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{{Short description|Australian politician}}
⚫
{{Infobox MLA
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
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|honorific-prefix = '''[[The Honourable]]'''
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}
⚫
|name =Ursula Stephens
⚫
{{Infobox officeholder
⚫
|nationality =Australian
⚫
|honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
⚫
|name = Ursula Stephens
⚫
|nationality = Australian
|image =
|image =
|order =
|office = [[Australian Senate|Senator]] for [[New South Wales]]
|office = [[Australian Senate|Senator]] for [[New South Wales]]
|term_start =1 July 2002
|term_start = 1 July 2002
|term_end =30 June 2014
|term_end = 30 June 2014
|deputy =
|deputy =
|predecessor =
|predecessor =
|successor =
|successor =
|birth_name = Ursula Mary Clarke
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|7|7|df=y}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|7|7|df=y}}
|birth_place =[[Wicklow]], Ireland
|birth_place = [[Wicklow]], Ireland
|death_date =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|death_place =
|party = [[Australian Labor Party|Labor]]
|constituency =New South Wales
|party =[[Australian Labor Party]]
|spouse = Bob Stephens
|spouse =
|profession = Teacher
|alma_mater = [[South Australian College of Advanced Education|South Australian CAE]]<br/>[[University of Canberra]]
|profession =Politician
|signature =
|signature =
|footnotes =
|footnotes =
}}
}}


'''Ursula Mary Stephens''' (born 7 July 1954) is a former Australian politician. She was elected to the [[Australian Senate]] for [[New South Wales]] in November 2001, representing the [[Australian Labor Party]]. She began her term on 1 July 2002, and ended on 30 June 2014.
'''Ursula Mary Stephens''' ({{nee|'''Clarke'''}}; born 7 July 1954) is a former Australian politician. She served as a [[Australian Senate|Senator]] for [[New South Wales]] from 2002 to 2014, representing the [[Australian Labor Party]] (ALP). She was a [[parliamentary secretary]] in the [[Rudd government (2007–2010)|Rudd]] and [[Gillard government]]s from 2007 to 2010. In 2019 she was appointed CEO of [[Catholic Social Services Australia]].


==Early life==
Stephens was born in [[Wicklow]], Ireland. A practicing Catholic, Stephens has repeatedly stated her opposition to changing Australian legislation to allow homosexual couples to marry.<ref>[http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/australia-news/new-south-wales-news/2011/03/10/catholic-alp-senator-says-%E2%80%98no%E2%80%99-to-marriage-equality-push/46505 Catholic ALP Senator say no to marriage equality push]</ref>
Stephens was born in [[Wicklow]], Ireland.<ref name=aph>{{cite Au Parliament |mpid=00AOS |name=Former Senator Ursula Stephens |access-date=2021-11-06}}</ref> She arrived in Australia with her family at a young age and grew up on the [[New South Wales North Coast]]. She is one of seven siblings; her father was a mechanic and her mother was a nurse.<ref name=fia>{{cite news|url=https://fia.org.au/2018/11/15/five-minutes-withursula-stephens-fia-code-authority-chair/|title=Five minutes with…Ursula Stephens, FIA Code Authority Chair|publisher=Fundraising Institute Australia|year=2019|access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref> She was educated at [[McAuley Catholic College|St Mary's College]] in [[Grafton, New South Wales|Grafton]].<ref name=doc>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/apn-alp-senators-family-celebrates/138766/|title=ALP Senator's family celebrates doctorate|newspaper=The Daily Examiner|date=9 August 2005|access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref>


She subsequently completed a diploma in teaching at Goulburn College of Advanced Education and a [[Bachelor of Education]] at the [[South Australian College of Advanced Education]]. She worked as a [[primary school]] teacher from 1974 to 1992, including in the [[Northern Territory]] for two years. She later operated a small business and then from 1997 to 2001 worked for the New South Wales state government as a senior project officer in the Premier's Department.<ref name=aph/>
Stephens was a teacher from 1974-92, a small business operator from 1992-96 and Senior Project Officer in NSW Premier's Department from 1997-2001.<ref>[http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=00AOS Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens – Parliament of Australia]</ref>

==Politics==
Stephens joined the ALP as a result of the [[1975 Australian constitutional crisis|dismissal of the Whitlam government]] in 1975, during which she travelled to Canberra to attend protests. She was the first member of her family to join a political party.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eolasmagazine.ie/an-irish-influence/|title=An Irish influence|magazine=Eolas Magazine|date=August 2011|access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref> Stephens served on the [[Australian Labor Party National Executive]] and the national executive of the Labor Women's Network. She was president of the [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)]] from 2002 to 2006, the first woman to hold the position.<ref name=aph/><ref name=doc/>

