Helen Coonan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Helen Lloyd Coonan (born 29 October 1947), Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since July 1996, representing New South Wales.
She was born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, and was educated at the University of Sydney, where she gained a law degree. She was a barrister and solicitor before entering politics. She was Chair of the Board of Governors of the Law Foundation of New South Wales (1991 - 1992).
Coonan was Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer (2001 - 2004), and has been Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, with a seat in the Cabinet, since July 2004.
She became Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate in January 2006. She is one of three women currently in the Cabinet and one of ten female Cabinet Ministers since Federation. She was the first woman to hold a Federal Treasury portfolio. She has oversight of the Australian broadcasting and telecommunications industries as well as the ICT sector and Australia Post and is the Senior Minister responsible for the Arts.
Helen Coonan was instrumental in promoting controversial legislative changes to the cross media ownership and foreign ownership laws Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2006.
The changes relax restrictions against cross-media ownership or control by a single company(e.g. owning both the major newspapers and television stations). Media companies will be restricted from owning more than two types of regulated media - ie: commercial radio, commercial television or associated newspapers.
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| Current Cabinet of Australia |  |
|---|---|
| Abbott | Andrews | Bishop | Brough | Campbell | Coonan | Costello | Downer | Howard | Macfarlane | McGauran | Minchin | Nelson | Ruddock | Truss | Vaile | Vanstone | |
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Current members of the Australian Senate
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