30 Facts About Janet Rice

Janet Rice served as a senator for Victoria from 2014 until 2024.

Janet Rice was a co-founder of the Victorian Greens and served on the Maribyrnong City Council from 2003 to 2008, including a term as mayor.

Janet Rice attended the University of Melbourne, where she studied mathematics and meteorology.

Janet Rice began her environmental activism whilst at university, including participating in the Franklin Dam Campaign in 1983.

Janet Rice completed a Bachelor of Science, graduating with honours in meteorology.

Janet Rice began her career in September 1983 as a Nature Conservation Project Officer for the Conservation Council of Victoria now known as Environment Victoria where she was involved in policy and advocacy work on nature conservation issues for 2 years.

In 1985, Janet Rice moved to the East Gippsland Coalition as a forest campaigner.

Janet Rice was a leader of the campaign that resulted in the declaration of the Errinundra National Park and protection of the old growth forests of the Rodger River catchment in the Snow River National Park in 1988.

Janet Rice continued her work with the East Gippsland Coalition until 1990.

Janet Rice worked for Bicycle Victoria from 1993 to 1997, as the inaugural Ride to Work Co-ordinator.

Janet Rice developed the Ride to Work Day program, which started with 615 cyclists and has grown to an estimated 60,000 participants all over Australia.

From Bicycle Victoria, Janet Rice pursued her career as a Senior Consultant at Context Pty Ltd.

Janet Rice worked with clients including the Barwon Water, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria and a range of local governments.

Janet Rice was employed by the Hume City Council as their Senior Strategic Transport Planner.

Janet Rice was a Member of the School Council for Footscray City Primary School becoming the President between 2002 and 2003.

Janet Rice is a Member of the advisory board at the Centre of Governance and Management of Public Transport.

Janet Rice was a key element in establishing Australian Greens Victoria.

Janet Rice organised preliminary meetings, and helped form the green politics network just as the October 1992 Victorian state election approached.

Janet Rice was Chair of the Metropolitan Transport Forum between 2004 and 2008.

Janet Rice was a part of the Save Footscray Pool campaign, trying to preserve the aging facility and keep the site from developers.

In 2008 and 2010, Janet Rice worked with Greens member for the Western Metropolitan Region, Colleen Hartland, managing community campaigns across Hartland's electorate.

Janet Rice was the lead Senate candidate for the Australian Greens Victoria for the 2013 Australian federal election and was elected on a 10.85 percent primary vote.

Janet Rice took her seat in the Senate on 1 July 2014, and was sworn in on 7 July 2014.

Janet Rice was successfully re-elected in the 2016 Australian federal double-dissolution election, running second on the Australian Greens Victoria ticket.

In September 2023 Janet Rice announced she would not re-contest her Victorian Senate position and would retire in the first half of 2024.

Janet Rice was escorted out of the House accompanied by Barbara Pocock.

Janet Rice elaborated on the recent history of human rights abuses by the government in the Philippines, including the imprisonment and killing of labor leaders, workers, environmental defenders, and human rights lawyers.

Filipino senator Robin Padilla, a former convict turned controversial ally of both Duterte and Marcos, on March 4,2024 filed a resolution in the Philippine Senate to condemn Janet Rice and declare her persona non grata.

Janet Rice's wife was Penny Whetton, until her death on 11 September 2019.

Janet Rice is currently one of eight members in the Parliament of Australia who are openly part of the LGBTI community.