Nicole Werner
Nicole Werner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Warrandyte | |
| Assumed office 26 August 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Ryan Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ta-Ei Box Hill, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal (since 2020) |
| Spouse | Fraser Werner |
Nicole Ta-Ei Werner is an Australian politician. She was elected as the member for Warrandyte in the Victorian Legislative Assembly at a by-election in 2023.[1]
Before entering politics, Werner worked for not-for-profit organisations, including as a youth pastor at the ‘Christian Pentecostal megachurch’ Planetshakers.[2][3][4]
Early life and career
[edit]Werner’s parents migrated to Australia from Malaysia in the 1980s with their life savings of $800.[5][6]
Werner was unable to speak English when she started kindergarten.[5] She went on to study at language school in Doncaster East.[7]
Political career
[edit]Werner joined the Liberal Party in 2020, triggered by frustration of COVID-19 lockdowns.[5]
Werner ran for the state seat of Box Hill in the 2022 Victorian State election, losing to incumbent member, Paul Hamer.
Following the retirement of long term Victorian Liberal MP, Ryan Smith, in the state seat of Warrandyte, sparking a by-election in the seat, Werner was preselected as the Liberal candidate in June 2023. Werner was elected to succeed Ryan Smith at the by-election on 26 August 2023.[8]
Werner was the first woman to represent the seat of Warrandyte and the youngest member of the Legislative Assembly.[9]
Werner is considered a member of the Liberal party’s ‘religious right’ grouping.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ Green, Antony (27 August 2023). "Results – Warrandyte by-election 2023". ABC News. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ Carmody, Broede (18 June 2023). "Former pastor Nicole Werner wins Warrandyte Liberal Party preselection". The Age. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ https://amp.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/liberal-says-she-s-proof-the-party-doesn-t-need-diversity-quotas-20230715-p5dofz.html
- ^ "Parliament of Victoria".
- ^ a b c Smethurst, Annika (16 July 2023). "Liberal says she's proof the party doesn't need diversity quotas". The Age. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ "Inaugural Speech - Nicole Werner MP". Hansard. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Meet Nicole". www.nicolewerner.com.au. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ Eddie, Rachel (26 August 2023). "Liberals claim victory in Warrandyte byelection for Nicole Werner". The Age. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ "Hansard". 4 October 2023.
- ^ https://amp.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/liberal-says-she-s-proof-the-party-doesn-t-need-diversity-quotas-20230715-p5dofz.html