Michelle O'Byrne

The Honourable Michelle O'Byrne MP
Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Bass
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 March 2006
Member of the Australian Parliament for Bass
In office 3 October 1998 – 9 October 2004
Preceded by	Warwick Smith
Succeeded by	Michael Ferguson
Personal details
Born	(1968-03-06) 6 March 1968 Launceston, Tasmania
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Labor
Spouse	Priam Arumugam
Relations	David O'Byrne (brother)
Alma mater	University of Tasmania
Occupation	Trade unionist, political adviser, Member of State Parliament
Website	https://taslabor.org.au/people/michelle-o-byrne/

Michelle Anne O'Byrne (born 6 March 1968) is Australian politician for the Australian Labor Party.

She was elected in the 2006 state election to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in the division of Bass. She has continued to hold this seat through and will contest the 2024 election.

In the 2024 Tasmanian state election, O'Byrne was the second most successful candidate across the state for the Labor Party, receiving 0.95 quotas in her own right in the first preferences alone, only outdone by then-leader, Rebecca White.

Prior to her election to state parliament she was a member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1998 to 2004, representing the Division of Bass.

Early life

O'Byrne was born in Launceston, Tasmania, a grand-niece of a former Labor senator and President of the Senate, Justin O'Byrne. She graduated from the University of Tasmania in 1992, with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies. She was an organiser for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union, and electorate officer to Senator Kerry O'Brien before entering politics.

Federal MP for Bass

She won the federal seat of Bass in 1998, and again in 2001, but was defeated by her Liberal opponent Michael Ferguson in the 2004 election.

Many put this down to concern about loss of forestry jobs under Labor's environment policy, which had the potential to adversely affect O'Byrne's electorate.

State MP for Bass

After more than a year out of politics, O'Byrne ran as a Labor candidate in the 2006 state election and was easily elected for the state seat of Bass, which covers the same territory as the federal seat. She topped the poll in the five-member electorate, receiving 23.3% of first preferences, helping ensure that Bass was the only seat to record a swing to Labor.

Until the defeat of the Labor government in the 2014 state election, she served in the Tasmanian cabinet as Minister for Health, Children and Sport & Recreation. She served in cabinet with her brother David O'Byrne, one of a very few pairs of siblings to have served in cabinet together anywhere in the world.

Prior to the 2010 election, O'Byrne was Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts, Minister for Tourism and Minister for Sport and Recreation in the Bartlett government.

Speaker of the House of Assembly

O'Byrne was re-elected in Bass at the 2024 election and was elected unopposed to the position of Speaker of the House of Assembly on 14 May 2024, the new parliament's opening day. Her elevation to the position came despite the Labor Party winning only 10 seats at the election and remaining in opposition.

Political interests

A former National co convener of Emily’s List, Michelle had worked to increase the number of women in Parliament and been responsible for delivering significant legislative reform for women.

Michelle is currently the Australian Chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians who work to increase women’s participation in political processes globally.

Personal life

She is a keen Parkrunner, taking part in Launceston runs when she can.

Park Run

A proud product of the public education system Michelle and her partner, Priam Arumugam, live in Launceston with their two teenage daughters.