Louise Pratt

Labor Senator for Western Australia
 
Louise Pratt comes to the Federal Parliament with a strong background in community activism and a history of parliamentary service at the State level. Her key policy interests include economic and environmental sustainability, community engagement, human rights, refugees, minority and gender equity issues, economic equality and family policy, including child welfare, adoption, maternity services, childcare and life-work-family balance. She is a proud member of Emily’s List Australia and of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.

In 2001, Louise became the youngest woman ever elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council. As a member of the Parliament of Western Australia, she served on the Procedure and Privileges Committee, as the Chair of the Environment and Public Affairs Committee and as the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Australia regional representative. As Deputy Chair of Committees, Louise also regularly chaired sessions of Legislative Council. She promoted gender equality and e-democracy in parliamentary procedures, as well as participating in a review into maternity services in Western Australia.

As a member of both the Gallop and Carpenter Labor Governments, Louise was the chair of Greenhouse Stakeholder Group, which facilitated wide ranging consultation on social, economic and environmental issues relating to climate change policy. She chaired a review of Adoption Legislation for the State Government and held the position of secretary to the Western Australian State Labor Caucus between 2001 and 2005. Louise was also a key member of the State Government’s Ministerial Taskforce on lesbian and gay law reform.

In the Federal Parliament, Louise is a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties and the Senate Standing Committees on Economics; and on Environment, Communications and the Arts and on Senators’ Interests.