13 Facts About Helen Polley

Helen Beatrice Polley was born on 9 February 1957 and is an Australian politician who is an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian Senate, representing the state of Tasmania since 1 July 2005.

Helen Polley was educated at Deloraine High School, Launceston Community College and Launceston Business College, where she obtained a Diploma of Business Administration.

Senator Helen Polley started work in administrative roles and work in finance, transport and manufacturing.

Helen Polley spent time working as an adviser to Senator Terry Aulich from 1984 to 1992, Premier Michael Field from 1992 to 1995, Senator Shayne Murphy from 1995 to 1998, and Premiers Jim Bacon from 1998 to 2004 and Paul Lennon from 2004 to 2005.

Helen Polley was the first female President of the Tasmanian branch of the ALP from 1992 to 1995, before being elected as Senator for Tasmania at the 2004 Federal Election.

Helen Polley took up her position on 1 July 2005 and retained her Senate seat at the 2010 and 2016 Federal Elections.

Helen Polley served as Deputy Government Whip in the Senate in the Second Gillard Ministry and Second Rudd Ministry from 2010 to 2013, and then as Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care from 2013 to 2016.

The investigation found Helen Polley's office had an unhealthy workplace culture that had "an adverse impact on the morale, health and well-being" of staff.

In 2014, Helen Polley admitted to spending about $23,000 of taxpayer money on chartered flights between Hobart and Launceston, each lasting about 35 minutes.

Helen Polley claimed that she had been unaware of the issues with the slogan.

Helen Polley is a member of the Australian Workers' Union, and is linked with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association.

Helen Polley opposes marriage equality and voted against the Marriage Amendment Act 2017 following the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey.

Senator Helen Polley opposes assisted dying and the autonomy of the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory governments to legislate on the matter.