“I hope that my time in Parliament will give me the opportunity to build the broadest possible coalition of people committed to changing the world for the better.” -  Penny's inaugural speech October 2005

In Parliament

I have been a Member of the NSW Legislative Council since October 2005. I am currently the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council and Minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Heritage.

I previously served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Shadow Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services, and Shadow Minister for Disability Inclusion, Interim Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, and Shadow Minister for Trade, as well as Shadow Minister for Planning, Shadow Minister for Transport, and Shadow Minister for Tourism and Major Events. In the previous Labor Government I was Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, Roads and Parliamentary Secretary for Mining and Energy.

My policy interests include equality, the environment, transport, better cities, innovation, LGBTI law reform, women, and using technology to improve democracy.

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 spent several years in vocational education and training assisting 100 local communities to form partnerships between schools and businesses so young people could gain real workplace training 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 & the Labor Party 

From 2004-2008 I was a councillor on Marrickville Council. I have been a foster carer for young homeless women. I have been on the management committees of several childcare centres and a neighbourhood centre. In 2000 I co-edited 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 a member of Rainbow Labor, the Labor Environment Action Network (LEAN), EMILY's List, Labor for Refugees, and Labor for Innovation. 

Personal

I live with my partner, three children and a variety of pets in Sydney's inner west. In my spare time I read crime fiction, cook for friends and family, swim in the ocean, walk in the forests and ride my bike.

Duty Electorates

The Labor Party appoints members of the Upper House to electorates not held by the Labor Party.  I am the Duty MLC for the state seats of Balmain and Vaucluse.