16 Facts About Irina Dunn

Irina Patsi Dunn was born on 17 March 1948 and is an Australian writer, social activist and filmmaker, who served in the Australian Senate between 1988 and 1990.

Irina Dunn was chosen following the disqualification from parliament of the man originally elected from that party in the 1987 election, Robert Wood, who was ruled ineligible as he did not hold Australian citizenship.

Irina Dunn was the executive director of the New South Wales Writers' Centre from December 1992 to 2008.

Irina Dunn was born in Shanghai, China, to Raisa Andreevna and Timothy Edward Irina Dunn.

Irina Dunn's mother was a Shanghai Russian, while her father was of Irish, Portuguese, and Chinese descent.

Irina Dunn's father worked for the North China Daily News and was associated with the Kuomintang.

Irina Dunn was naturalised as an Australian citizen in 1974.

Irina Dunn was Senator for New South Wales first representing the Nuclear Disarmament Party, then as an independent.

The High Court of Australia sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns found that a recount of the NSW Senate ballots could occur and Irina Dunn, who had been the second person on the NDP's New South Wales Senate ticket, was elected.

The NDP asked her to resign her seat to allow Wood to take it up once he had taken up Australian citizenship, but Irina Dunn refused, leading to her expulsion from the NDP, after which she sat in parliament as an independent.

Irina Dunn was a Senator from 21 July 1988 until 30 June 1990, being defeated in the 1990 election.

Irina Dunn was responsible for an extensive minority report to that committee's report Visits to Australia by Nuclear Powered or Armed Vessels.

Irina Dunn was co-author of A Natural Legacy: Ecology in Australia, an early textbook on the Australian environment.

Irina Dunn has worked as an editor and made documentary films, including Frame-Up and Fighting for Peace.

Irina Dunn coined the famous catch phrase: "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle," which was popularised by Gloria Steinem and became a popular slogan among feminists.

Irina Dunn was the executive director of the New South Wales Writers' Centre from December 1992.