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| Michaelia Cash | |
|---|---|
| Name | Michaelia Cash |
| Birth date | 1970-07-16 |
| Birth place | Perth, Western Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Politician, Lawyer |
| Party | Liberal Party of Australia |
Michaelia Cash Michaelia Cash (born 16 July 1970) is an Australian politician and barrister who has been a member of the Senate of Australia representing Western Australia since 2008. A senior figure in the Liberal Party of Australia, she has held ministerial roles in the Abbott Government, the Turnbull Government, and the Morrison Government, including portfolios in Industry and Science, Employment, and Women.
Cash was born in Perth, Western Australia and raised in Perth suburbs before attending secondary school. She studied law at the University of Western Australia where she completed a Bachelor of Laws and was involved in student activities linked to the Liberal Party of Australia youth movement. After graduation she undertook admission to the Legal Profession and later completed postgraduate legal training and professional accreditation in Western Australia.
Cash worked as a solicitor and later as a barrister in Perth, practicing in areas including industrial relations, employment law and litigation. She served as a partner and legal adviser to business and employer associations such as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Cash represented clients before tribunals including the Fair Work Commission and engaged with stakeholders across the Australian manufacturing and mining sectors.
Cash entered federal politics as a candidate for the Liberal Party of Australia and was elected to the Senate of Australia at the 2007 Australian federal election to represent Western Australia. She quickly rose through the party ranks and served on parliamentary committees including those dealing with Education and Employment and Legal and Constitutional Affairs. Cash played a role in the Liberal–National Coalition's policy development leading into the 2013 Australian federal election and subsequent coalition administrations.
Cash was appointed to shadow and ministerial portfolios across successive administrations. Under Tony Abbott she served as a parliamentary secretary and later held the portfolio of Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection during debates following the Operation Sovereign Borders policy. In the Turnbull Government she was Minister for Employment and Minister for Women, overseeing reforms tied to workplace relations and gender policy. In the Morrison Government Cash was appointed Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations and subsequently Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, engaging with bodies such as the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Business Council of Australia, and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Her ministerial terms intersected with national events including the Global Financial Crisis (2007–2008) aftermath, the COVID-19 pandemic, and industrial disputes in the Australian aviation and maritime sectors.
Cash has been known for conservative positions within the Liberal Party of Australia factional landscape, aligning with mainstream centre-right politics in Australia on workplace relations and national security. She advocated for industrial relations reform, including support for amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 and measures affecting trade unions and employer associations. Cash attracted public scrutiny over decisions involving the Australian Federal Police and investigations into leaks from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Department of Home Affairs, prompting debate in the Senate and coverage by media outlets such as The Australian and ABC News. Her stance on gender policy and workplace safety placed her in discussion with groups including Australian Women’s Coalition advocates, business lobbyists, and educational institutions like the University of Western Australia. Controversies also arose during parliamentary inquiries into alleged misuse of ministerial powers and the disclosure of confidential information, leading to crossbench and opposition scrutiny from members of the Australian Labor Party and minor parties such as the Australian Greens.
Cash maintains personal connections to Perth and has been involved with community organizations and philanthropic activities within Western Australia. Outside politics she has links to professional associations including the Law Society of Western Australia and networks of former alumni at the University of Western Australia. Her public profile has included participation in national forums alongside figures such as Scott Morrison, Malcolm Turnbull, and Tony Abbott on issues of employment, industry and women's affairs.
Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia Category:Members of the Australian Senate for Western Australia Category:University of Western Australia alumni