook for friends and family, go fishing and ride bikes with my kids.

Duty electorates

The Labor Party appoints members of the Upper House to electorates not held by the Labor Party. Duty MLCs:

• are the key contact between the government and local constituents
• assist Ministers in announcing government initiatives and attending local events in that electorate
• support people who believe they are not getting service or assistance from their local member

I am now the Duty MLC for the state seats of Sydney, Bega, South Coast, Balmain and Willoughby.