About Me
Full Name
Molly Veronica Byrne OAM
Party
Australian Labor Party
Position
Former Member
Electorate
Todd
House
House of Assembly
Date Elected
06 March 1965
Public Activities
Molly Byrne was elected to the House of Assembly at the 1965 State Election - the election on which the 32-year government of the Liberal and Country League was defeated by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Frank Walsh - in the seat of Barossa for the ALP. She was the second woman elected to the House of Assembly and the first from the ALP.
The seat of Barossa was abolished in 1970 and Ms Byrne won the new seat of Tea Tree Gully. Later in 1970, she became the first woman in the state to chair a parliamentary committee, in chairing the Joint Committee on Subordinate Legislation. In 1977 Ms Byrne switched to the seat of Todd, to which she served until 1979.
A portrait of Byrne, by South Australian artist Deidre But-Husaim, unveiled in 2020, hangs in Parliament House.
The seat of Barossa was abolished in 1970 and Ms Byrne won the new seat of Tea Tree Gully. Later in 1970, she became the first woman in the state to chair a parliamentary committee, in chairing the Joint Committee on Subordinate Legislation. In 1977 Ms Byrne switched to the seat of Todd, to which she served until 1979.
A portrait of Byrne, by South Australian artist Deidre But-Husaim, unveiled in 2020, hangs in Parliament House.
Other Information
SA Parliament Former Members Association; Vice President 2000-02, President 2002-04
Electoral History
Date
District
House
Party
Reason (if retired)
17 Sep 1977 - 14 Sep 1979
Todd
House of Assembly
Australian Labor Party
Not Re-elected
30 May 1970 - 16 Sep 1977
Tea Tree Gully
House of Assembly
Australian Labor Party
Boundary Redistribution
06 Mar 1965 - 29 May 1970
Barossa
House of Assembly
Australian Labor Party
Boundary Redistribution
Offices Held
14 Sep 1979 - Current
Former Member
Committee Membership
16 Feb 1978 - 14 Sep 1979
07 Aug 1975 - 15 Feb 1978
19 Jun 1973 - 04 Aug 1975
26 Nov 1970 - 18 Jun 1973
14 Jul 1970 - 25 Nov 1970
11 Apr 1968 - 02 Jul 1970
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