Jaclyn Symes

The Honourable
Jaclyn Symes
MLC
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
23 March 2020
PremierDaniel Andrews
Jacinta Allan
Preceded byGavin Jennings
Minister for Emergency Services
Incumbent
Assumed office
23 August 2021
PremierDaniel Andrews
Jacinta Allan
Preceded byLisa Neville
55th Attorney-General of Victoria
Incumbent
Assumed office
22 December 2020
PremierDaniel Andrews
Jacinta Allan
Preceded byJill Hennessy
Minister for Resources
In office
29 November 2018 – 23 August 2021
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byTim Pallas
Succeeded byJaala Pulford
Minister for Regional Development
In office
29 November 2018 – 22 December 2020
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byJaala Pulford
Succeeded byMary-Anne Thomas
Minister for Agriculture
In office
29 November 2018 – 22 December 2020
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byJaala Pulford
Succeeded byMary-Anne Thomas
Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Northern Victoria Region
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 November 2014
Personal details
BornBenalla, Victoria, Australia
Political partyLabor Party
Alma materDeakin University
Websitewww.jaclynsymes.com.au

Jaclyn Symes is an Australian politician and Attorney-General of the state of Victoria. She is a Labor member of the Victorian Legislative Council, having represented Northern Victoria Region since 2014.[1]

Symes worked for five years as a ministerial advisor for Rob Hulls, the Victorian Deputy Premier and Attorney-General. When the Labor Party lost government in 2010, Symes transferred to Hulls' electoral office. In 2011, she became pregnant and applied for maternity leave entitlements accrued during her employment with the Department of Premier and Cabinet, but was informed that as she was now employed by the Parliament of Victoria, she could not access the entitlement without dispensation from the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker, Ken Smith, declined the request, and the matter was referred to the Fair Work Commission by the Community and Public Sector Union.[2] Premier Ted Baillieu intervened and referred the matter to the Public Sector Standards Commissioner to resolve any inconsistencies in the government's employment policies.[3]

In November 2018, Symes was appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Resources. In March 2020, Symes became the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.

On 22 December 2020, Symes was appointed the new Attorney-General of Victoria, replacing Jill Hennessy, who had stepped down from the ministry to spend more time with her teenage daughters as they went through high school.[4] In August 2021, Symes was appointed as Minister for Emergency Services but relinquished her resources portfolio.[5]

Symes completed a Bachelor of Laws at Deakin University in 2002.[6]

Symes is a member of the Australian Workers Union component of the Victorian Labor Right.[7]

  1. ^ Green, Antony. "Northern Victoria Region". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  2. ^ Savage, Alison (25 March 2011). "ALP staffer denied maternity leave by speaker". ABC News. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  3. ^ Jenkins, Melissa (24 March 2011). "Baillieu intervenes on maternity leave". Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  4. ^ Willingham, Richard (22 December 2020). "Jaclyn Symes sworn in to replace Jill Hennessy as Victorian Attorney-General". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Member Profile - The Hon. Jaclyn Symes". Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  6. ^ "The Hon. Jaclyn Symes". Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  7. ^ Ilanbey, Sumeyya; Sakkal, Paul. "Andrews boosts internal grip on power, two ministers in firing line for demotion". The Age. Retrieved 3 December 2022.