===Senate===
Stephens was elected to the Senate at the [[2001 Australian federal election|2001 federal election]], to a term beginning on 1 July 2002. She was re-elected [[2007 Australian federal election|in 2007]] but lost her seat [[2013 Australian federal election|in 2013]], with her term ending on 30 June 2014.<ref name=aph/> She was a member of the [[Labor Right]] faction.<ref name=smh>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/labors-right-slams-gay-reform-20110727-1i0ay.html|title=Labor's right slams gay reform|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=27 July 2011|access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref>

In the Senate, Stephens served as chair of the economic references committee from 2003 to 2006. She was chosen as a shadow [[parliamentary secretary]] in 2004, continuing in the role under opposition leaders [[Mark Latham]], [[Kim Beazley]] and [[Kevin Rudd]] until Labor's victory at the 2007 election.<ref name=aph/> In 2005, she was one of only three ALP senators – along with [[Stephen Conroy]] and [[Helen Polley]] – to vote against greater availability of the abortion drug [[RU486]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/senate-rejects-ru486-veto-20060210-gdmxsy.html|title=Senate rejects RU486 veto|date=10 February 2006|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref> In the [[First Rudd Ministry]], Stephens served as Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and Parliamentary Secretary for the Voluntary Sector.<ref name=aph/> She initially continued on when the [[First Gillard Ministry]] was formed in June 2010, but in September 2010, following the [[2010 Australian federal election|2010 election]], her positions were abolished. She stated that they were abolished because "my job was completed" and it did not constitute a demotion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/969051/stephens-job-cut/|title=Stephens' job cut|newspaper=Goulburn Post|date=20 September 2010|access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref>

Stephens was opposed to the legalisation of [[same-sex marriage in Australia]]. In 2011, she stated "marriage is about a relationship between a man and a woman [...] marriage is about producing children".<ref name=smh/> In 2012 she submitted a report to the ALP caucus in which she stated same-sex marriage could have unintended consequences, such as allowing neighbours to marry for tax benefits. She said she was also concerned about "the demonisation of those who oppose same sex marriage" and that "anyone who knows me would never consider me as homophobic".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/339131/hume-pollies-have-say-on-gay-marriage/|title=Hume pollies have say on gay marriage|newspaper=Goulburn Post|date=17 September 2012|access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref>

===State politics===
Stephens ran unsuccessfully for the seat of [[Electoral district of Goulburn|Goulburn]] at the [[2015 New South Wales state election]]. She reprised her candidacy at the [[2019 New South Wales state election|2019 state election]] but was again unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nsw/2019/guide/goul|title=Goulburn|publisher=ABC News|access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref>

==Later career==
In July 2019, Stephens succeeded [[Frank Brennan (priest)|Frank Brennan]] as CEO of [[Catholic Social Services Australia]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/dr-ursula-stephens-accepts-the-baton/|title=Dr Ursula Stephens accepts the baton|newspaper=Catholic Voice|date=1 July 2019|access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref> She resigned from the role in 2021 to take up an appointment as CEO of Australian Catholic Safeguarding Ltd, a newly created body established "to oversee [[safeguarding]], child protection and professional standards matters" for the Catholic Church in Australia.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cssa.org.au/cssa-pays-tribute-to-departing-chief-executive-officer/|title=CSSA pays tribute to departing Chief Executive Officer|publisher=Catholic Social Services Australia|date=29 April 2021|access-date=14 October 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Stephens has four children with her husband Bob. In 2005, while serving in the Senate, she was awarded the degree of [[Doctor of Public Administration]] (DPA) by the [[University of Canberra]] for a thesis on "best practice in service delivery models and the impact of National Competition Policy reforms on regional and rural communities".<ref name=doc/>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Authority control}}
==External links==
*[http://www.ursulastephens.com/ Ursula Stephens Website]
*[http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/TranslateWIPILink.aspx?Folder=BIOGS&Criteria=NAME_ID:00AOS%3B Ursula Stephens, Senate Biography]


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Stephens, Ursula
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Australian politician
| DATE OF BIRTH =7 July 1954
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[Wicklow]], Ireland
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Ursula}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Ursula}}
[[Category:Australian Labor Party politicians]]
[[Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia]]
[[Category:Australian people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Labor Right politicians]]
[[Category:Irish emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:Irish emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:People who lost Irish citizenship]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of Australia]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian Senate]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian Senate]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian Senate for New South Wales]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian Senate for New South Wales]]
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Canberra alumni]]
[[Category:University of Canberra alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian politicians]]

[[Category:21st-century Australian women politicians]]

[[Category:Australian Roman Catholics]]
{{Australia-Labor-senator-stub}}
[[Category:People from Wicklow (town)]]

