Sue Lines
ALP Federal

President of the Senate

Elected 2016

10 years

Senator for Western Australia (WA)

Federal - WA

Sue Lines was born on 15 December 1953 in Perth, WA. Her mother was a teacher, and her father was a commando in the Second World War. Sue attended Armadale Senior High School.

She attained a Bachelor of Education from Murdoch University. Prior to entering federal politics, Sue established a twenty-five-year career within the Australian trade union movement. She worked briefly as a schoolteacher from 1984 to 1985 before joining United Voice (now the United Workers Union) as an industrial or...

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Committees

  • Appropriations, Staffing and Security
  • Procedure
  • House
  • Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings

Key Staff

  • Harriet Brooke

    Senior Policy & Strategy Adviser

    ****@****.gov.au

  • Sofia Wilson

    Advisor

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See It In Action

First Speech in Parliament

26 June 2013

# Social Justice # Education Reform # Labor Rights

Personal Background

  • Senator Sue Lines shares her family history, highlighting her father's journey as a child migrant and his service in WWII, and her mother's career as a teacher, advocating for the education of disadvantaged children.
  • Lines was influenced by her family’s values of resilience, compassion, and the importance of education and politics.

Work Experience and Advocacy

  • For six years, Lines led campaigns in early childhood education and aged care for United Voice, focusing on wage justice for low-paid workers.
  • She references the passing of the workforce compact bill, underlining her commitment to fairness and social justice, particularly for Aboriginal rights and against deaths in custody.

Policy Goals and Current Issues

  • Lines criticises the Western Australian government for failing to sign up for the NDIS and Gonski reforms, stressing the need for equitable education and a focus on public welfare.
  • She highlights alarming statistics on public housing, homelessness, and Aboriginal incarceration rates, advocating for a fairer economy that prioritises the wellbeing of all citizens over profit.
  • Lines aims to build coalitions for social change, emphasizing the need for political action to address inequality and ensure support for the vulnerable in society.

Read Full Speech

FAQ

Sue Lines represents the Senate seat of Western Australia in the Australian Parliament.

Sue Lines is a member of the Australian Labor Party.

Latest Updates

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See It In Action

In Parliament

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

Senate Chamber

Australian Federal Parliament • Senate • 2 July

AI Summary

  • A technician will be brought in to fix the clocks in the Senate chamber.
  • The maintenance will take approximately 10 minutes and is scheduled during the address-in-reply.
  • The President thanked the Senate for their understanding regarding the interruption.

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

Senate Chamber

Australian Federal Parliament • Senate • 2 July

AI Summary

  • The clocks in the Senate are undergoing maintenance.
  • Further updates will be provided if the work disrupts Senate proceedings.
  • The President will consult the chamber if necessary.

Social Media

Posted on Facebook • 24 July 2026

President vs Speaker 🥊🔥
Open Post

Posted on Facebook • 23 July 2026

Too many students have to deal with placement poverty. That’s why we’re expanding paid prac. Labor is delivering real cost of living relief to students training for some of the most important jobs in the country.
Open Post

Posted on LinkedIn • 13 July 2026

This week's 55th Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference (POCC) brought together 21 Parliaments from across the Pacific, New Zealand and Australia in my hometown of Perth, hosted by the the Parliament of Western Australia. Presiding Officers, Clerks, Members, and parliamentary officials joined to discuss this year's theme, ‘Parliaments and the health of democracy,' and explore the contemporary challenges facing modern parliaments. Thank you Uncle Barry Winmar for opening the conference wi...
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Posted on LinkedIn • 10 July 2026

It was an honour to be invited to Ayor Makur Chuot MLC's 2026 Women’s Empowerment & Leadership Roundtable. Dedicated to strengthening CALD women and highlighting the importance of political participation, the event was full of powerful conversations and knowledge sharing. Thank you to everyone who helped organise the event and everyone who attended.
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