About Sue Pennicuik

Parliamentary Roles

Parliamentary Whip
Acting President

Committees

• Legislation Committee
• Privileges Committee
• Standing Orders Committee
• Select Committee on Public Land Development  - final report now available on the Parliament of Victoria Website
• Public Accounts and Estimates Committee

Biography

Sue has been a member of the Greens in 1996 after volunteering on the federal election campaign that year. She is a founding member of the Greens Port Phillip branch and has been a state councillor since 1997. Sue was a member of the Greens state executive from 1998 to 2004 and was party convener from 2004 to 2006. Sue was also a member of the state election campaign committee from 1998 to 2004.

“I joined the Greens because I believe in fairness, compassion and putting people and the environment first. It’s the only party that thinks long term and has workable policies for a sustainable future. I am constantly angered and frustrated by the short-sighted decisions taken by our state and federal governments. They are not thinking in sustainable ways and their priorities are not right. There’s too much influence from big business and political donations.” 

Sue studied Arts and Applied Science and has a Masters degree in Environmental Science from Monash University. A former secondary English and Physical Education teacher, Sue has also worked in retail, and hospitality, as a fitness instructor, and an environment officer for a large national union. She was Co-ordinator of the national Occupational Health and Safety Unit for the ACTU from 1997 to 2004, which conducted research and produced OHS information for unions. She worked on national OHS standards and led campaigns on a range of issues including stress and bullying at work, safer working hours and banning asbestos. She represented workers at the ILO in 1999. Sue also worked for the Australian Drug Foundation from 2004 to 2006 developing resources on alcohol and work.

Sue has lived in the southern suburbs of Melbourne for twenty-one years. She has been active in local community, environment and heritage issues for many years and state-wide issues such as the campaign against channel deepening. The Southern Metropolitan Region covers an area from Kew in the north to Beaumaris in the south, and from Albert Park, Port Melbourne and the bayside coast in the west to Canterbury, Burwood, Chadstone, Oakleigh and Moorabbin in the east.

Sue was elected to the Victorian parliament in 2006, joining her colleagues Colleen Hartland and Greg Barber, as the first Greens elected to the Victorian Legislative Council.
 

Portfolio areas

Education, Justice & Industry

Arts
Attorney General
Consumer Affairs
Education
Employment
GLBTI
Industry & State Development
Innovation
Industrial Relations
Information Technology

International Relations
Parliamentary Modernisation
Police
Regional and Rural Development
Roads and Ports
Skills and Education Services
Small Business
Sport and Recreation
Tourism