About
Christine Milne, Senator for Tasmania and Leader of the Australian Greens, is one of Australia's most experienced and respected environmental and community activists, with a career spanning 30 years.
After leading a highly successful alliance of farmers, fishers, scientists, environmentalists and concerned community members from Wesley Vale to prevent the construction of a polluting pulp mill, Christine was elected to the Tasmanian parliament in 1989, and became the first woman to lead a political party in Tasmania in 1993. She was elected to the Senate in 2004, and elected Deputy Leader of the Greens by her colleagues in 2008.
Christine's vision, her deep policy knowledge about climate change and her unparalleled experience with power-sharing minority governments led to the establishment of the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee and its successful negotiations to design the Clean Energy Future package which will place innovation, opportunity and clean energy at the forefront of the transformation of the Australian economy for the 21st century.
Having grown up on a dairy farm, Christine's commitment to and understanding of farmers, the needs of regional Australia and the future of the country's food production is widely appreciated. She is currently overseeing the development of a major local and global food security and sovereignty campaign placing sustainable agriculture, biosecurity, healthy eating, and a fair go for farmers, as priorities in maintaining Australia's world renowned food industry.
When in the Tasmania parliament, Christine constructed a comprehensive plan to transform the state into a "clean, green and clever" economy. Although futuristic at the time, her proposal has become main stream, and Christine has brought a similar vision to the federal parliament.
Christine has long recognised the arts as playing a central role in our quality of life and self awareness as Australians. As well as a passionate attendee at galleries and performances, Christine works hard to bring the needs of artists to parliament.
Christine's global reputation was recognised when she was appointed a United Nations Global 500 Laureate and elected Global Vice-President of the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) from 2005-08.
14 May 1953: Born at Latrobe, Tasmania, the second daughter of Wesley Vale dairy farmers, Tom and June Morris.
1959-63 Attended Wesley Vale Area School
1964-69: Attended St Mary's College, Hobart, as a boarder
1970: Attended Devonport High School
1971-3: Bachelor of Arts majoring in History and Political Science, University of Tasmania; Elected President of Ena Waite University College.
1974: Graduated from University of Tasmania with Honours in Australian history and Certificate of Education.
1975: Taught at Parklands High School, Burnie, Tasmania
1975: Married Neville Milne at Latrobe, Tasmania
1976-77: Taught at Devonport High and Don College
1978: Travelled overseas to Europe
1979-81: Taught at Devonport High
1982: Travelled through Asia, Middle East and Africa (Jan-June) Awarded Japan Foundation Trip for multi cultural education
1983: First involvement in campaigning, to save huts at Waldheim Chalet in Cradle Mountain National Park
1983: Arrested and imprisoned for involvement in Franklin Dam blockade
1984: Taught Devonport High
1984: First son, Thomas Milne, born
1986: Second son, James Milne, born
1987-88: Research officer, Australian Bicentennial Historic Records Search
1988: Awarded Australian Bicentennial Women 88 Award for achievements in protection of the environment
1988-9: Led the campaign by farmers, fishers, scientists and environmentalists to stop the Wesley Vale pulp mill
1989: Elected to Tasmanian Parliament as independent member for Lyons. Jointly held balance of power, supporting the ALP in an accord which delivers a doubling of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, FOI law reform, and the Douglas Apsley and Friendly Beaches National Parks
1990: Inducted as United Nations Global 500 Environmental Forum Laureate
1990: Appointed member of Australia's first Greenhouse Council alongside Joan Kirner, and Rupert Hamer
1992: Re elected in seat of Lyons as a Green Independent
1992: Founding Member of the Tasmanian Greens Party with Bob Brown, Gerry Bates, Lance Armstrong and Di Hollister
1993: Elected Leader of the Tasmanian Greens following resignation of Bob Brown.
1994-96: Participated in reform of Parliament Committee which resulted in Party Status for the Tasmanian Greens
1996-8: Led Tasmanian Greens in balance of power with a Liberal Minority Government, delivering gay law reform, gun law reform, apology to the Stolen Generations, support for a Republic, and protection of forests in the Counsel River region
1998: Appointed to Commonwealth Constitutional Convention
1998: Lost seat of Lyons after Liberals and Labor combine to reduce the size of the Tasmanian Parliament
1998: Attended UNFCCC, 4th Conference of the Parties, Buenos Aires.
1999: Attended Green Parties of the Americas Conference, Mexico and UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting Paris.
1999: Marriage Ends
2000: Elected to Global Council of International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Amman, Jordan
2000: Appointed to the Australian Earth Charter Committee
2000: Attended UNFCCC 6th COP The Hague
2000: Delegate to the Asia Pacific Greens Conference Brisbane
2000-04: Adviser to Senator Bob Brown
2001: Chaired final Plenary of Inaugural Global Greens Conference, Canberra
2001: Elected to Australian Conservation Foundation National Council
2002: Chaired Meeting on Climate Change at Global Biodiversity Forum in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
2002: Appointed to Inaugural Advisory Committee to Australian Catholic Bishops in establishment of Catholic Earth Care Australia
2003: Delivers keynote address to World Parks Congress Durban South Africa
2003: Adviser to UNESCO World Heritage Committee
2003: Listed in Bulletin Magazine's Smart 100
2004: Elected to the Australian Senate. Elected Vice President of International Union for Conservation of Nature
2005: Travelled Turkey, Gallipoli. Great Uncle Lance Corporal John Hancox's grave subsequently located
2005: Took up Senate seat, immediately taking on the climate change and energy portfolio among others. Addressed United Nations Plenary session at UNFCCC COP 11, Montreal
2005: Appointed to the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs Deputy Chair of the Committee
2006: Invited participant in IUCN Global Thinkers Meeting, Zurich, Switzerland, with Mohammed Yunus, Lester Brown, Ashok Khosla, Sylvia Earle and others
2006: Attended UNFCCC Cop 12 Nairobi
2007: Attended UNFCCC COP 13 Bali
2008: Elected Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens
2009: Attended UNFCCC COP 15 Copenhagen
2010: Re-elected on a record-breaking Greens Senate vote of 20.27%. Re-elected Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens. Appointed Co Deputy Chair Multi Party Climate Committee
2011: Developed Clean Energy Package announced July and legislated November.
2011: Attended UNFCCC COP 17 Durban South Africa.
2012: Elected Leader of the Australian Greens.