Latest revision as of 03:31, 14 October 2024

The Honourable
Ursula Stephens
Senator for New South Wales
In office
1 July 2002 – 30 June 2014
Personal details
Born
Ursula Mary Clarke

(1954-07-07) 7 July 1954 (age 70)
Wicklow, Ireland
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLabor
SpouseBob Stephens
Alma materSouth Australian CAE
University of Canberra
ProfessionTeacher

Ursula Mary Stephens (née Clarke; born 7 July 1954) is a former Australian politician. She served as a Senator for New South Wales from 2002 to 2014, representing the Australian Labor Party (ALP). She was a parliamentary secretary in the Rudd and Gillard governments from 2007 to 2010. In 2019 she was appointed CEO of Catholic Social Services Australia.

Early life

[edit]

Stephens was born in Wicklow, Ireland.[1] She arrived in Australia with her family at a young age and grew up on the New South Wales North Coast. She is one of seven siblings; her father was a mechanic and her mother was a nurse.[2] She was educated at St Mary's College in Grafton.[3]

She subsequently completed a diploma in teaching at Goulburn College of Advanced Education and a Bachelor of Education at the South Australian College of Advanced Education. She worked as a primary school teacher from 1974 to 1992, including in the Northern Territory for two years. She later operated a small business and then from 1997 to 2001 worked for the New South Wales state government as a senior project officer in the Premier's Department.[1]

Politics

[edit]

Stephens joined the ALP as a result of the dismissal of the Whitlam government in 1975, during which she travelled to Canberra to attend protests. She was the first member of her family to join a political party.[4] Stephens served on the Australian Labor Party National Executive and the national executive of the Labor Women's Network. She was president of the Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) from 2002 to 2006, the first woman to hold the position.[1][3]

Senate

[edit]

Stephens was elected to the Senate at the 2001 federal election, to a term beginning on 1 July 2002. She was re-elected in 2007 but lost her seat in 2013, with her term ending on 30 June 2014.[1] She was a member of the Labor Right faction.[5]

In the Senate, Stephens served as chair of the economic references committee from 2003 to 2006. She was chosen as a shadow parliamentary secretary in 2004, continuing in the role under opposition leaders Mark Latham, Kim Beazley and Kevin Rudd until Labor's victory at the 2007 election.[1] In 2005, she was one of only three ALP senators – along with Stephen Conroy and Helen Polley – to vote against greater availability of the abortion drug RU486.[6] In the First Rudd Ministry, Stephens served as Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and Parliamentary Secretary for the Voluntary Sector.[1] She initially continued on when the First Gillard Ministry was formed in June 2010, but in September 2010, following the 2010 election, her positions were abolished. She stated that they were abolished because "my job was completed" and it did not constitute a demotion.[7]

Stephens was opposed to the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Australia. In 2011, she stated "marriage is about a relationship between a man and a woman [...] marriage is about producing children".[5] In 2012 she submitted a report to the ALP caucus in which she stated same-sex marriage could have unintended consequences, such as allowing neighbours to marry for tax benefits. She said she was also concerned about "the demonisation of those who oppose same sex marriage" and that "anyone who knows me would never consider me as homophobic".[8]

State politics

[edit]

Stephens ran unsuccessfully for the seat of Goulburn at the 2015 New South Wales state election. She reprised her candidacy at the 2019 state election but was again unsuccessful.[9]

Later career

[edit]

In July 2019, Stephens succeeded Frank Brennan as CEO of Catholic Social Services Australia.[10] She resigned from the role in 2021 to take up an appointment as CEO of Australian Catholic Safeguarding Ltd, a newly created body established "to oversee safeguarding, child protection and professional standards matters" for the Catholic Church in Australia.[11]

Personal life

[edit]

Stephens has four children with her husband Bob. In 2005, while serving in the Senate, she was awarded the degree of Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) by the University of Canberra for a thesis on "best practice in service delivery models and the impact of National Competition Policy reforms on regional and rural communities".[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Former Senator Ursula Stephens". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Five minutes with…Ursula Stephens, FIA Code Authority Chair". Fundraising Institute Australia. 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "ALP Senator's family celebrates doctorate". The Daily Examiner. 9 August 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  4. ^ "An Irish influence". Eolas Magazine. August 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Labor's right slams gay reform". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Senate rejects RU486 veto". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 February 2006. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Stephens' job cut". Goulburn Post. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Hume pollies have say on gay marriage". Goulburn Post. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Goulburn". ABC News. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Dr Ursula Stephens accepts the baton". Catholic Voice. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  11. ^ "CSSA pays tribute to departing Chief Executive Officer". Catholic Social Services Australia. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
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