25 Facts About Linda Reynolds

Linda Reynolds is a member of the Liberal Party and has served as a Senator for Western Australia since 2014.

Linda Reynolds held senior ministerial office as a cabinet minister in the Morrison government from 2019 to 2022.

Linda Reynolds was initially elected to the Senate at the 2013 federal election, but the result was voided and she was re-elected at a supplementary election in 2014.

Linda Reynolds grew up in the suburb of Gooseberry Hill and attended St Brigid's College.

Linda Reynolds holds the degree of Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University and holds graduate certificates in training and development, defence management and strategic studies.

Linda Reynolds enlisted in the Australian Army Reserve in 1984, aged 19.

Linda Reynolds was adjutant general of the Army Reserve from 2012 to 2013.

Linda Reynolds was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2011 Australia Day Honours for "outstanding achievement as the Director of Army Strategic Reform Program coordination".

Linda Reynolds was a campaign manager for the divisions of Pearce and Hasluck and served as a deputy federal director from 2006 to 2008.

Linda Reynolds worked as an electorate officer and ministerial advisor, notably as chief of staff and senior adviser to justice minister Chris Ellison from 2001 to 2003.

Linda Reynolds was elected to the Senate at the 2013 federal election from third position on the Liberal Party's ticket in Western Australia.

Linda Reynolds was successful in the re-run and her Senate term commenced on 1 July 2014.

Linda Reynolds was re-elected to the Senate at the 2016 federal election and the 2019 federal election, leading the Liberal Party's ticket in the latter.

Linda Reynolds chaired a number of Senate committees prior to her elevation to the ministry in 2018.

Linda Reynolds was elevated to Cabinet in March 2019 as Minister for Defence Industry, as part of a planned transition to the role of Minister for Defence following Christopher Pyne's decision to retire at the 2019 federal election.

Linda Reynolds was appointed to the new role of Minister for Emergency Management and North Queensland Recovery, having previously held responsibility for disaster recovery in the Assistant Minister for Home Affairs position.

Linda Reynolds was appointed Minister for Defence in May 2019, following the Coalition's victory at the 2019 federal election, the second woman to hold the position after Marise Payne.

Linda Reynolds's appointment was cautiously welcomed by Neil James, the president of the Australian Defence Association, who noted her lack of ministerial experience.

In May 2020, Linda Reynolds was accused of misleading the Senate by Mark Sullivan, the chair of the Defence Honours and Awards Appeal Tribunal, over her rejection of a posthumous Victoria Cross for Australia for Teddy Sheean.

In March 2021, Linda Reynolds was demoted to Minister for Government Services and Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Linda Reynolds faced pressure to reveal what she had known about the alleged incident.

Linda Reynolds did not provide a reference but did not say whether his termination payout was withheld.

In March 2021, it was reported that Linda Reynolds had called Higgins a "lying cow" in the presence of her own staff at Parliament House Canberra.

In January 2023, Linda Reynolds stated she would be suing Higgins' partner David Sharaz for defamation.

Linda Reynolds was not appointed to any shadow ministries following the Coalition's defeat in the May 2022 Australian federal election.