18 Facts About Candy Broad

Candy Celeste Broad was born on 4 January 1956 and is an Australian politician.

Candy Broad has been a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council from September 1999 to May 2014, first representing the electorate of Melbourne North Province until 2006, and then as a Member for the Northern Victoria region.

Candy Broad was immediately promoted into the ministry and served three years as Minister for Energy and Resources and Minister for Ports.

Candy Broad was born in Perth, Western Australia, and studied commerce at the University of Western Australia.

Candy Broad graduated in 1978 and joined the Australian Labor Party the following year.

In 1991, Candy Broad was promoted to Head of the Premier's Office under Joan Kirner.

Candy Broad was heavily involved in the creation in 1996 of Emily's List Australia, the support network for ALP women.

The widely unexpected victory meant that several first-time MPs were promoted to the ministry, and Candy Broad was appointed Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Ports, and Minister Assisting the Minister for State and Regional Development.

Candy Broad was faced with the problem of balancing the need to promote environmentally sustainable sources of energy against the need to maintain a cheap and reliable electricity supply across the state.

Candy Broad publicly supported the Kyoto Protocol, and oversaw the introduction of the Victorian Greenhouse Strategy, which introduced a range of reforms, such as mandated five-star efficiency standards for new houses, and which, according to the government, would save "about five to eight million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year".

Candy Broad went on to serve as its founding chair during 2001.

However, Candy Broad was to face serious difficulties associated with industrial relations in this area, most notably when she was forced to play a mediating role in a long-running and much-publicised dispute between Yallourn Energy, one of the state's major power suppliers, and their workforce.

Candy Broad was responsible for implementing a controversial $70 million proposal to encourage welfare groups and councils to form not-for-profit housing associations as a means of dealing with public housing.

Candy Broad wished to continue as a Minister following Labor's victory on 25 November 2006 she did not have enough votes within the Labor Caucus to secure a frontbench position.

Candy Broad went to the backbench in the odd position of never having been a backbencher in her seven-year parliamentary career.

Candy Broad introduced the Abortion Law Reform Bill into the Parliament in 2008, which was passed overwhelmingly on a conscience vote by Members of all parties.

Candy Broad is an avid football supporter, and is a member of the Collingwood Football Club.

Candy Broad supports voluntary euthanasia, being a member of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Victoria, and is a member of several community organisations, such as the Australian Conservation Foundation.