18 Facts About Fran Bailey

Frances Esther Bailey was born on 21 May 1946 and is a former Australian politician.

Fran Bailey is a member of the Liberal Party and served in the House of Representatives from 1990 to 1993 and 1996 to 2010, representing the Division of McEwen in Victoria.

Fran Bailey held ministerial office in the Howard government as Minister for Employment Services and Small Business and Tourism.

Fran Bailey graduated from the University of Queensland and Kelvin Grove Teachers' College, later studying sociology at La Trobe University.

Fran Bailey worked as a secondary school teacher, retailer and cashmere goat breeder before entering politics.

Fran Bailey was secretary of the Yarra Glen branch of the Liberal Party from 1984 to 1988 and President of the branch from 1988 to 1989.

Fran Bailey worked as the campaign director for the Victorian state seat of Evelyn at the 1988 election.

Fran Bailey was first elected at the 1990 election, defeating Labor incumbent Peter Cleeland in McEwen.

Fran Bailey became the first female Liberal candidate elected to a Victorian seat, and the first woman elected to represent a rural electorate.

Fran Bailey served on the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 1998 to 2002.

In 2001, Fran Bailey was promoted to Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence.

Fran Bailey became Minister for Small Business and Tourism in October 2004.

However, privately Fran Bailey believed that Morrison and his team had failed to do the proper research into Britain's advertising code before rolling out the ad campaign in Britain.

In 2022, following Morrison's multi-ministerial positions controversy, Fran Bailey revealed that Morrison showed no respect for his colleagues at Tourism Australia and he left her feeling bullied, confirming that he "point-blank refused" to provide her or the board with any documentation or to answer questions about how the ad campaign was awarded to Saatchi.

Fran Bailey said she was "gobsmacked when he became prime minister" and called for Morrison to resign from Parliament.

Fran Bailey's hold on McEwen was always somewhat tenuous due to its demographics.

Fran Bailey requested and was granted a full recount, which gave her the win by 12 votes.

Fran Bailey announced in October 2009 that she would retire at the 2010 election.