Ark Tribe Rally June 2010
Rally to save the Murray
Mental Health Vigil - GetUp!
Meet Penny Wright
Senator for South Australia
About
You can visit Penny's website at penny-wright.greensmps.org.au
Penny Wright was elected to the Senate at the 2010 Federal election and took her seat on July 1, 2011. Her former roles as a solicitor, university lecturer and deputy president of the Guardianship Board - in which she focused on areas such as tenancy law, mental health, social security, refugees and violence against women - all helped prepare her for the challenge of being a Parliamentarian.
As a lawyer, she often worked in the ‘little’ end of town, with those who live on the margins of society – people on low incomes, people with mental illnesses and people who have been dealt a tough hand by life.
Penny has always been active in promoting and protecting public institutions for the public good. She has worked and advocated for public education - as a parent and Governing Council chair, public transport (as an environmental and social justice issue) and public broadcasting (successfully heading up Friends of the ABC in SA from 1996 to 1999) to fight cuts to the ABC budget which threatened the loss of Radio National, Classic FM and Triple J.
She now is the Greens spokesperson for legal affairs, mental health, social inclusion, veterans’ affairs, cultural heritage and native title and is tirelessly working towards her goal of a more inclusive Australia where all people can participate in the community and realise their full potential.
Next to her three great children, 16, 19 and 21, and her husband, she also loves reading, whipping up delicious desserts and riding her bike. A bike accident in May 2010, which saw her conduct her election campaign mostly from a wheelchair, has given her a fresh gratitude for everyday things and a greater insight into the challenges of those navigating life in a wheelchair. She is now back on her bike although she is not allowed to run along the corridors of Parliament House. But even walking, she is faster than most of her staff members, with shorter legs, who are forced to trot beside her in order to keep up!
Contact details:
Ph: 08 8205 1060
Media enquiries: Jennifer Maisel - 0417 173 508
Policies
The Greens are committed to a fair, healthy and sustainable future for all South Australians, including:
- Fair indexation for veterans’ pensions to reflect true cost of living increases.
- A mental health system which promotes the social participation and services that are vital for good mental health and recovery, minimises relapse and provides an alternative to hospitalisation where possible.
- Promoting delivery of services to rural communities particularly in relation to mental health services.
- Lowering prison populations by investing in communities instead of prisons to reduce crime and recidivism.
- Properly valuing and protecting our rich cultural and Indigenous heritage.
- Improving our native title system to better ‘rectify the consequences of past injustices’ and secure ‘adequate advancement and protection’ as was the original intention of the legislation.
- Recognition of the increasing marginalisation of those Australians who are not benefitting from the multi-speed economy and fair income support for those who are on Newstart Allowance and other payments.
