Faculty of Arts

Retiring from politics at the 2007 Federal Election, Dr Lawrence took up a position at the University as a Professorial Fellow in the Institute of Advanced Studies.

Dr Lawrence's parliamentary career began in state politics in 1986 when she won the seat of Subiaco for the Australian Labor Party, a seat previously held by the Liberal Party for 27 years.

She was promoted to the State Government Ministry in 1988 as Minister for Education. She was re-elected in 1989 in the seat of Glendalough. Her responsibilities were increased with the addition of the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio. In a leadership change on 12 February 1990, Dr Lawrence became Australia's first woman premier.

With Labor's narrow defeat at the February 1993 State election, Dr Lawrence became Western Australia's first woman opposition leader. She also held the positions of Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Employment and Federal Affairs.

Dr Lawrence entered federal politics by winning the seat of Fremantle in a by-election on 12 March 1994. She was appointed Minister for Human Services and Health and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women. Following the defeat of the Keating Government in the March 1996 general election, Dr Lawrence was appointed Shadow Minister for the Environment, the Arts, and Assistant to the Leader of the Opposition on the Status of Women - posts she held until April 1997.

In September 2000, Dr Lawrence was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Industry, Innovation and Technology, and Shadow Minister for the Status of Women. Dr Lawrence also held Reconciliation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs; the Arts, and Status of Women Portfolios until December 2002.

Dr Lawrence was elected by the first popular ballot of ALP members as President of the Australian Labor Party in 2004.

Returning to the backbench, Dr Lawrence has been an active and vocal peace campaigner, speaking at rallies and forums around the country. Dr Lawrence also speaks and writes regularly about refugee policy and democratic reform.